”I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth”

Today at Holy Mass we hear from the Book of Isaiah something every Catholics should meditate upon……”I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”……..The primary purpose of every human life is to cooperate with God in allowing him to make us holy…..The process of sanctification is not for a “select few” it is for every human soul….Is this your primary desire in life - To become holy? - If not it should be - Why? - For two reasons…The first, nothing unholy enters heaven…American Christians (and that include many Catholics) have a distorted view of heaven - We believe heaven is a “lock” as we say in New Jersey - Meaning - Everyone “gets in” and not only that everyone gets in on their terms…..Jesus never taught this false doctrine nor has the Catholic Church ever taught this….Therefore, as baptized Catholics we should make it our business to work on our personal sanctification daily….Keeping in mind, what we don’t “get done” here on earth, will be made complete in Purgatory…Speaking personally, I want to spend as little time as possible in Purgatory - How about you?…What is the second reason why we should want to become holy?…Because the closer we get to God, the more he can use us to build his Kingdom…..Again, circling back to what the Prophet Isaiah told us at Mass…..The words “I will make you” implies we are a work in progress, we have not achieved our goal yet….It also implies we can not get to our goal, which is to be a holy people, without the help of God…….Notice what else Isaiah says…..He mentions the word “light” and “my salvation”…This “light” does not belong to us, we receive it from God - It cannot be self manufactured - And if we want to receive this “light”,  we must make ourselves available to it……..Also, the word “salvation” is used….Salvation is a gift, it can not be earned - But in order to receive this gift, again, we must cooperate with God’s grace……To become the people we were born to be takes time…So be patient…Not only with others but also with yourself…..The greatest journey one could ever commit themselves to is the journey towards God - The path to holiness is not for the faint of heart, but the road to heaven is in essence a small taste of heaven…….So get on “the road” that leads to eternal life and as your life grows closer to God, your light will shine as a guide for others.

“The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us. To those who accepted him, he gave power to become children of God"

How do we become holy?……Before one can live in this manner, a person committed to this goal, must strive to empty themselves….Living a sacrificial life, no matter what state in life you are called to is essential…Why? - Because God can not “fill” us with his life if we are “full of ourselves”!….We empty ourselves by become a person for others, sharing our time, talents and treasures…How else does one become holy?…By living a Sacramental life - Going to Confession at least once a month and receiving the Blessed Sacrament in the state of grace every Sunday and if you can go to Mass every day - Wonderful…How else does one become holy?…By establishing a daily prayer life…How else? - By fasting each week - Fasting Wednesday for the Church and Friday for the world…….If a person commits to these practices…God will do “his part”….And in time, day by day - You will become holy - And God will use you to build his Kingdom upon the earth….When you get right down to it, there really is nothing “special” about a person who is holy…Why do I say that? - Because anyone can do it!…In fact we were all born to be holy!…..God does the “heavy lifting” in making a person holy…Our job is just to cooperate with him…..So make it happen! - Everyone these days has a “bucket list” of things they want to do before they die - Throw the bucket list away! - And strive to become a saint - Make it your one and only goal!

“A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel”

Today the Prophet Isaiah tells us that God has a purpose for each and everyone of us…Do you have a driving purpose in your life and if you do - What is it?…..No mater who we are - Each of us has “something to do” for God…As many in Catholic circles would describe it -  Each of us has a mission!….I believe when we die and stand in front of God, He will show us our entire life - He will show us both the good and the bad - But he will also show us what we could have done if we trusted him more…I can only speak personally, I want the “could have done” list to be very small!…..As parents of children, we all want our kids to live up to their potential…God too has this same desire for us because we are all his children - That we “live up to our potential” - And what is that? - To become saints…..As Mother Angelica, the foundress of the EWTN Global Catholic Television Network would always say…......”We are all called to be great saints, don't miss the opportunity”…..Only saints change the world…..God can do more with your life than you can - Believe it! - Give him permission and watch what happens……….”I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth”…………………JMJ