Choose life and be “that light”!

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the first reading from Sirach that mankind is given a choice - Life or Death - That without our cooperation with God’s grace - Without our firm YES to God…..We shall not be saved….”If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you; if you trust in God, you too shall live; he has set before you fire and water to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him”….American Christianity and that includes many Catholics believe that getting into heaven is a given….You can live anyway you want, as long as you are what is considered a “good guy” by the standards of the world - If you do that - You get into heaven…That means you are free to disregard God’s laws for the sake of your own desires and still “walk right into the pearl gates”……Today the readings at Mass say otherwise and the Church has never taught such a twisted idea of salvation……What is at the root of mankind’s rebellion?….There are many reasons but one of the driving reasons is - Many believe God’s commands take from us as opposed to give…People believe that somehow they will be “missing out” if they follow God, the Natural Law and his Holy will…..That is a lie told to us by the devil and far too many believe it!…..God only gives, he never takes and God’s commandments keep us safe - Safe from who? - The answer - Safe from our very self!……The peace and joy that comes with living in a state of grace as a Catholic far outweighs anything the world can give us…If we abandon God’s will for the “things of the world”, even if those “things” seem “harmless”, because we turned from God, our choice and whatever comes with that choice materially speaking will become tainted and “something” will seem to be missing - That “something” is the presence of God….We can not get around this reality…..Each of us was made for God - On each of our human cells, written in our DNA is God….And when we turn from him - Something in us breaks…..No material thing can replace this innate desire…..This is why the best choice to be made is the “God Choice”…..And when we make that choice - Our life not only has order to it but peace and joy rest deep without our hearts….”If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides”…….We cannot have both - “The world” and God at the same time - Many tell themselves this lie!…..To think we can is not to think as an adult with a mature faith….Life boils down to choices - Choose well!

“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom”

God’s way works - Yet our world today not only does not believe it - But rejects this reality outright…..Let’s look at one aspect of how God’s way works…….Currently the family unit in America is deep fractured…More then half of American marriages end in divorce, which has deeply impacted our society leaving wounded people and children with life long “issues” to resolve……What is at the root of all these divorces? - Well, there are many reasons but one of the driving reasons is God is no longer the center of many American marriage….Vast numbers of people in America do not live their marriages Sacramentally….Some do not even get marriages in Churches…The reality is to have a good marriage, no matter who you are, takes work - But it also takes God grace - That is why marriage is a Sacrament…God understands the difficulties of raising a family - That is why he gives us his grace in the marriage covenant....But our society has rejected this grace…..This is a driving reason why so many marriages end in divorce….Let’s look at some numbers…….Currently 50% of all American marriages end in divorce…If a couple simply goes to Church on Sunday - That number gets cut in half to 25%……And if couples do not use contraception and utilize natural family planning, the divorce rate for those couples is only 3%….This is reality not religious dogma - The numbers do not lie!…Yet society chooses to ignore reality……Without God’s grace in marriage selfish behavior is soon to follow and selfishness is the killer of love…True love gives, it never takes and God helps us to love in a sacrificial way…When a married couple love sacrificially, their marriage thrives!…This is why God must be the center of every marriage…..To ignore reality has consequences.

“Be good to your servant, that I may live and keep your words. Open my eyes, that I may consider the wonders of your law”

Today at Mass we are told boldly that we have to cooperate with God if we want to enter into eternal life - Some may rationalize this message away……..or……Flat out ignore it!………But reality is reality……God is not some kind of “ogre” - God gives us his law to not only keep us safe but to allow us to thrive here on earth…..And nothing the world can give us can surpass the peace that God can give us when we live in a state of grace and follow his commandments……Again, the world is not convinced!……This is why Catholics must give a witness to the world….An unbelieving world must “see” what it means to live as an authentic Catholic…..To be open to life in marriages - To be generous - To be kind - To be friendly to all…..Why is this so important? - Because again - “Seeing is believing”…..The secular world does not believe that God’s ways works - This is why we must show them!……Our world today has radically rejected God - American society is reeling - It has become unmoored! - Basic common sense has become lost in a sea of confusion and chaos……What will change this trend?…..The answer - Witnesses!…Catholics must be those witnesses to serve as a reminder that God is real - That God’s way works - That God’a way brings joy and peace…..As many Americans believe - We are not going to “vote our way out” of the current environment we live it…..We cannot legislate morality as some believe we can…Only the witness of a holy people - A people “set apart” will change the minds of a society that has taken the wrong path and has “doubled-down” on that choice……..Only saints change the world…..It’s time Catholics “step up” and start showing the world that we believe what we say we believe….Words will not accomplish this task…….“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom”……..History is clear - The witness of Catholicism radically lived out has changed the world time and time again - When nothing else works - When words fail and ideologies fall short - God rises up saints…….”A light shines in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it” - Ever think God is calling you to be that “light”? - Guess what? - He is…..Choose life and be “that light”!………………JMJ