“Do not be afraid - And put out into the deep - From now on you will be catching men”

Today at Holy Mass he hear in the Gospel of St Mark how Jesus sends out his apostles - With nothing but the clothes on their back!…..….”Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick – no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic”…….Many people will hear this passage from St Mark today at Masses around the world and either gloss over it or think to themselves that such a “journey” is completely impossible!…..Do we believe in Divine Providence? - If not, we should think twice!……..God provides - Always! - He may not give us what we want all the time, but he always gives us what we need….We must learn to trust him!…..When we are attached to “things” our attention is not focused upon God - While we need things in the world, practically speaking, we as Catholics should aspire to live as simply as possible……Heaven is our true home and the man who wants the least while he is on this earth is the man who is the richest!

“The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel”

I have been married for 12 years…In that time period my wife and I have had five children…We also lost three children to miscarriages….We have never used contraception in our marriage and as a Catholic couple are open to life…..My wife and I are not rich people but during the entire time of our marriage we have never wanted for anything - The Lord has always provided for us in every way….As a husband and father of five young children, I have come to find my peace in the Catholic concept of Divine Providence…What I mean by that statement is - I trust in God’s providence more then I trust in my self……Much more!….God has proven to me that he will provide for my family, therefore I trust him implicitly…..I tell my wife all the time - If we do “our part” and live out our marriage vows and stay in the state of grace - God will do his part!…..The secular world does not believe this….But when the world “sees” with their unbelieving eyes ordinary Catholic married couples living this way - The world will begin to second guess bad choices made…..A Catholic couple in the world, which is open to life is a living sign of Christ!…….Our world needs to “see” in order to believe - That means Catholics can not live like everyone else…Not to mention Sacramental marriages that do not use contraception teach us to “die to our self”, which is the very essence of what authentic love is all about……Such a witness “screams” of God to a world that does not and will not be converted by even the most eloquent of words spoken by the most educated of preachers……….Catholic couples are on “the front lines” of the culture war!….We must witness our faith to a hostile world….And Catholic families living out their marriage vows form children who will one day be the future leaders, both in the world and the Church….This is how we change the world….Trust in God and live the Gospel - Be open to life and trust that God will provide for you…How do I know that? - Because he has provided for me and my family…Remember this - The sight of an ordinary man and an ordinary woman who have many ordinary children - This sight “speaks” to the world - And there is nothing “ordinary” about what such a family has to “say” without even saying one word!

"In your hand are power and might; it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all"

Today at Mass Jesus challenges his first apostles…He also challenges us…Do you trust God?….Many will hear that question and answer it without thinking too deeply…So I will ask the question again - Do you trust God will provide for you and your family?…..If you say - YES - Then trust in the commands of Christ and the teachings of his Church…Trust that God will provide for you in every way - Because he will!…….”Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. 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”……….When we “let go” of the “reins of our life” and give God control - We will experience a great amount of freedom - Believe it or not….It is in “this space” that we will meet the living God…….Just as St Peter requested to meet Jesus as he was walking on water…We too will “walk on water” and do the impossible - How do I know this? - Because God provides!…..We must not be afraid to  - “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch” - It is in “that place” where we are transformed - It is in “that place” where our life’s witness will “speak” to an unbelieving world…“Do not be afraid - And put out into the deep - From now on you will be catching men”…………JMJ