Walk the narrow road that leads to life and never look back

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the first reading how the first followers of Jesus not only faced persecution from their society but in the face of that persecution spoke fearlessly and boldly….”And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant Jesus." As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness”…..The Truth divides! - It divided society in Jesus’ day and it divides society today……The reason for this is when we live and speak the Truth - There is a deep and very real cost - Some are willing to “pay that cost” and others are not……No matter how you “spin it” - This world will never comport to the will of God…..As a Catholic if we “think” we are going to find some form of “heaven on earth” - We are greatly mistaken…The closest we will ever get to “heaven on earth” is at the Mass….In the meantime, we will face persecution as did the original followers of Christ - This is reality and this reality must be accepted as part of our Cross…..However, when we live in the state of grace, zeal for God and his Church will manifest itself in bold and fearless ways - We see that in the life of the saints, who spoke and lived the Truth at great personal costs….This is why the witness of the saints is so important……….So let’s be bold and blunt - We either believe what the Catholic Church teaches or we do not - We can not write all these “big ideas” down - Various traditions, dogmas, and Church Canons, only to ignore them when life’s many trials call for Truth to be spoken and more importantly lived out in real time - We also can not “selectively” use Church teaching to meet ideological or political agendas - Truth is Truth and you either believe what the Church teaches or you do not - The eyes of the world are watching - People can smell a fake from a mile away way! - However, when the Gospel is lived out boldly - Even the hardest of hearts take note and some even are transformed…..As Catholics we must be bold, clear and consistent as were the first followers of Christ - We must proclaim the Gospel with our very life - And “pay the price” when it is required…….“Remember the word I spoke to you, No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me”…….We are either “In or Out” - “Hot or Cold” - There is no time for Luke-warm Catholicism!….....“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!”

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God”

Do we view our faith through our own lens or through the lens of God? - Do we believe we can get into heaven on “our terms"? - Those are good questions to ponder and how we address those questions determine just how important our Catholic faith really is to us….After I graduated from college at the age of twenty-two years old I committed my life to Christ and my Catholic faith…..And for twenty long years I live alone….I knew I wanted to get married to someone who believed in not “some” but all of what the Church taught….And for twenty long years I could not find such a person…In the meantime, my family “wrote me off” telling me - “You will never find a woman who thinks like you”…..People thought because I was without a wife for so long I was “strange”…..And that went on for twenty long years!!!! - In the mean-time, God formed me and I grew closer to him - And in God’s time, he sent me my wife - I was forty-two years old when that happened - We married and within ten years had five children….All this happened to the surprise of my family and friends who never thought I would find someone like my wife - But before I was married - From the age of twenty-two to forty-two - I suffered alone for twenty long years…..Are you willing to suffer for God and his Church? - When the “world” does not understand you or the decisions you make because of your Catholic faith…..God uses everything we experience in life for a “greater good” - The process of sanctification is a long and painful one at times - Are we willing to pay the price? - There is no such thing as “cheap grace” and the doors of heaven do not open on “our terms”

“Why do the nations rage and the peoples utter folly? The kings of the earth rise up, and the princes conspire together against the LORD and against his anointed: "Let us break their fetters and cast their bonds from us!"

Today we hear at Mass about how the original followers of Christ were bold in the face of persecution - How about us?…If you think you are going to live an authentic Catholic life and not face persecution - Frankly you are not living in the real world….The World - The Flesh - And the devil will throw everything and more at you to discourage you! - There is only one way forward - And that is straight ahead!…..Armed with daily prayer, fasting and grace we as Catholics have everything we need to not only persevere but to thrive in the world - But in order to live as Catholics, we must live Sacramentally - There is no way one can do what the Church asks of us grounded solely upon human strength - But with grace all things are possible!!! - Are we willing to pay the price? - Are we willing to endure persecution for the name of Jesus Christ and his Church?…..Jesus tells us - “My yoke is easy and my burden is light” - Do you believe that? - If you do - Pick up your cross and follow me - Walk the narrow road that leads to life and never look back…………….JMJ