“No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master”

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Mark Jesus settles an argument that arose between the disciples about status and power…..He tells something that goes against everything the world says is important - Power belongs to God alone and status is not gained by being served but by serving others….”You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many”……..The Kingdom of God is structured in a completely different manner then the power structures of this world….Keeping that in mind, when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we say the following words - “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”….That means we are to live differently while we are here on on earth, trying to build the Kingdom of God - “As it is in heaven”….To do that means we do not “go along to get along” with the crowd…..And if you find your self in a position, whether at work or as the head of your household, the only way to properly lead the people God placed in your care is to first bend your will to God….No person can properly lead others if that person does not first serve God - That should be a key indicator when assessing politicians - Any man or woman who seeks such a position, which has power over others and does not faithful serve God - Should not have the position!…The same goes for a man who wants to marry your daughter - Any man who does not believe and serve God can not possible lead his family properly! - Impossible! - Such a man will eventually given in to his passions and lead his family astray……All of us are called to serve, whether a Priest or a lay person…But if you want to lead - There is no other way to do it properly outside of allowing God to lead you first and foremost……“Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?”……Before we lead, we must understand how to serve - We are all under authority - Like it or not - God is God and we are NOT - No matter who you are - Authority is given to us for one purpose only - To lead others to the Lord

“The Son of Man came to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”

A man is the head of his household - He must protect, lead and provide for his wife and children - How is a man going to do that properly without God and the grace of the Sacraments? - Not going to happen!….I have said this before and I will state it again - I do not believe in civil marriage, meaning a marriage that is not lived Sacramentally - Why would I make such a statement? - Because all people are flawed by nature and to have a good marriage is hard work - It requires Divine Grace….That is why God made it a Sacrament and when we live it Sacramentally - We are given grace…Any man that says he does not believe in God - Is not properly prepared to be a husband or a father - How is such a man going to make the required sacrifices for his family? - Not going to happen!……These are some “strong statements” to make - But they are true!….To be a husband and a father is not for the faint of heart! - To head a family properly requires a man to open his life up to God’s grace, which will animate his example and his leadership to his family….To get married outside of God’s authority is simply a fools errand - Don’t believe me? - Look at the divorce statistics for secular marriages around the world - They speak for themselves!…..Marriage is a Sacrament for a reason and to live it any other way is a HUGE mistake….Men must lead their families but first they must bend to God and the Church….A person in authority must recognize true authority and the only one with true authority is God.

"All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the field; the grass withers, and the flower wilts; but the word of the Lord remains forever.”…….This is the word that has been proclaimed to you.”

St Mark today in the Gospel teaches us about the importance of service - And how to be a good leader - And before we can lead, we must first know how to serve…God is in charge! - To think any other way will always lead a person down the wrong road…And to acquire this mindset, one must understand what it means to be humble……Humility is learned by living, its not learned by reading a book…Temptations and earthily comfort can easily make one forget who God is and who we truly are - We are ALL poor sinners in need of a Savior!….Humility is the foundation of all the virtues and without it, we will never bend our knee to the Lord or to the teachings of the Church….”Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him”…..A Catholic must be at the service of others - And those who have been given much, much will be expected!….Servant leaders are required today now more then ever………..“No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master”…..JMJ