”Unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you”

Today at Holy Mass St John in his Gospel gets to the very heart of Catholicism - It is so clear!!!! - To be a Christian is to be Catholic and to be Catholic is to live Sacramentally…How can I say that with such certainty? - Because its written in St John’s Gospel - Just read it yourself…..“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever”…How can a person be “confused” by this passage?……Human beings can “convince” themselves of just about anything…..We “twist” words - We self rationalize the Truth away - We lie to ourself - We compartmentalize ideas - We ignore reality…..This sadly is all part of the human condition - But none of that changes reality!!!! - Nor does it change the Truth…….Jesus Christ is not “selling” anything - Nor is the Catholic Church - The Truth “is what it is” - Its unchangeable and timeless….Its for us to accept it as it is - We have no power to change the Truth - Its “written” on every human heart…..This is why any person with an objective mind and who honestly searches for the Truth always arrives at the same place - The Catholic Church….When we stop “twisting” the Truth - When we stop making excuses for our bad choices - All we have to do is read the words of Jesus……”For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink” - It does not get any clearer than that!

“Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength”

Words and arguments will never convince someone to become Catholic - It comes down to God’s grace….We however can open ourselves up to that grace - And then God will do the rest……Everyone likes to hear about stories of radical transformations - When a person lived one particular way and due to an authentic encounter with Christ, that same person changed completely….If we took the time to read the lives of the saints - We would see how this reality played out time and time again….The conversion of St Paul is probably one of the most amazing “turn arounds” - God took a man who was literally murdering Christians and changed him into one of the greatest saints in the two thousand year history of Christendom……"Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name”……While most of us will not experience such a radical encounter with Jesus as St Paul did - God does speak to us - He speaks to us through the consequences of our daily choices - He speaks to us when we get up in the middle of the night and we “think” about events and actions of our day - He speaks to us through people and good examples lived out before our very eyes…..In all those “little ways” - God speaks to us….And when we experience these “small encounters” with the Lord - Its then up to us! - To respond!…If we do not respond - God can not begin the transformation of our life…..God can only do so much - We must “open the door” and let God in…..I think back to my own conversion to the Catholic faith at the age of twenty-two years old….It began with me acknowledging where I “went wrong” - This led to a good Sacramental Confession with a Priest…From there, I began to take my faith seriously - Made it my top priority - Developed a prayer life - Lived Sacramentally - Persevered when life got hard - Endured ridicule from people because of my choice to live as a Catholic….After all that - God responded - He poured down his grace upon me - He changed my “heart of stone and transformed it into a heart of flesh”…If he did all those things for me - Why would he not do them for you?…….“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me”…….God is real - So is his grace - He is waiting for YOU….The greatest journey a lifetime begins with one unconditional YES

"Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit”

Today at Mass we hear in the first reading about St Paul’s amazing conversion and in the Gospel we hear about how the Eucharist is not “mere bread” but the actual flesh of God……As Catholics we say we believe a lot of things - Just think about the words, which are repeated in the Nicene creed at Mass……..So we say all these “things” - Right? - But do we really believe them?….We must allow God to “touch us with his grace” - Our human condition, no matter who we are, is flawed….This is why we must live Sacramentally….And this is why Jesus gave us his very flesh and blood to consume…To be a Christian is to be a Catholic - And to live as a Catholic requires grace - We can not “will” our way into heaven….Everything comes down to grace!!!!….This is why Jesus established a Church and this is why he gave us his Body and Blood to consume….It can’t get any clearer then that! - Just read the words……”Unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you”……JMJ

Be Bold - Be Catholic - And Be Not Afraid

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the first reading from the Book of Acts how Phillip educates an Ethiopian eunuch in the faith…….”Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, ”Do you understand what you are reading? "He replied, "How can I, unless someone instructs me?" So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him”……..As Catholics we believe the Church contains the fullness of Truth - But do our people know this?…..Are our people catechized properly?…..Notice what the Ethiopian eunuch says to Phillip - “How can I, unless someone instructs me?”……..So many in the Church today do not know their faith….And if they do not know their faith - How can they live it!……Not to mention, how easily they fall prey to the lies of the world, the flesh and the devil, who is quick to deceive…….Not proclaiming the fullness of Truth is not “pastoral” and people do not “magically” know what the Church teaches - Someone has to instruct them…..Is this happening in our homes? - Is this happening in our Catholic Schools? - Is this happening from our pulpits?……As Catholics we have been given everything! - The question is - Do we know it?

“It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me”

At the age of twenty-two years old I committed myself to my Catholic faith….And it was the best decision of my life!…..I have been raised Catholic and went to Catholic schools but sadly was not fully versed in what the Church taught and why it believed what it believed - Now think about the person who was not raised Catholic and did not have the benefit of going to Catholic Schools…This is a significant challenge the Church faces today - And this must be addressed head on!…Pretending or worse ignoring the fact that our people are not fully catechized does not address the issue at hand…..A Catholic life that is fully committed to Church teaching and open to God’s grace sets the world on fire!…..How can we expect to set the world on fire when many of our people do not know the faith they have been baptized into?…….Bold leadership is required - Catholics must stop trying to be “politically correct” and start being Catholic!…..The Truth must be presented clearly - Clarity with Charity - And not saying the Truth in the name of being “pastoral” is not an act of mercy  - Love and Truth go hand-in-hand……..The Church has to start being the Church once again - Our job is not to “blend in” to the world but “raise up” the world…..God does not stoop down to man’s standards but extends a hand to raise mankind up…This is our mission! - We are to raise mankind up!…But in order to do that, we must be fully Catholic…We must know the Truth - Speak the Truth - Live the Truth - And when necessary - Be willing to suffer for the Truth….Is this happening today?….If it’s not - It needs to start happening!

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world."

Today at Mass Phillip instructs a man eager to learn about the faith…..Our world today “thirsts” for Truth but sadly is looking for it in all the wrong places - Its our job as Catholics to proclaim that Truth boldly and clearly - Without fear or hesitation…But we can not give what we do not have…..First and for most, Catholics must live in a state of grace….We must also develop a deep interior life rooted in daily prayer, the Sacraments and fasting - This will strengthen our will and open our eyes!…..From that point forward, we must educate ourselves in Catholic teaching so we can educate others - One person at a time, beginning with our families….The Catholic Church has been around for two thousand years - We have the answer to many, if not all of the worlds problems! - Its about time the world realizes that reality once again……..A well-formed Catholic, living a Sacramental life will set the world on fire…....”Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give”........Be Bold - Be Catholic - And Be Not Afraid…….JMJ

God’s ways are not our ways - Learn to trust him

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the first reading from the Book of Acts that the first Catholics after Jesus death suffered a great persecution…..And as a result, the group scattered…..Was that a bad thing? - Let’s explore this idea……”There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him. Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church; entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment. Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word”……..Clearly no one wants to suffer, but because of the persecutions that took place, the first Catholics traveled to far away lands to preach the word of God…..In doing so more people came into the fold….God gives mankind free will and because of this reality, we are free to do what is bad as well as what is good….People sadly do not learn from history - What mankind has not “figured out” for the last two thousand years is this - We cannot out-smart God - There is an old saying…”Man plans and God laughs”…..Even the most tragic events of history ultimately work towards a greater good in time……While we were given free will, nothing happens unless God permits it to happen and if God permits a great evil to happen, it will always in time point towards a greater good…..It is very hard to “see” things that way when we are suffering in the moment…..And I am sure the first Catholics noted in the readings from Mass today did not appreciate having to leave their home….But because they were driven out of their home, they brought the Gospel to new lands…….”For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways—oracle of the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Yet just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, Giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me empty, but shall do what pleases me, achieving the end for which I sent it. Yes, in joy you shall go forth, in peace you shall be brought home”……This is why we must trust God, who loves us and wants what is best for us - And what is best for us is heaven….How we arrive in heaven is through the process of sanctification, and that process takes many “twists and turns” in our life….We do not see the entire picture as it plays out, but God does!…So we must learn to trust him!!!!

“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me”

It’s easy to look back on a hard time in your life and say what was endured was worth it - But during the times of trial, very few people can see anything positive and some even give up hope……Looking back on your life gives a person prospective and if we are objective, it was the hardest times we endured and the many trials we faced that we grew the most….God use the events of our life to draw us to himself…When words do not reach us - When we can not “hear” the voice of God…God use events in our life - Both “good and bad” to get our attention in order to draw us closer to his Sacred Heart….Years ago I knew a man by the man of Billy McGill…Billy would go to day Mass and I got to know him…He for the most part destroyed his life…Because of bad behavior, he lost his family, he lost his house and he had to start his life all over again in his late fifties…..In the process, Billy found God…..He not only rebuilt his life but developed a rock solid relationship with the Lord in the process…..God “spoke” to Billy in his suffering and Billy responded…..Sometimes that is what it takes….So take courage…And never lose faith and hope……..”I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world”…….God is at work - Trust the plan!

“And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day”

Today we heard in the first reading from Mass how the first Catholics were forced from their homes due to persecution…And throughout this trial, God did not abandon them…He used this unfortunate situation to help spread his Kingdom….I am sure while the first Catholics were going through this difficult period, they probably could not “see” the good coming out of their hardship…But God was at work! - His ways are not our ways and His ways are always above our ways!……Many times in life we will not “see” how any good can come from outright horrible situations and events….In those moments, its important to “step back” and be patient…God can turn the worst of events into something that can benefit us - But that takes grace and that takes time…..So give God time and open yourself up to his grace……”I will go before you and level the mountains; Bronze doors I will shatter, iron bars I will snap. I will give you treasures of darkness, riches hidden away, That you may know I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by name”…….Somethings when we “grope in darkness” and do not see any hope…That is when God is closest to us - Guiding us - Teaching us…And when the “dust clears” we are transformed…..God’s ways are not our ways - Learn to trust him…………JMJ

And I “thought” you believed what was in the Bible?

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St John - Jesus tells us very clearly that to be a Christian is to live Sacramentally…His Body is true food and his blood is true drink - Where does the confusion come from? - The answer - The confusion comes from us!…..“Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world”…..Where would the world be without the Blessed Sacrament? - While many people disregard the importance of the Holy Eucharist…Millions do not…..Jesus tells us, particularly in the Gospel of John that we have “no life within us” if we do not feed upon his Body and Blood…..How are we to live as Catholics without this heavenly food,  given our fallen nature? - The answer is - We can not!…..Being a Christian is not something we simply profess with our words - Its a way of living…And if we do not utilize the Sacraments, making them apart of our life - If we do not rely on Our Lady…While we can say all day long we “believe” in God - There is NO WAY we will live the Beatitudes and follow the Commandments - We are all sinners and all of us are weak by our nature as human beings…Being a Catholic does not begin and end with our Baptism - We must slowing be transformed….This is why a Sacramental life is vital - Not optional…..Some in the Christian world believe when we die we immediate enter into heaven…Catholic Teaching tells us we must be in union with God before we stand before the Beatific Vision and without allowing Sacramental grace to sanctify us - This process for most takes years!!! - How are we going to stand before God?

“I am the bread of life, says the Lord; whoever comes to me will never hunger”

Because Jesus founded one Church and that Church is Sacramental in nature - How do we as Catholics articulate that message to the world?….Do we, in the name of being “politically correct” pretend that reality does not exist?….And if we do - How do we “think” we are helping others?……Clearly we can not argue anyone into the doors of the Catholic Church nor does it do anyone any good to “beat” them over the head with “Truth-Bombs”….But if we are not clear in proclaiming the perennial teachings of the Church - Ask yourself this question - How many people are “lost” in the process?….We as Catholics, when it comes to speaking the Truth and teaching the Catholic faith must be bold - This requires charity but also clarity….Is this going on today?…..In the name of being “pastoral” - In the name of being “ecumenical” - In the name of being “politically correct”…Do we do the world a disservice?

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

Today we are affirmed at Mass in our Catholic faith by the words of St John…..Of the three Gospels, St John’s Gospel stands apart - Maybe because John was the “Beloved Disciple” - He was the youngest of the original twelve and because of his youth, his heart was probably the purest - He also lived with Our Lady for years, caring for her after Jesus death……Because of those factors, John was very special and because he was special - He should pay very close attention to the words he wrote……St John tells us today - That being Christian means living Sacramentally - There is no other way to interpret his words - So why do so many “Bible-Believing” Christians twist his words?….St Paul warns us…That man hears what his “itchy ears” want to hear……This is the result of pride and our fallen nature as human beings - All the more reason why we must live Sacramentally!…..If we say we “believe what is in the Bible” - Well - Then you would be Catholic! - RIGHT?….”Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves”……The words of Scripture are very clear - Do we only hear what our “itchy ears” want to hear?…….The Church Jesus founded was Catholic! - Its all written in the Bible and its very clear………And I “thought” you believed what was in the Bible?………………JMJ

”Thy will be done!”

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St John…Jesus just fed five thousand people miraculously and crowds of people were looking for him….Why were they looking for him?…Was it because of the miracle he performed or was it because he was God and was inviting them to change their life?……."Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal." So they said to him, "What can we do to accomplish the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”………..The people of Jesus day could not “see” Jesus for who he really was…..Jesus was God and his own people advocated to have him killed…Even after the many miracles he performed…How could that be?….Its because Jesus did not conform into their “idea” of who God should be?…How about us today?….We hear even from the mouths of Catholics  - What is God’s will?….Is it that we do not know what God’s will is or is it we do not want to bend our own will to God’s will?…….When the people in Jesus’ day ask him…."What can we do to accomplish the works of God?" - Jesus gives a very simply answer - "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent”….The same answer applies today…..The will of God is found on the pages of Scripture and in the one Church Jesus founded…..Jesus cannot be separated from the Catholic Church - Its impossible to do so!…Yet people do it and then delude themselves that they are “following” the “will of God” when in fact they are following their own will……Is it that the will of God is unclear or is it that we refuse to “bend our knee” to it?…..Jesus showed us by his example what it meant to be obedient - And the importance of the virtue of obedience……“Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done”……Are we convinced that God’s plan is better than our plan? - Are we convinced that the Catholic Church, in its timeless teachings, are relevant to today’s world?….Or…..Do we rationalize God’s will away?….Do we ignore eternal truths and then “convince” ourselves that we “know” better?…In the one prayer Jesus gave us - The Our Father - We say - “Thy will be done”….Notice we do not say - “My” will be done…..Do we contradict ourselves? - Are our actions different from the words we speak as Catholics?…..The world is watching!!!!….If we want the unbelieving world to believe that the Catholic Church is the one true Church, which contains the fullness of Truth…There is only one way to go about showing it - “Thy will be done” - All day, everyday, and twice on Monday!

“I declared my ways, and you answered me; teach me your statutes. Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds”

When we do to Mass, before we go up to receive the Blessed Sacrament, Mother Church in her wisdom has us recite the Nicene Creed.…In reciting the Creed, we profess everything we believe…Why do we do this before we receive the Blessed Sacrament?….Because we cannot consume Jesus, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, in the Blessed Sacrament and not be in “communion” with him is our beliefs….This is why we say the Creed publicly before we go up to receive Holy Communion…..And if we do not believe something that the Church teaches, we should not receive the Blessed Sacrament but instead take some time to pray about what we “have an issue with” - And with prayer and with the good counsel of a solid priest - The Holy Spirit will “open our mind” to why the Church teaches what it teaches….Is this what is going on today?….Do we have Catholics who “pick and choose” what they believe and do not believe when it comes to Church teaching?………..Many years ago, in my late twenties, I was in giving my confession and an old priest was trying to guide my interpretation of what perfect chastity was for a non-married Catholic as defined by the Church…And I can recall literally arguing with this priest in the confessional - Can you imagine!!!!!…..If we are not challenged when we go “off the road” how are we to get “back on track”?…….The Church must instruct its people……..This begins in the home - It must also take place in Catholic schools and Universities and it lastly must be done from the pulpit…….Doing the will of God does not magically happen!……Before we do God’s will - We must know what it is……This is why sound Catholic teaching is so important…..Our world today “thinks” we just “float into heaven” on our terms…..You hear this at funerals all the time……I got some news for you - It does not work that way!……The “theme song” in hell is - “I did it my way”

“Remove from me the way of falsehood, and favor me with your law. The way of truth I have chosen; I have set your ordinances before me”

Today we hear in St John’s Gospel at Mass people asking Jesus - "What can we do to accomplish the works of God?" - Jesus was a simple man and his response was equally simple….”This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent”……If we say we “believe” in Jesus Christ, then it only makes sense that we would believe everything he said and taught - Right?!? - So the question is - Do we?…..Jesus Christ because he is God and is the only person in history to rise from the dead - That reality gives him authority - Right?!?….Jesus is the only one with authority and he gave that authority to the one Church he founded…..”You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”…….To ignore reality is a “bad plan”…Trying to fight God is like trying to hold back the ocean - It cannot be done…Ultimately we all die and all of us will stand before God - We will be judged not by “our standards” but by God’s standards - Why? - Because God is the only one who has authority - He is perfectly merciful and perfectly just…The sooner we accept that reality, the better our lives will be…Heaven is “God’s House”, therefore God makes the rules!…….Remember - Its “thy will be done” not “my” will be done………..”Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name”……….What is good for the master is also good for the servant….......”Thy will be done!”…..JMJ

”For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be”

Today at Holy Mass in the second reading from the Book of Peter we hear that our time here on earth is a pilgrimage….The words used by Peter to describe this pilgrimage were as follows: “Conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning”…..Do we think in this manner? - That we are not to build our Kingdom here on earth but our Kingdom is an eternal one in heaven and that we are simply “traveling” towards it……If we think in this manner, as all Catholics should, clearly our choices will reflect this mindset - Right?……How do we spend our money?…..Do we strive at all costs to gain social status?…..If God’s Kingdom is the place we want to arrive at - Because “getting into heaven” is not a guarantee! - How we conduct ourselves and the choices we make around the goals we establish for our life will tell the world everything it needs to know…..Money is a subject that makes Catholics uneasy…..God has given us all gifts and the distribution of gifts as we know is not equal for all people - Some have more then others…..But here is “the deal” - For those who have been given much - What does that statement imply? - Do we share?………..No one ever became poor by sharing…First clearly we must provide for our family - We must educate our children and care for their needs - All of this requires money - Speaking of children - Are we are Catholics open to having children as we have promised in making our wedding vows? - Do we use contraception?……And if we do - Why do we use contraception? - Is it to enjoy a lavish lifestyle spending our money on ourselves?…..And if we have been given material gifts - Do we live modestly?…Do we “show off” with ostentatious purchases? - A huge home - Expensive cars - Lavish clothing and jewelry…..Once again - No one expects anyone to live in a “box” on the street…But the choices we make with our money as Catholics tells the world what our priorities are…..It also tells the world that we are living according to the first two commandments or not living by them….Loving God above all things and loving our neighbor as ourself……Many people today profess with their words that they believe in Christ….I will tell you a good “test” to evaluate those words….Show me your checkbook - How do you spend your money?….That test will tell you - And God for that matter - Everything that needs to be said……”For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be”……Our “Kingdom” is either an earthly one or a heavenly one….We as Catholics are to be in the world but not be of the world…Is this how we live?…Because we are not “fooling” anyone!…….“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal”…..We either believe this or we do not….And if we believe it - How we spend our money will tell the world exactly what we believe - No words necessary!

“Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us; make our hearts burn while you speak to us”

Many years ago my family was driving through a community near the ocean - Many of the homes were very big and beautiful and as we were driving along, my aunt said something that I thought was interesting….”Look at all these big homes - They must all have big families”…..What my aunt said was very logical and you would think it was the case…But as we all know, living in a big home does not necessarily mean one has a big family…In fact, many very small families live in gigantic homes...…Why would one do this? - Why would a person spend all their money on a huge home and only have one child or no children at all?……How can such a choice be reconciled with our Catholic faith?…..This is a concrete example we all can relate to when it comes to money and our Catholic faith….When we tell the world we believe in God - Trust me! - The world watches us very closely….How are spending our money speaks much louder then our words…..Catholic families that are open to life - That have many children - That live modestly - That share with others and the poor…These families are witnesses to the Gospel in ways mere words spoken can never be….To be Catholic means we live sacrificially - There is no way around this reality!!!….That does not mean we have to live in a “box” - But it does mean we live to meet our needs not necessarily all our wants - Is this what we see in the Catholic Communities and families we all know?……If we are serious about God - If we profess to be Catholic and believe in everything the Church teaches…Then everything I just noted will make perfect sense…If the reader of this reflection as a “problem” with my words - Maybe one should pause and reflect…..In the Lords Prayer, the only prayer Jesus taught us - These words are used…..”Thy Kingdom come - Thy will be done - On earth as it is in heaven”…..One would think if we place God’s Kingdom first, we would work on making our life on earth more like what we all want to experience in heaven - Right?!?….That means sharing with others - That means living modestly - That means placing people over material things and wants - And for married Catholics, that means being open to life…..Is this what is happening?….If it is not - Our words will all fall short - People believe not what we say as Catholics but by what they “see”.

"Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?"

Today we hear at Mass that how we “conduct” ourselves as we journey to heaven is very important - In fact, how we live and the choices we make as Catholics is all that really matters - If our words do not reflect our lifestyle…Not only will the world not believe in God but our faith will be professed in vain….When Catholics talk about money - People get uncomfortable - Trust me - “I get it”…..…Think about how “uncomfortable” we might be when we stand in front of God at our individual judgements? - Because what we did with our time, talents and treasure will be front and center!…………”For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous* will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’”…..Pay close attention!!! - This is on the “final exam”………….”For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be”…..JMJ
 

Because without God - We can do nothing!!!!!

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the Book of Acts how the first Catholics began to establish various roles within the Church…..Priests were to focus on preaching the word of God and Deacons were to care for the poor…..”So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word”……As Catholics each of us are called to different vocations…..Whether a priest, a couple that marries or someone who never marries and remains single…No matter what vocation God calls you too….Our life’s vocation is a “means to an end” - Its a path that we day by day die to our self and grow closer to God…Is this how you view your life - Your marriage? - Your Priesthood?…..Those who view their life in this manner are not only filled with God but are the most fulfilled in life….Each of us were made to be in union with God - And that does not happen over-night….And our vocation in life is the means by which we get to where God intended us to be…Notice in the first reading today from Mass how the role of the first priests were described to us…..”We shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word”…..A priest must have a deep interior life…If a priest does not pray daily, he will not be able to preach well, in fact, he will not be a good priest!…..That also goes for those Catholics who live in the married state, as well as whose are single too and very marry…Everything we do comes from our interior life…..If we do not live Sacramentally and pray daily - How are we do receive the needed grace required to live out our state in life as Catholics? - I got some news for you - Not going to happen!…..Everything we do - Everything we are  - All of it! - Relies upon grace…..Married couples who develop deep interior lives have good marriages….Priests who devote themselves to hours of daily prayer impact others in a profound way….Without God we can do nothing!…..Our “job” as Catholics is simply to “clear away” our sins Sacramentally - Live Sacramentally, according to the state of life God calls you too - Pray daily - Fast weekly…..By and through that model for living - God will animate our life, manifesting himself in and through us, using our unique gifts and talents to impact the world around us….However, if our interior life is not deep, we “sell ourself short” - What we will find is, living the Catholic life, no matter what our vocation may be, is impossible!…..However, when we become a “conduit of God’s grace” - God magnifies himself through us - And then all things, which we thought were impossible suddenly become possible!…..What should this reality tell us? - God is the source - We are not! - No matter how “gifted” you “think” you are!!!!………So “tap into” God’s grace….Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the Unites States put it best: “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe”……This is why we must stay connected to the vine - Because everything we do relies upon it!……..”Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.  am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing”

“The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith”

I have been married for twelve years…My wife and I have five children….Our marriage is deeply rooted in our shared Catholic faith and both my wife and I live Sacramentally….Because of that, we have a strong and vibrant marriage………Each morning my wife and I get up before the children and pray separately for an hour…..For the most part, when our schedule permits, we both go to daily Mass….At the end of the day, we pray a family Rosary….On the weekends, in addition to our morning prayer ritual, we each spend an hour before the Blessed Sacrament….We both fast during the week: For the Church, Our family and the world…Once a month we both go to Confession as recommend by the saints…..And on Sunday we all go to Mass as a family….This is why our marriage is strong!!!!….It is strong because our interior life is deep and we both open ourselves up to God’s grace……God made marriage a Sacrament because in order for a couple to have a good marriage and live sacrificially for each other and their children, we need grace…Our “modern world” today is not convinced of this necessity…..Without grace marriages fail because selfishness “creeps in” and selfishness is the “killer” of authentic love…..When married couples come to understand once again that staying connected to God is not “optional” but vital - Strong families will emerge, which in turn will produce healthy children, which in turn will produce healthy communities, which in turn will produce a healthy nation, which in turn will produce a healthy world…..From our interior life - All that happens and without developing a deep interior life - None of it happens!

“Upright is the word of the LORD, and all his works are trustworthy. He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full”

Today once again at Mass in the Book of Acts, we hear about the early Church….Each person was tasked with a different role, each according to their unique gifts and talents….The same goes for us and the Church today….In order for us to reach our full potential, we must stay connected to “the vine”…Everything we do relies upon this reality……Many people today will say that its “impossible” to live in the “real world” as an authentic Catholics…How can a priest remain celibate? - How can a marriage couple not use contraception and be open to life? - How can a married couple stay faithful and be married for life? - How can a single Catholic live in perfect chastity?….The answer to all those questions is - Without God - None of those things are going to happen!!!!!!….But if we live Sacramentally - If we develop a daily prayer life - If we fast weekly - If we attend Mass and receive the Blessed Sacrament at Mass and confess our sins monthly - All those things I noted above and more will happen!…Our world today is a “mess” because we have “disconnected” from God….Once we “reconnect” all things will “fall into place”….Because without God - We can do nothing!!!!!………….JMJ