”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

Stay the course - Straight ahead

Today at Holy Mass in the first readings a man by the name of Gamaliel says something the world today should pay very close attention too…..”For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God”…Centuries have past since Christ walked the earth and when he was with us in human form, he told us very clearly - “I am the Truth”…The Truth cannot be destroyed…Its written into human DNA…We can ignore it - Disregard it  - Twist it…But it is what it is!…The Truth never changes and always remains the same…..The Truth also always has the last word…History shows us this time and time again…So why to we ignore this reality?…..God is reality and God placed the Natural Law upon the human heart…We as people can not escape this aspect of our nature and when we try to “run” from God - Life spins out of control and something deep within us breaks…..But human pride being what it is refuses to accept reality….We refuse to bend our will to God, who wants nothing but the best for us - But we are not convinced…And history repeats itself over and over again……Gamaliel was a wise man - He understood human nature and he also understood that God’s will can not be overcome by mankind…Do we understand this?….Jesus Christ was one man - The only man in history to rise from the dead….He also created a Church….One cannot separate Jesus (the head) from the Church he created (the body) - Yet people all over the world try to attempt the impossible and in the end - They are the ones who suffer….The Church that Jesus created is Sacramental and the Sacraments are divinely infused…..Why did Jesus give us this Church and why did he ask us to live Sacramentally? - The answer - Because we need the Sacraments - We need Our Lady - And if we “think” we are going to live as Christ asked us to without living a Sacramental life - We are only fooling ourself - Never forget - Human nature is broken - That is why Jesus walked the earth as a man and gave us a Church….Our Lady too was given to us in order to guide us to her son - There is no more direct path to Jesus - No one knows the son better than the Mother!…Again, the world “thinks” it can do it all by itself………WRONG!……The Catholic Church was founded by God himself and will be the last institution standing at the end of time…..Remember these very wise words….”For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God”…Those who have ears - Let them hear…Time to “join the winning team” - Its the “best game in town”

“One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God”

If you follow Catholic Social Media, one will find many “voices” who have a multitude of “problems” with the Pope, with the hierarchy, with Church teaching…etc…etc…etc…..Some voices are more reliable then others and the Church while having a divine element to it, also has a human element, which subjects it to flaws…”I get it”….But when you look at what is in our control - The only thing we control for that matter is ourselves….We can not “fix” other people - So why spend so much time complaining and trying to do the impossible?!?…..This is why we must focus on the basics - What I call first principles…..Monthly Sacramental Confession, Daily Rosary, Weekly Mass….These are the basics and if make these three practices apart of our life….We will never “stray” from “the path”…We may “fall” here or there but once we do we will “get back up” and continue on…That is all we have to do - So why do we make something that is simple so complicated?….If Jesus is God and if Jesus rose from the dead…Which we all agree is true…And if Jesus founded one Church……Don’t you think we must be apart of it?….Also, if Jesus is God - Don’t you think that everything that he said, which was record in the Gospel is also true? - The man rose from the dead - Right?!? - If all that is true - That means we must listen to him - Its really not that complicated! - Yet people make it complicated!….Our world today is no different than the people we hear about in the first reading from Mass today….”We have “better ideas” then God” - “We figured it all out on our own” - How shortsighted and how foolish a mindset that is…..God is reality - The Catholic Church is not going anywhere - And salvation is found by and through Jesus Christ….We can not save ourself and we do not enter heaven on “our terms”….“Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came [before me] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture” - Today we find many “voices” in the world telling us otherwise………..…”Many false prophets will arise and deceive many; and because of the increase of evildoing, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved”…..Turn down the “noise” and if you do - You will hear the voice of God pointing you forward…..The devil is found in “noise” - God is found in silence…..Make the time and listen in the silence…In doing so you will find the one and true God…Do you know what else you will find?…You will find the one Church God founded - The Catholic Church…Because God only founded one Church…..The “rest” were founded by mere men…And men cannot save themself!

“I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD”

Today once again at Mass in the Book of Acts the Jewish teachers of the law try to “hold back the ocean” - They keep trying to prevent God from being God - That is impossible!…It was impossible two thousand years ago and it is impossible today……God’s plan of salvation is still being written and in the mean time, we as Catholics were given everything we need…We have the Church - We have the Sacraments - We have Our lady…What else do we need?!!?…..Maybe its time to stop complaining and get back to the “basics”…Our job is not to save the world or “fix the Church”…Our “job” is to be faithful and obedient - To bend our will and humble our pride ….As we say in New Jersey - “Stay in your lane”…..And if you do - You will “get” where you need to go……Stop trying to “out-do” God - It can’t be done - You don’t have a “better plan”….Stay the course - Straight ahead……….JMJ

Come hell or high water - "We must obey God rather than men”

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the Book of Acts that the Apostles were in trouble again…..Here is the question - How can men who are wed to the Truth be in trouble?…One would think that such men would never be in trouble with the authorities…Right?……WRONG!….The Truth divides and it divides to this very day…If we commit to following Christ - We too will make enemies….Now, that clearly is not our goal but it is reality…..The world is not having it!……Nothing has really changed from the time of the first Apostles to this very day…..For example……At you Christmas party at work - Tell your co-workers you believe contraception is a sin - See what happens……Tell your next-door neighbor that you believe divorce is a sin - See what happens……..At Thanksgiving dinner, tell your cousin who is cohabitating with her boyfriend that they are living in objective mortal sin - See what happens……..The Truth divides!!!!!!…..As Catholics we must reconcile ourselves to this reality - We were not put on this earth to “go along to get along” - We were given life by God to “set the world on fire”!……So again today, we hear at Mass that the first Apostles were in trouble…..And when they were brought to court to testify for their “crimes” - This was the exchange that took place…."We gave you strict orders did we not, to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man's blood upon us." But Peter and the Apostles said in reply, "We must obey God rather than men”…….This should be our response, as well as the guiding principle of our life……"We must obey God rather than men”……….Are we so concerned with what other people think that we “water down” our Catholic faith?…….From our Church pulpits do we selectively preach the Truth and “leave out” aspects of Catholic teaching which are difficult to live by?…….How do we vote?……Do we place God above all things?……..Idols are created in our life in subtle ways…..If we find that we have created an idol, we must work to “tear it down”…..Catholics must live for an “audience of one” - And that audience is God - And let the “chips” fall where they may

“You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe!”

Years ago one of my childhood friends told me that he was gay…..I knew my friend Ed from grammar school and frankly I never thought for a moment that he was gay….At the time we were all in our late twenties……I expressed to Ed, that I was still his friend but as a Catholic I disapproved of his lifestyle….Sadly, our friendship was never the same since that moment…..Ed went on to live a homosexual lifestyle and as time went on, our friendship all but ended……Speaking personally, I have no hard feelings towards Ed - And the “door” will always be open to him as far as continuing our friendship…But as a Catholic, I will not pretend that living in objective mortal sin is a “good thing”…..We do not do anyone any favors by ignoring reality - And reality is that mortal sin is real - And if the Church does not address the sins of our society directly - Who will?…..As a father of five children, its my job to form my children and if they “go off the path”, its my job to teach them the right way to live - I do that first and foremost by my example…..What we as Catholics must fully “digest” is societies idea of “good” is very different from God’s idea of “good”…..We hear this all the time at funerals…..”John was such a “good” guy”…..”John must be in heaven” - Really? - John left his wife, remarried and never went to Mass……The standards of “men” mean very little to God and society does not determine Truth - Only God does…….Do we fear being “left out” if we authentically live our Catholic faith?….Because the reality of the matter is this - If we live as authentic Catholics - Some people will take offense to you - Are you “ok” with that?….Because that is reality and part of being an authentic disciple of Jesus Christ…..”We must obey God rather than men”…This is how the first Apostles addressed the “mob” when they were about to be punished…And that is exactly how we are too address the “mob”…….”Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master”….May God give us the grace to endure until the very end!

“The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony”

The first reading at Mass today should serve as a model for us….The first Apostles were bold and courageous…..This is what the Catholic Church needs today - Bold and Courageous witnesses…….If we take the time to read what the Catholic Church teaches and has taught perennially, you will see that our world today as a very different idea of what is “good” then the standards established by God….And if we as Catholics write all these things down and claim to posses the fullness of Truth - Are we teaching these Truths in our homes? - In our schools? - And proclaiming the fullness of Truth from our pulpits at Mass? - Do we live the teachings of the Church in our daily lives? - In our marriages? - How do we spend our money? - How do we treat people we work with?……The answer to all these questions tells the world if we are Catholic or not….And this is how we will be judged by God - Not by what we say but by what we do….Wearing a cross around your neck does not make you a Christian….Jesus was nailed to a Cross and was brutally tortured because he spoke the Truth….And somehow we “think” today that we will not have to suffer, to one degree or another because we are Catholic?…….”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”…….God gave us life - Not to “go along to get along” - But to spend our life in service of God and neighbor - Only to one day return to God……As a Catholic married man and a father of five children - There is a sign that hangs on my wall in my home for everyone to see…..”As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD”…..Come hell or high water - "We must obey God rather than men”……..JMJ

Don’t make what is simple complicated

Today at Holy Mass we hear in St John’s Gospel why some follow Jesus - And why some do not - Can something so important be explained so simply?……..”And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God”….It real is that simple!…….Any person of “good will”, with an open and objective heart, who sincerely seeks the Truth will always end up in the same place - The Catholic Church…..A friend of mine who is a priest told me something I will always remember……There are many people in the world who have “issues” with the Catholic Church…But under all the “issues” they speak of, there is one big “issue” they don’t speak about - And its that “issue” that keeps them from becoming Catholic - Could be they had a failed marriage and remarried outside the Church - Could be they suffered a huge injustice in their life and they blame God - Could be they had an abortion and refuse to reconcile their sin to God…….The Truth is the Truth - And when a person sincerely seeks the Truth - They ALWAYS find God and his Church…….Jesus tells us….”I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd”………….”My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me”……….In the hearts of all mankind is a desire to find God…Nothing can take that desire away and nothing we can do or achieve on this earth can replace that desire…..God placed this desire within each of us, so we will “search him out” during the course of our life……We can ignore God - We can run from God - We can try to substitute “things” for God…And many people do just that - But the desire for God is still there………..The great St Augustine put it best…”The human heart is restless until it rests in God”….This is reality!!!! - And there is no other way to find peace in this life outside of God…..We can run but we cannot hide!

“Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him”

To live in the Truth takes courage!….Our world today runs from Truth….And to be an authentic Catholic, one must fully embrace the Truth, which is God himself…..Jesus very clearly said - “I am the Way - The Truth and The Life” - Notice he did not say - “I am the custom”…..One can not say that they believe in Jesus Christ and not fully embrace the Truth in all its fullness……And if we say we love someone - As many of us say we love God - That relationship must also be grounded in Truth - And if it is not - The relationship will fail…..This is why so many marriages fail today……Our world does not understand what love real is….We say today - “Love is Love”…But words fall short…Love is sacrificial and if a person says they love another and are not open to self sacrificial love - Their words fall short and are empty…….Marriage can only be defined by a life long commitment, which is open to life, between one man and one woman……There is no substitute…..If a marriage is founded upon anything else outside of Truth, the likelihood that it will fail is very high…And if it “lasts”, the people involved will not he happy…Why? - Because for there to be authentic love - There must be Truth……This is why when a married couple uses contraception, they in turn say something to their spouse “without saying it” out loud…”I only love you to a point”….”I am not willing to completely sacrifice my enter self for you”…..And that attitude bleeds into other aspects of that marriage, which in turn, brick by brick will destroy it……A Catholic marriage open to life is a marriage open to Truth….This is part of the vows we make on the altar of God when we say “I do”…..And because the “modern world” uses contraception to the degree that it does….Marriage and family life has been for the most part destroyed…..Words like -  “Freedom” - “Love” - “Truth”…..These words are used by many and used often - But are we really interested in them? - Do we even know what such words mean?……If we are sincerely interested in “Freedom” - “Love” - “Truth”…..If we seek those things with an open, sincere and objective heart - We will all ultimately end up in the same place…..”My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me”

“Taste and see how good the LORD is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him”

Today at Mass St John tell us very clearly and boldly why some people follow Jesus authentically and why others do not…..Being Catholic is not really very complicated - We make it complicated…Jesus was a simple man and he told us…”Unless you become like children - You will not enter the Kingdom of God”….Children, as we all know are also very simple - I have five of them under eleven years old - So I know!……That is why Jesus instructs us in a way that even a child can understand…..Yet, the “sophisticated world” in which we live in today tells us something very “different” - That God is a myth and the Catholic Church is outdated - Interesting!…..Jesus was one man and he founded one Church…He also told us that he is - “The Way - The Truth - And The Life”….Human beings, no matter how smart we are or “sophisticated” for that matter do not determine Truth - The Truth is an “unmovable object” and no matter who we “think” we are, or what we achieved - When turn from the Truth or “pretend” that the Truth does not exist - There are consequences!……People today like to say - “I have my truth and you have your truth”……Such a statement is nonsense! - There is only one Truth and that Truth comes to us as a man - Jesus Christ….And those who “hear his voice” will find authentic freedom, peace, joy and love - And those who ignore the voice of God - They will not - “Substitutes” for God will never “cut it”…Its really that simple - Even a child can understand….Maybe that is why Jesus said we unless we become like children, we will not enter the Kingdom of God……Don’t make what is simple complicated…………………JMJ

What man can not do - God will do - May they all be one!

Today at Holy Mass we hear again in the first reading from the Book of Acts…We are told that the Church was unified…..”The community of believers was of one heart and mind”…….One of the greatest scandals in the entire history of Christendom has to be the divisions within the Christian family….How can we project to the world the saving message of Jesus Christ when we can not even agree with fellow believers?…..Even within the walls of the Catholic Church today, division and disunity is everywhere - How is this possible?!?….As far as the Catholic Church is concerned, everything is written down - Everything! - Yet, our people twist and “spin” words like politicians to suit agendas….This is a great scandal - One in which breaks the heart of Christ!…..If we are fortunate enough to enter heaven - God willing!!!!! - All people will be of one mind and one heart - Have you ever thought about that?….When we pray the only prayer Jesus gave to us - The Our Father - We say with our own words - “Thy Kingdom come - On earth as it is in heaven” - We actually say those words!!!!! - And yet division still exists - What a scandal!!!!!…..How do we expect to enter the Kingdom of God when we “hold on” to ideologies and agendas that contradict the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his Holy Catholic Church…….If we believe that the Catholic Church is divinely guided, which it is…If we believe that the Pope, who is a man, but a man chosen by God himself to guide the faithful…If we believe that the Catholic Church, the only Church founded by Jesus himself contains the fullness of Truth…And lastly - This is the tough part - If we bear patiently with those both inside and outside the Church that twist and spin the Truth, knowing God himself with “untwist” what man can not fix…..That for me is the toughest part - Do you agree? - Bearing patiently with others in charity!…..If we do “all those things” - God will bring about unity - In his time……..Once again - Let us look to the only prayer Jesus gave us - The Our Father - "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us"……Each of us is flawed and because of that we must bear with and forgive each other - Knowing that God is the “master builder”…..”A voice proclaims: In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be lifted up, every mountain and hill made low; The rugged land shall be a plain, the rough country, a broad valley. Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken”…….Sometimes we must just “be still” and know that what man can not do - God will do - Christian unity will one day be achieved….Do your part in the meantime

"'You must be born from above.'The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Every Catholic should read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which was published by Pope John Paul II in 1992….In that book, which is very readable, contains everything that Church professes to be true….In addition to that book, every Catholic should also read the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, which lays out the social teachings of what the Church professes to be true - This document was also published by Pope John Paul II……Once we read these two documents - We must then avail ourselves to God’s grace - Only through grace will we “bend our will” to what is contained in these two books….Everything the Catholic Church professes to be true is “do-able” - But only through grace…..No matter how gifted we are”think” we are - We can not self manufacture our will to comport with God’s will……”The cup must be made empty for milk to be poured into it”…..”The cup” is us! - In order for God’s Holy Spirit to animate our life, we must “make room” for it……Then what seems impossible will become possible……..In this day and age - How can a married couple not use contraception? - Children are expensive!!!!!…….On my wedding day, this was on my mind……So much so, I pulled the priest who concelebrated my wedding Mass to speak with him…He assured me that “God will provide”……And fast forward twelve years later - My wife and I have five children - We also lost three through mis-carriages…..And while life is not easy, as one could image with five children under eleven years old - Our family manages - God does provide!!!….We as Catholics must learn to trust….God’s plan is better than our plan!…..And Christian unity is found in God’s plan - Not “our plan”

“If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?”

Today we hear at Mass that the early Church “was of one heart and mind”…What a beautiful time it must have been to be Catholic - Today sadly, we face a different Church altogether - Between divisions within the Catholic Church itself, petty arguments, disobedience and lack of formation - Not to mention the thousands of Protestant denominations that exist all over the world - We sadly are very far from the unity that Jesus hoped for….What are we doing to improve this sad state of affairs?…First off - Do we know what the Church actually teaches and why it teaches it? - Secondly, when we see others depart from Church teaching - Are we charitable?….Ultimately we can not convince people of anything - Only the Holy Spirit can “convict” a soul of its errors…In the mean time, do we bear patiently with each other? - Do we offer a good and consistent example?……God will fix what man cannot fix - And at the “end of the day” - There will be one Church - One people with One heart and One mind…..For those of us who believe everything the Catholic Church teaches now - We have to leave the “heavy lifting to God” - We cannot “fix” what God can only fix!……..”Every mountain and hill will be made low; The rugged land shall be a plain, the rough country, a broad valley”……What man can not do - God will do - May they all be one!…..JMJ

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