Because the road to life is “narrow” and “the gate” is wide that leads to destruction

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the first reading from the Book of Kings that the Assyrian Army was on the verge of destroying Jerusalem…And as one could imagine, the people were terrified….Interestingly enough, God spares the city against all odds……”For out of Jerusalem shall come a remnant, and from Mount Zion, survivors”…..Jesus Christ who came from the line of David, is that “remnant” and modern day Catholics are apart of that “remnant as well…..When we look at the world today, geopolitically speaking, things are changing - Power is shifting constantly - Even in within the walls of the Church - As Pope Paul VI said in 1972….”From some fissure the smoke of Satan has entered the temple of God”…What did Pope Paul VI mean by that? - Simply put, a “worldly spirit” has entered the Church - A spirit that complies to a degree with secular culture - A “spirit” that attempts to appease society as opposed to lifting society up - A “spirit” that fears “offending”  - A “spirit” that does not clearly call our people to “Repent and Believe the Gospel” as the great John the Baptists famously cried out……Now do not get me wrong - This is not the enter Catholic Church but make no mistake about it - Such a “spirit” exists to this day and Pope Paul VI, who was declared a saint called it out correctly…But notice the message from the first reading today at Mass when Jerusalem was on the verge of being destroyed by pagan invaders……”For out of Jerusalem shall come a remnant, and from Mount Zion, survivors”….The Truth cannot be destroyed - Nor can the Church!…There is an old saying - “Man plans and God laughs” - God ALWAYS makes a way for the “remnant” - Even to this very day - And within the the walls of the Catholic Church, the remnant exists!!!……..St Matthew in the Gospel today at Mass addresses this same idea from the first reading - This idea of the “remnant”, those who remain faithful - St Matthew even tells us how we are to be apart of this “remnant”…..“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few”……One of the greatest deceptions of the devil, over the course of the last hundred years, was the idea that we can get to heaven on “our terms”, that being a “good guy” gets us into the Kingdom of God and the secular world determines this “Good Guy Standard”….This was one of the greatest deceptions ever put forth by the devil…Our world today does not believe in sin, it does not believe in the devil, it does not believe in hell and it does not believe in judgement - Yet everyone is going to heaven!….I will say it again - This was maybe the devil’s greatest deception EVER!…….Today at Mass. we are told something completely different - We are told of a “remnant”, which is a small group of people who survive a great trial - We are also told of entering through a “narrow gate”, which leads to heaven…..Do we still believe the lie told to the world by the devil? - That the door is wide, not narrow that leads to eternal life?…….Be apart of the “remnant”, it exists, you just have to search it out - Its there waiting for you!

“I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life”

Pope Benedict XVI famously stated that - “Having a clear Faith, based on the Creed of the Church, is often labeled today as a fundamentalism. Whereas, relativism, which is letting oneself be tossed and 'swept along by every wind of teaching', looks like the only attitude acceptable to today's standards. We are moving towards a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as certain and which has as its highest goal one's own ego and one's own desires. However, we have a different goal: the Son of God, true man. He is the measure of true humanism. Being an 'Adult' means having a faith which does not follow the waves of today's fashions or the latest novelties”…….Is this the “kind of faith” we aspire to have? - Maybe a better question would be - Does our life mirror “that kind of faith”…To live in this manner WILL make you DIFFERENT - So again, another question is - Are YOU willing to be different?…..I remember when I was having my fifth child…I was fifty-one years old…My wife was about to have her fifth cesarean birth, which for those who do not know is the delivery of a baby through surgical incisions made in the belly and uterus…..And people thought we were CRAZY - My boss at work thought I was CRAZY - The doctors and nurses at the hospital thought we were CRAZY…And to make matters worse in the “eyes of the world”, we were having our fifth child during the COVD epidemic……Yet, my little Maria was born on the Feast Day of St Therese of Lisieux (October 1st) - A beautiful baby girl, who is now about to turn five years old…My wife and I love her beyond all telling!…A few more questions to ponder - Is being open to life in a marriage CRAZY? - Is welcoming children into the world CRAZY? - Many people today will tell you YES…But ask yourself honestly - Who is the crazy one?…To be authentically Catholic is to live radically…How do I know this? - Because Jesus was a radical! - And if we are to follow him, we too will live our lives “against the grain” (in a sense) of society….That does not make you CRAZY - It simply makes you Catholic!

“God upholds his city for ever…….Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain, fairest of heights, is the joy of all the earth”

Today at Mass we are told a message that contradicts a mainstream idea that American Christianity has embraced - That the door to heaven is open wide!…..Jesus tells us otherwise today…..”Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many”…..So you do you “believe”?…….The human mind, no matter how “smart” we “think” we are can rationalize away just about anything……Look around the world today, some of the most horrific crimes committed are not only rationalized away, by very intelligent people, but in some countries even are made legal - Take abortion as an example…Its very easy to forget that - “God’s ways are not our ways”…God views the world very differently then human being do - And if we want to go to heaven, which I would like to think everyone does - We have to do things God’s way……Right? - That seems to make sense and is logical - Right?!? - Sadly, many people today continue however - “To hear what their itchy ears want to hear”…..To be authentically Catholic does not make you a “fundamentalist” - It simply makes you part of the “remnant” - And only the “remnant” will enter eternal life….How do I know this? - Because the road to life is “narrow” and “the gate” is wide that leads to destruction…………..JMJ

Be Still - Trust, Pray & Fast - “Every mountain and hill made low”

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Matthew Jesus tells us to address our own “issues” before we address the “issues” of others…..”Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?”…..When my children fight with each other and then tell me or my wife what their brother or sister did wrong - I constantly tell them - “Worry about yourself, that is a full time job!”……Its very easy to “see” the faults of others, to point to them and even criticize them…..It’s something all together different to address our own faults and trust me - We all have them!…..This is why frequent Sacramental Confession is vital and must be made available to the Catholic faithful once again…..Each time we confess our sins, we are reminded of the fact that we are  flawed and that is a good thing - Why? - Because it humbles us…Its very easy to forget the fact that we are sinners when we get the “big things” right as practicing Catholics…Jesus goes on today in the Gospel to tell us….”For as you judge, so will you be judged,
and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you”…..Objective Truth cannot change but with that said, when we see others fail in their life to measure up to what the Catholic Church teaches - We have no power to change that person…And if we care about them, and we should, all we really can do is pray and fast for them….We can also give a good example…That is about it! - Constantly criticizing people for their faults and sins does no one any good…..And as Jesus said today…We will be “measured” by the same “measure” we evaluate others by - And that is a scary thought! - And good reminder indeed!……But this idea of “judging others” does not mean excusing bad behavior or mortal sin…Objective Truth can not change and clearly as Catholics we want what is best for others and the Universal Church….Speaking about what needs to be addressed in the Church in a charitable manner is needed and should take place….And if what we say is ignored - Pray and Fast - For the world and the Church!…And leave the rest up to God - Trust me - God will address what needs to be addressed in time!

“The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart”

The teachings of the Catholic Church are perfect - However, the people in the Catholic Church are far from perfect - That includes me!….There was a time in my life when I saw the many flaws of Priests, Bishops & Cardinals - Whether it was statements made, how they presided over the Mass or simply how they preached from the pulpit….When I saw these flaws - I would go ballistic!!!!…..As the years have passed, I realized that my reaction did not change the situation and it only took away my inner-peace…..So I decided to take a different approach - Every Wednesday, I fast for the Church and in doing so I channel my frustrations, allowing God to use my fast to renew what needs to be renewed and address what needs to be addressed…As this Wednesday practice continued in my life, I found I would not get as upset at the faults of others - While I still saw those faults, I was more at peace…God gave me grace through my fast and I am sure too God is using my Wednesday fasting for the great good others….I share this with the readers of this reflection and offer the practice of fasting for the Church and the clergy as a suggestion…..Renewal of the Church can only happen from within the “Barque of St Peter” - That means leaving the Church is not an option, if you find yourself to be frustrated!…As St Peter famously said to Jesus when he was challenged - “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life”…..There comes a point when words do help the situation - When we get to that point - Pray and Fast!

“Give us aid against the foe, for worthless is the help of men……Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us”

Today Jesus in the Gospel asks us to stop criticizing others - He also reminds us of our own faults - Because we all have them…..Obviously as practicing Catholics we what the Church to thrive - And when injustices occur, we what them to be addressed…But what happens when they are not addressed due to the fallen nature of men?….Do we go ballistic?……Before we do, stop and pray…..Its important to address wrongs, but at the root of addressing a wrong there must be charity….And if we address what is wrong charitably and are efforts are ignored…Sometimes its best to simply pray and fast…..”As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words—go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town”….The perennial teachings of the Church will never be altered by men - And if people “try”, no matter who they are, they will fail in time! - So give it time, and let God work because God will work…..When we as Catholics stand with the Truth and suffer persecutions because of the Truth - Trust that God will defend us - Because he will - Just give it time and offer up your sufferings for the sins of the world…In the meantime - Pray and Fast……Human beings, both inside and outside the Church have tried to “change” Church teachings for centuries - And they all have failed! - And they will fail again!….There is only so much we can do individually, when we see the sins of men within the Church do the Body of Christ harm - But remember this -  God sees everything! - “For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light”…..And know this - ”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”…….Be Still - Trust, Pray & Fast - “Every mountain and hill made low”…..JMJ

“So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows"

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Matthew…We are told something that is repeated over and over again in Scripture…Be Not Afraid! - But here is the question - If Jesus says this so often - Why are see still so afraid?…..It’s very human to be afraid - “I get it” - But how do we overcome this fear we have to live out our Catholic faith in the public square?…The answer to that question is not one the reader may like to hear - We cannot overcome this fear on our own - Only grace can assist us in this battle - And it is a battle! - And that grace comes from a deep interior life, which allows God to work within our soul…..How did the martyrs face death serenely - How have countless saints over two thousand years boldly proclaimed the Truth in the face of overwhelming odds stack against them? - The answer once again is grace!……But grace does not come from us and if we do not “prepare the soil of our soul” for the “seed of grace” - We will always be afraid….."Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops”….After Jesus in St Matthew’s Gospel tells us what not to fear, he then tells us what to fear…..”And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna”……Many people today do not believe in hell - That there are negative consequences for our actions when we offend God - Today Jesus is telling us otherwise…God will judge us all and he will judge us on his terms - That means all mortal sin must be confessed to a Catholic Priest….To think otherwise is a self rationalization….The “opinions” of others, even our closest friends and family will not save us when we stand before God if we have committed mortal sin - So if all those “voices” mean very little, at arguably the most important moment of our life, our final judgement - Why are we so concerned with them now? - Why do we allow the “opinions” of the culture influence our actions and choices, especially when they take us away from God?……There is only one voice that matters - And its God’s voice - Live for an audience of one - And be not afraid!

“Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father"

One of the many great things about being Catholic is - Everything is written down! - All the dogmas, traditions and what we profess to believe is all written down….And now with the internet, we can so easily “look up” anything that we maybe unsure about…..With that said - How can so many within the Church be “confused”? - Debates rage on Catholic Social Media daily - But how and why? - Everything is written down!!!!! - Just read it and follow what the words say!!!!…But sadly, that is not how it works because of our fallen human nature - As St Paul has stated - “We hear what our itchy ears want to hear”…….But to live this way is a disaster!!!….So how do we learn to “ear” God’s voice objectively?….Let’s address this question - The first thing we must do is - We must purify our heart - But how do we do that? - By going to a Sacrament Confession once a month - This is what the saints tell us…If we frequently confess our sins Sacramentally - Slowly over time, God will purify our hearts and when that happens - Our “eyes will open” - So will our “ears”!….People assume that “raw intelligence” somehow will always allow us to “see and hear” the voice of God clearly - That if we are “smart” and educated, we will be able to “interpret” Catholic teaching properly…That too is a fallacy! - There are many brilliant minds in the Catholic Church, both past and present, that have made outrageous claims in the name of the Church teaching!…..What is needed to “see and hear” properly is a pure heart…What else is needed? - We need to create periods of silence in our life so we can “hear” the voice of God - Ideally, sitting in silence before the Blessed Sacrament….Its in the silence that God will address all our “issues” with Catholic teaching and because God knows us better then we even know ourself - Its in the silence before the Blessed Sacrament that Jesus will “speak a language only we can understand”…The goal of all this is to develop a “teachable” mentality towards God, his commandments and the teachings of the Catholic Church….Because “our opinions” really do not matter! - We have no authority - And we will ALL be judged by God’s terms not our own

“The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord; and you also will testify”

Today in the Gospel Jesus reassures us - Be Not Afraid……But the stark reality of the matter is - When it comes to living our Catholic faith in a world that rejects the Church, we will most definitely face fierce opposition - Expect it - But when we do and we feel afraid - Know this - That fear does not come from God!…The devil uses fear as one of his many “tools”…Fear limits our potential….The devil “whispers” into our ears and far too many times we “given in” to that fear…Discouragement and fear is not from God! - So when it comes to living out your Catholic faith and we face these very real emotions - Say a prayer to Our Lady - Say a prayer to St Joseph, who is the Terror of Demons!…..And most of all trust in God, who loves us…..What every Baptized Catholic must come to know is - God does not take from us - He only gives!….To live our Catholic faith fully is to be fully alive!!!! - Now the secular world will say otherwise - But in the end - “You tell a tree by the fruit is bears”…Jesus tell us that very clearly, that if we “adhere to the vine” our lives will “bear fruit” - And if we as Catholics do that - In time our life’s witness will “speak” loudly to the unbelieving world…..So do not be afraid! - Our Father in heaven is a King and we are ALL heirs to a Kingdom! - Remember that!…..”Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted………..So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows”……..JMJ

We will learn the hard way!

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the first readings from the Book of Chronicles how the kings of Judah forgot about God - And because of that - Their society began to break done…Sound familiar? - If it does not - Just look out your window!…..”After the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and paid homage to King Joash, and the king then listened to them. They forsook the temple of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and began to serve the sacred poles and the idols; and because of this crime of theirs, wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem. Although prophets were sent to them to convert them to the LORD, the people would not listen to their warnings. Then the Spirit of God possessed Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest. He took his stand above the people and said to them: "God says, 'Why are you transgressing the LORD's commands, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have abandoned the LORD, he has abandoned you’”…………Being on the “side of God”, or phrasing it in Catholic terms, living in a state of grace is not some “magical” pill that makes you (or a nation for that matter) prosper - However, when we “turn our back to God”, no matter who we are from the President of the United States to the person who sweeps the street - When we deliberately turn from God - Something within us “breaks”….And then life begins to unwind and fall apart - Why is what I just noted reality? - Because each of us comes from God and God’s “DNA” is in each and every cell of our body….The human person is not complete without God….Many secular people today will deny this reality but the outcome and consequences of that denial “speak volumes” - Again, I invite the reader of this reflection to simply “look out their window” - How are we doing as a nation?…..America makes a bold claim - “One Nation Under God”…..But is America really a Christian nation? - We abort our children up and until the moment of birth - We promote same sex marriage - We have participated in and have financially support unjust wars around the globe for decades that have killed millions…How can we as a nation possible say we are - “One Nation Under God”?…Now, that does not mean America does not have many devout Christians in it - But clearly our ruling class, based upon the policies they govern us by is not “on the side of God” - That claim in my view cannot be disputed…..And if God is just, which he is, how can he not “deal” with America on our own terms! - The very thought frankly is terrifying!!!!

"I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: Forever will I confirm your posterity and establish your throne for all generations."

There is something about living in the state of grace that makes a person come alive!!!…Jesus very clearly in the Gospel of St John tells us…..“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”…That is a very clear statement with no ambiguity!….If we are not consuming Christ in the Blessed Sacrament in the state of grace - WE HAVE NO LIFE WITHIN US - Did you catch that!!!!!…That implies that the entire world is meant to be grafted into the Catholic Church…Again, why? - Because we NEED to live Sacramentally….Why? - Because we are ALL sinners and if we do not reconcile our sins through confession with a priest and if we do not consume the Body and Blood of Christ to sustain us as we journey back to God - The likelihood that we will live as Jesus commands us - Did you catch that? - COMMANDS US! - Is slim to none - In other words - Don’t bet on it!…..Many Christian believe all we have to do, to get to heaven, is “Believe in Jesus”…That is flawed understanding of the Gospel…Jesus is not looking for “believers” - He is looking for followers!…And if you “think” you are going to follow Jesus Christ without Sacramental grace - I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn!….Human beings, no matter how gifted, cannot self manufacture grace and what Jesus asks of ALL of us is frankly very difficult - Let’s be honest!….That is why he established a Church and that is why he gave us his very Body and Blood to consume at Mass….Those who have ears - Let them hear!……”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”……It does not get any clearer than that!

"Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him, and my covenant with him stands firm. I will make his posterity endure forever and his throne as the days of heaven"

Today at Mass in the first reading we hear a story about the Israelites…Its a story that is repeated throughout the Old Testament….Exodus & Return - Exodus & Return - Exodus & Return!…..Every time the Jewish people turned their back on God, their society fell apart…This trend of Exodus & Return is also common throughout history…..When God is the priority of a society, everything else in life seems to fall into its proper place and when God is discarded, everything falls apart…In the Gospel today from Mass, St Matthew also calls us to face this reality……”Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides”……The mistakes of history will ALWAYS repeat themselves unless we learn from those mistakes…For as “smart” and “advanced” of a nation America is - Ask yourself this - Have we learned from the many examples of history what happens when a nation abandons God?…..Now let’s be clear - There are two ways to learn - The “easy way” or the “hard way”…It looks like America has made its choice - And like nations, empires and kingdoms before us - We will learn the hard way!………JMJ

“In God We Trust” - Are these just words? - Or do we believe them?

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Matthew Jesus tells us something most people do not want to accept…..“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. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be”…How we all (myself included) like to “hedge our bets”…..We trust in our bank accounts and jobs and do not fully trust God will provide…..Yes - We all have to work…..Yes - Money is required to buy the necessities of life - All that is one hundred percent true!…But do we trust God will provide the necessities of life for us?….And when we lack trust - Human nature “kicks in” - And we take matters into our own hands - And God is quickly forgotten…….Jesus tells us something in Scripture - Do you believe him? - “If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear? All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides”…….Our actions will tell the world if we believe these words of Jesus or not - How we live - What we prioritize - How we spend our time and money….This tells the world around us if we believe in these words or not…..Being Catholic boils down to this - We either strive to build a “kingdom” in one of two places…If our “kingdom” is here on earth - All our choices will be geared towards that choice….But if our Kingdom is in heaven - Our life will look completely different…We can not have it both ways! - And many people today “tell themself” that they can - That is a self-rationalization…..”No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon”……God did not create us to be “comfortable” - He created us to become a Holy People….Was John the Baptist “comfortable”?……Was St Joseph and Mary “comfortable”?….Was Jesus “comfortable”?....”Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no where to rest his head” - Why do we “think” our life should be any different?

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be”

When Mother Teresa was coming towards the end of her life she was asked by a reporter if she thought the Missionaries of Charity would continue after her death - This is what she said…”If the sisters do two things, the society will continue on…..”Center their life upon the Blessed Sacrament and hold fast to their vow of poverty”……In hearing that statement one may understand why she said the part about the Blessed Sacrament but why is living their vow of poverty so important? - A very interesting statement…Mother Teresa understood human nature and because she did, she knew that money corrupts just as power corrupts……When we become “too comfortable”, we easily forget God - But when we “feel” our mortality as a result of “lacking something material” - We cling to God…..This trend can be seen in history as well as in the lives of people we know today….And if you ask me, this is one of the driving problems with the Church today - Particularly in America - We are FAR TOO comfortable and as a result, the Church in some circles has become “lukewarm”…Conversely, look at the Catholic Church in Africa - Just the opposite is happening…The African Catholic Church is very poor - But it is thriving!…..This is just one example, and there are many, which proves the point Mother Teresa made to that reporter……Before Pope Benedict XVI became the Pope, he made a prediction about the future of the Church…….”From the crisis of today the Church of tomorrow will emerge -- a Church that has lost much. She will become small and will have to start afresh more or less from the beginning. She will no longer be able to inhabit many of the edifices she built in prosperity. As the number of her adherents diminishes, so it will lose many of her social privileges........But when the trial of this sifting is past, a great power will flow from a more spiritualized and simplified Church. Men in a totally planned world will find themselves unspeakably lonely. If they have completely lost sight of God, they will feel the whole horror of their poverty. Then they will discover the little flock of believers as something wholly new. They will discover it as a hope that is meant for them, an answer for which they have always been searching in secret.”…….The same “crisis” that Pope Benedict speaks of in the Church has also affected American Catholic families - We are far too comfortable! - And because of that, we have become “lukewarm”…..It’s simply human nature - And being keenly aware of our human nature is the first step to overcoming it with the help of God’s grace.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven”

Today in the Gospel, Jesus tells us all another “hard truth”….”For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be”……We cannot have it both ways!…..And if we try to have it both ways - The only people we are fooling is ourself!…At the root of this choice we ALL must make is a lack of trust…We ALL want to be in control of our present and our future but we fail to realize that “control” is a fallacy!…..When we learn to give up control and allow God to lead our life - Our trust in him will grow as we see how God ALWAYS provides for our needs….We have to stop “hedging our bets”…Its time to “burn the boats” and live radical lives of trust in the Lord……”Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides”…Do you believe that? - I mean REALLY believe that?!?…Because if you do and if you live those words - Your life will radiate Christ the world….And if you do not - Your life will not - Its that simple….When we ALL stand before God to be judged after we die, our money is no good! - The “currency of God” is an all together different currency then the US dollar - And God does not “negotiate” - He is perfectly merciful and perfectly just…….Printed on the US dollar are these words - “In God We Trust” - Are these just words? - Or do we believe them?…..JMJ

Jesus prayed - And because of that - Jesus stayed!

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Matthew, Jesus gives us the Lord’s Prayer - Interestingly enough, this is the only prayer that Jesus gave to his disciples….And it says everything we need to know….“In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This is how you are to pray: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions”…For those of us who pray the Rosary everyday, the words of this prayer come out of our mouth very easily, but do we stop and think about what we are saying?…..This prayer is a radical statement! - And if lived out - Its that much more radical!……I sometimes think we make our Catholic faith to complicated - Jesus was a simple man who walked among very simple people…The Catholic faith is not some esoteric creed, which only can be understood by elites - Its simple! - So stick to the basics……..We can dissect the Lord’s Prayer all day - I will leave that to the reader of the reflection to do - My suggestion today is this - When you pray your Rosary and recite the Lord’s Prayer - Think about the words you are saying…..Ponder these words - And then make the words become reality……Mere words spoken can not save us - Jesus echoes this message….”Do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them” - Did you catch that? - So slow down and listen to the words you are saying!

“All who worship graven things are put to shame, who glory in the things of nought; all gods are prostrate before him”

Do we pray everyday?…I am not talking about reciting a “wish list” to God either…God is not a “candy machine”, where we “put a coin” in “the machine” and a “treat” comes out…..Prayer changes us and this is why we must develop a daily prayer life…From our interior life, everything will flow and without a deep interior life, our faith will grow weak…….Over the years my wife and I have developed a daily prayer life as a married couple….We both get up very early each morning before our five children…..I read scripture and my wife prays the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet and meditates silently in front of a Crucifix….For the most part, both of us go to daily Mass…And as a family at the end of the day, we Pray the Rosary, a Novena to St Joseph and a prayer for our nation each night before bed…..On the weekend, we both do a Holy Hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament and of course we go to Mass together as a family each Sunday….From our prayer life, everything flows - Including this reflection that you are reading right now………Now, each family is different and so are we different as individuals - That reality implies that my prayer life may not be for you…However, we ALL need to develop a daily prayer life if we want to “stay connected” to the Lord…..As Jesus tells us very clearly…….“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. 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. I 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”…Its through our prayer life that Jesus “shapes us”….This takes time and it also takes our consent…We do not “magically” become the people God called us to be over night - And we do not “magically” float into heaven

“Then Elisha, filled with the twofold portion of his spirit, wrought many marvels by his mere word. During his lifetime he feared no one, nor was any man able to intimidate his will. Nothing was beyond his power; beneath him flesh was brought back into life. In life he performed wonders, and after death, marvelous deeds”

Today Jesus in the Gospel teaches us how to pray….Simple - Right?!?…..But do we make it simple and do we pray daily?……For a moment, let’s think about Jesus and the twelve apostles the night before Jesus was crucified in the Garden of Gethsemane….Jesus was fully aware of what he had to do - He was about to die a horrendous death for the sins of mankind! - So what does he do? - He prays….What do the twelve apostles do? - Because they too had a herculean task ahead of them - They were tasked with bringing the Gospel to every corner of the world……So what do they do on the night before their friend Jesus was about to be killed? - They slept! - And what happened? - They ran away……What can we today learn from this scene in the Garden of Gethsemane? - Jesus Prayed - Jesus Stayed!….And if we “stay connected” to God through our daily prayer - We too will stay!…..The next time you pray the Sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary and you mediate on the first mystery - The Agony in the Garden - Mediate on what I just told you…….Jesus prayed - And because of that - Jesus stayed!…………………..JMJ

Its time to “put up or shut up”….Go big or go home!

Today at Holy Mass Jesus instructs his friends about the importance of prayer, fasting and alms giving…As a Catholic when one hears these three practices, we immediately think of Lent…But prayer, fasting and alms giving are not just for Lent…If we maintain a disciplined regiment of these three “tools” given to us by the Church, God will grow very close to us……Just as an athlete works-out, runs, practices his skills each and every day - Catholics must do the same - This is how we become a Holy People and anyone can do this - This is not for the “select few” - And if we do these three things, we too will become holy and impact the world….It all comes down to this question - What your priorities are?…What is more important then becoming holy to you? - I for one cannot think of anything…Heaven is forever and we want as many people to enter heaven as possible….The world needs to “see” Catholics as a people set apart - This is how we make a difference - Nothing we can say will change people - Only the Holy Spirit acting through our witness can spark transformation…And today Jesus tells us how we become “that kind of person” - A Holy People!………..Pray daily, Fasting weekly and give alms continually……As Mother Teresa would always say…”If you cannot feed one hundred people - Feed one”!

“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him”

God sees the “little things” - The “things” the world does not notice or even cares about…….Mother Teresa’s sisters work day in and day out doing those “little things” - I know this because I was their driver in New York City for seven years on Saturdays before I was married…The sisters feed the poorest of the poor in places the world has given up on or forgotten completely…But what about us? - We are not priests or nuns - What can we do?….This is what we can do - Care for your children - Be open to life in your marriage - Care for our elderly parents - Give of our time to serve our community…These are “small things” that “the world” pays very little attention too - But in the eyes of God - These “small things” are very important…And when we as Catholics do small acts of charity consistently - Believe it or not, many people in our immediate circle around us (family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers) will stop and take notice - Why? - Because these “small things” are signs that God is real and that he is acting through us!…..St James tells us in Scripture - “Faith without works is dead”….And if we build our interior life through daily prayer, weekly fasting and living a Sacramental life - The “works” of our faith will flow naturally from our deep interior life….Without those practices - We will have no works!…..And without “works of faith” - One can objectively question if we are just giving “lip-service” to God - God then becomes simply “a word” we take for granted - But as we ALL know because we are Catholic! - God is more then “a word” - God is a person and if we believe in him like we claim to believe in him - We will do the necessary practices (prayer, fasting and alms giving) to manifest God’s work in tangible ways in our daily life…Talk is cheap - But actions speak  - And they speak loudly!

“Then he picked up Elijah’s mantle that had fallen from him, and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan. Wielding the mantle that had fallen from Elijah, Elisha struck the water in his turn and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” When Elisha struck the water it divided and he crossed over”

Every year when Lent rolls around Catholics around the world start thinking about  - “What they are going to give up?” - The practices of prayer, fasting and alms giving are preached from pulpits around the world to prepare us for Easter…What I am proposing today is - Why should these three evangelical practices just be for Lent?…..We need to get serious as Catholics! - Is becoming holy a priority? - If not, it should be - The closer we get to God, the more God can use us and he will use us if we give him permission! - This is what the world “thirsts” for!……”Normal people” can do extraordinary things if we give God permission….So what is holding YOU back?…..Prayer, fasting and alms giving are not just for Lent….Catholics must take “the business” of becoming holy serious - If we do - The secular world will take what we say seriously and if we do not, frankly we will be ignored…Its time to “put up or shut up”….Go big or go home!……JMJ