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

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