"It is what it is”

Today at Holy Mass the Universal Church commemorates the Solemnity of All Saints…What is a saint?…To put is simply…Its a person who is in heaven….Most people think of a saint from the lens of those select few who are canonized by Rome…And those few clearly are saints…But what about the rest of us?….If a person enters into eternal life (i.e. Heaven) - They are just as much a saint as say St Francis or St Padre Pio….Are you aware of this?…..So what does that mean for us in the here and now?….It means we do not just “float” into heaven when we die….This is arguably one of the biggest misconception throughout the enter Christian world - That includes many Catholic circles as well….The Church has NEVER taught this…Before we enter heaven and stand before the Beatific Vision - We must be made pure….And if we cooperate with God - By living a Sacramental life, as we are ALL called to at our Baptism, along with the trials and tribulations we endure in this life that will “mold” us - Whether we like it or not - In the “furnace” of that “process” - We will become the person were born to be! - And be “ready” to stand before the Lord….If we look at life here on earth through that lens - The lens of God - Then we will be ready to face God when our time on this earth comes to an end…And if we have any small “rough edges” left - God in his goodness and mercy will take care of them in Purgatory…Some may read this - Some may even be Catholic and say…”That is not MY Jesus” who says things like that!!!!….Sorry to “burst your bubble” - But what I just noted is a perennial teaching of the Church - Not even the Pope can change it…..”After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb”……Having a mature Catholic faith means we actually know what the Church teaches - The next step after we know what the Church teaches - Is to live it….Is the “god” most Americans “created” in their head really who God is?…..Not to mention their “ideas” about heaven?…….All well-formed and functioning adults know full well - WE do NOT get to define reality…There is a saying where I come from in New Jersey - “It is what it is”…..God is God and we do not get to define him…And Heaven is God’s house - Right! - That means its God’s rules - And that means we get into God’s house according to “those rules”….Once again and its worth repeating……“It is what it is”

“Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me,"Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?"I said to him, "My lord, you are the one who knows."He said to me,"These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb."

For the readers of my blog who are not from America, particularly from New York City, you may not know who Fr Andrew Apostoli is….Fr Andrew before his death was a rather famous priest…..And one time I went to confession with him - It was a face to face confession too - Not in the confession booth….He was giving a talk that I attended and after his presentation he made himself available for confession in the seats in the back of the auditorium….So as I sat before Fr Andrew, I was nervous - He was a famous man and a holy man for that matter…He did not know me either but the only thing he told me after my confession was that I should not want to go to Purgatory - That I should want to go “straight to heaven”….I found that rather odd - My confession was not “so bad” - I did not confess “killing anyone” - But for some reason - The idea of Purgatory was the ONLY thing Fr Andrew spoke to me about - And he was emphatic, so much so he gave me a special Fatima prayer…..In the life of a Catholic, there are some confessions that we always remember - There are many reason for that and I will not explore those reasons in this reflection…But for me - This was “one of those confessions” - I have never forgotten it to this day…..And it’s been well over twenty years that the confession took place….Father Andrew Apostoli has since gone on to his eternal reward….In my humble opinion, I believe he could very easily be canonized as a saint by the Church - Fr Andrew was a very special person and a VERY holy man….Since the age of twenty-two, its been over the thirty years since I committed my life to Christ as a faithful Roman Catholic, and during that time I have been blessed to have met many VERY holy men and women - Some even world famous…..And when one meets an authentically holy person - YOU NEVER FORGET the encounter - Trust me about that!…Holy people “leave a mark” on you….And when a holy man, like Fr Andrew Apostoli tells me, without even knowing me, that I DO NOT want to go to Purgatory - That I should strive to go “straight into heaven” - Well - I cannot speak for YOU  - But as for me - I am going to take his words seriously……Do we take the teachings of the Church seriously? - When it comes to Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell?….Do we have a well-formed and mature Catholic faith?…..Either way - WE do not get to define reality…..So I will say it again - I hope your listening - “It is what it is”…..JMJ

Beloved: See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure.

Then give up your seat! - Prove it

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the Gospel of St Matthew that Jesus once again was invited to eat at the home of the Pharisees…If these men hated Jesus so much - Why did they invite him to their home?…..In addition, when Jesus arrived at this dinner party, we are told - “The people there were observing him carefully”….Why do they care if Jesus was so wrong!?!…..This tells us something about human nature….People you are deeply dissatisfied with themselves are hyper-critical of others….They are fully aware of their shortcomings and as the old saying goes “misery loves company”….So they “look” to find faults with others - Why? - It makes them “feel good” about themselves…Conversely - A person who is at peace with themself, does not “point fingers at others”….There is no need to “tear others down”…..Many times the people who are hyper-critical of others, project verbally their personal wrong doings and sins (without realizing it)…In doing that “they show their cards” and do not even realize it….Today in the Gospel, human nature is on display…Jesus is at peace with himself and the Pharisees at not, so they have to find fault, to make themselves “feel good” by attempting to “tear down” Christ…..Do we do this to others?…..What is the solution to this very human problem? - Because there is ONLY ONE solution….A Sacramental Confession!….Only God can forgive our sins and only God can give us peace….The world longs for this peace and when it does not have it - It needs to find alternatives…Many times that alternative is found in tearing others down….I can always tell a person who goes to confession frequently - You see deep peace in their eyes and they usually have a gentle smile……Such a person knows who they are - A sinner in need of God’s mercy - And when they find authentic mercy in the Sacrament - They are able to “bear with others” who also are flawed, just as they are…They are also quick to offer forgiveness and are much more patient with the faults of others…..There is only one “medicine” for our sins…Its confessing them to a Catholic priest…We are only fooling ourselves when we do not “take our medicine”…..And if I were honest, its such an easy thing to do - To admit that we have failed - That we were wrong - That we are sinners…..But that requires humility and take note - Only the humble will enter heaven.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart”

Humility is the foundational virtue of all the virtues…So how do we acquire it?….Can we read about it and someone grow in humility?…The answer is - NO…Humility must be learned through living….St Paul gives us some insight into the humility of Christ….”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”……If our life is “too comfortable” we will never learn what it means to be humble…Whether we are are a Bishop - Priest or Lay Catholic….Humility to be learned MUST be FELT…And when it is a lived experience, we not only become humble but we acquire authentic empathy for those who suffer….If you have never been hungry - You will most likely never go out of you way to feed others….Sadly, humanity has a far too elevated idea of itself - Especially those who possess many nature gifts…We easily forget where the gifts come from and that our life ends in death…This is why many famous and rich people ruin their lives - They begin to “think” they are God…Only to “find out” in time that they are not!…..A Catholic should live differently….Our goal should not be comfort - It should be holiness….And comfort is the enemy of holiness…..Does this mean we are all called to live in poverty - NO - But it does mean we should live simply….Take care of the basic needs of our family…Share with others where and when we can…And in doing so - We will learn what it means to be humble - It will come naturally as a result of how we live….Not from reading a book - But from living!…..Far too many reject this idea - This is why far too many have no idea about what true humility is all about….Look at the example of the Holy Family…Jesus, Mary & Joseph…….They lived a simple life and for thirty years Jesus lived with them and lived in obedience to Mary and Joseph - And Jesus was GOD!!!!!!!….My bet is, their life was not easy - But I would also bet, their home was a place of great joy and deep peace…Is this something we want? - Many say they want joy and peace - But when it comes to doing the things that make for joy and peace - We quickly turn away and settle for a second rate life….Is it because of how true humility looks to the world? - Are we concerned with how our life is “projected to others”? - We can’t “post pictures” on social media the way we want!?!….“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted”….Only those who truly understand who they are can do what Jesus tells us in St Matthew Gospel today - To give up the best seat for others……Patience obtains all things and those who give up the best seat for others will one day be given a better seat…If you say you believe that - Then give up your seat! - Prove it……..JMJ

“My eager expectation and hope is that I shall not be put to shame in any way, but that with all boldness, now as always, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death”

Do you believe that? - I not only do - I KNOW IT - Because “without me you can do nothing”

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the Gospel of St Luke how Jesus cures a man on the Sabbath in front of the Pharisees….He was trying to teach the Pharisees something - And us too!…And if one is an objective reader of this passage, one can safely claim that the point Jesus made was irrefutable….And if the Pharisees were objective and open, they would have seen just how correct Jesus was in is interpretation of the Law…But sadly, the Pharisees were not objective…Their hearts were closed….And because of that - They “missed” it! - God was literally standing right in front of them - And they missed him!…….”Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?” But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then he said to them “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?” But they were unable to answer his question”……Notice how St Luke addresses the hardness of heart of the Pharisees…He says they - “Were unable to answer his question” - Is it that they were “unable” to answer the question or they WOULD NOT answer the question? - Because they were convicted in their error…So they REFUSED to answer the question…Before we condemn the Pharisees, which is very easy to do, how about we examine our own hearts….Do we have a teachable spirit?…..Sadly, when you look on social media, it does not appear like many people do….What happens when someone presents rock solid Church teaching from the Catechism of the Catholic Church to you? - Do you dismiss it? - Ignore it? - Rationalize it away?…..Many on Catholic Social Media do this….As Catholics, we must allow the Church to form our conscience….Like a good mother, who forms her children…If we “do not agree” with something the Church teaches - Say its the teaching on being open to life in marriage or abortion or the need to be in the state of grace before we receive the Blessed Sacrament at Mass, these are just a few examples, that are VERY CLEARLY addressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church - If we do not believe what the Church teaches on these topic - We need to pray…I will also take it a step further…Because we are not in “communion” with the Church, when we disagree with fundamental Church teachings - We should still attend Sunday Mass, but should not receive the Blessed Sacrament…Again, because we are not in “communion” with the Church…By the way, that is why we recite the Nicene Creed before we receive the Blessed Sacrament at Mass…In doing so, we are professing that “WE BELIEVE” everything the Church teaches BEFORE we receive the Eucharist…If we do not believe EVERYTHING - Its time to pray, fast and discern…And if we do that with an honest and objective heart - The Holy Spirit will guide us to the Truth….The Pharisees in St Luke Gospel read to us today at Mass in essence “created” a God of their own choosing - How about us?….Have we “created a Church” of our own choosing?….One of the beautiful things about being Catholic is - EVERYTHING we need to KNOW and BELIEVE is written down in the Catechism!…. St Paul instructs us on this point perfectly - "Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect." ……The minute you realize that God is smarter then you - And the Church has been around for 2000 years for a reason - Is the minute you advance in your relationship with Christ…..So the question then remains - Do you have a teachable spirit? - Its “kind of required” that you do!

“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me”

How is it that there are so many people who are Catholic that disagree? - Everything the Church professes to be true is written down!!!!! - Yet here we are…Have you ever thought the problem is not the Church - But the “problem” is YOU!…..One of the pivotal moments in my personal walk as a committed Catholic, which by the way as spanned over 30 years - Is this - I came to realize that - “My way does not work!!!”…I learned that very young - At the age of 22 years old - I came to know deep within my heart - “My way does not work”…How did I receive that grace? - Well, I tried it “MY WAY” - And that led to DISASTER…I went away to college and “bought in” to everything the American culture was “selling” - And I was left broken, my joy was gone and I was empty!……When I returned home to my parents - I knew deep down I needed to start “listening” to God…I remember the day like it was yesterday…I went into the Catholic Church my parents raised me in on a Saturday afternoon and just sat in front of the Tabernacle - For those who do not know, the Tabernacle is where the Blessed Sacrament is kept…At the time I did not believe in the True Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, but as Divine Providence would have it - I sat in front of it that given day….As I sat there - A tidal wave a grief came over me…I can not explain it any other way - But it was a tidal wave!!!! - I have never felt that much grief in MY LIFE…And I wept bitterly, like I never have before or since….That was the beginning of my walk with God - From that point forward - And on that very day - I made my first “adult confession” - And life started over….To this day and I am now 56 years old - I KNOW - “My way does not work!” - And God’s way does work….In my humble opinion - This is one of the most important things Jesus ever taught mankind - “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”….....Do you believe that? - I not only do - I KNOW IT - Because “without me you can do nothing”……JMJ

“He has given food to those who fear him; he will forever be mindful of his covenant. He has made known to his people the power of his works, giving them the inheritance of the nations”

”For I have conquered the world”

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the first reading St Paul, who is writing a letter to the Ephesians…In this letter Paul is declaring war!…….”Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the Devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the Gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”…..The Catechism of the catholic Church is very clear….Those of us who are “above ground” and Baptized are called the “Church Militant”…..What does that mean?…It means that God and “the world” are at odds!….They are like oil and water!…Being Catholic means you live differently and because you live differently - In the Truth - The world, the flesh and the devil will “throw everything” they have against you!…..To think other wise is frankly to “bury your head in the sand” and ignore reality…..America culture as it stands is vehemently anti-family, anti-Catholic and embraces what Pope John Paul II called the culture of death…The family unit is deeply fractured - So much so, people are not getting married and those who do, many do not even know what a “normal” family looks like any more…We abort our children in the womb and think nothing of it…We have normalized homosexuality….Materialism thrives……None of these things are of God…So St Paul today tells us - We are at war!…..To think otherwise is frankly foolish - Indifference to this “battle” simply means you are “going along to get along” - And that is not the path to heaven…St Paul also tells us today….”To put on the armor of God” - What does that mean?….To put it simply - To live in the state of grace….To live Sacramentally…If you “think” you are going to resist the culture and live as a Catholic without daily prayer, weekly fasting, frequent confession and frequent reception of the Blessed Sacrament - You are only kidding yourself…The “culture of death” in America will eat you alive!…The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that grace perfects human nature…It also tells us that grace elevates human nature…Sacramental Grace strengthens the human will to resist sin and opens our eyes to the many false promises of the devil and the world…….Make no mistake about it - YOU ARE IN A WAR!….And the world, the flesh and the devil are infinitely more powerful then you without God and his grace…..However, if we do what St Paul tells us today - We will overcome what seems to be an impossible fight…Jesus reminds us in the writings of St John…..”I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world”…Notice the words Jesus uses - Words are important! - He did not say - “YOU” will conquer the world - He said “I” have conquered the world…That should tell us something…Without God’s Sacramental grace - You will fail - Sorry to burst your bubble - YOU WILL FAIL…But with God’s grace….Failure is not an option…So take courage……”For I have conquered the world”…..JMJ

"With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones and also for me, that speech may be given me to open my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains, so that I may have the courage to speak as I must"

You don’t “plant dandelions” and expect an oak tree to grow!

Today at Holy Mass in the first reading, St Paul writes a letter to the Ephesians….He tells them something that many in America have forgotten….As well as Europe and Canada for that matter…And because this has been forgotten….We see what we see today all around us….CHAOS…..What has been forgotten? - God is the great unifier - “The glue”…And without the “The glue”…Society fractures and spirals into CHAOS…….”You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit”…..The word Catholic means universal….Think about it….As Catholics in America, we share the same world view as people all over the world….Africa, South America, China, Russia…..It’s our belief in God - The Father of us all - That unifies us....Look at the first apostles that Jesus chose…Amongst the twelve were two men who would NEVER have gotten along if it was not for Jesus…..St Matthew was a tax collector and considered a trader to the Jewish people…Remember, all of the original twelve apostles were Jewish…And one of the original twelve, as Scripture describes him today in the Gospel was “Simon who was called a Zealot”……The word “zealot” means Simon was a revolutionary…Remember again, the people of Israel at the time were under the yolk of Roman occupation…..Simon “called the Zealot” means he was actively fighting Rome, which means he would have HATED St Matthew because he was a tax collector and essentially “worked” for the Roman Empire, which was oppressing the Jewish people…..It was only Jesus who could have brought these two men together and unite them…..And because America, Europe, Canada - Formerly deeply religious nations, have turned their backs on God…Let’s not “fool” ourselves either…Countries that are kill children in the womb (in some cases up and until birth, in the third trimester of pregnancy), support same sex marriage, and legalize usury, which oppresses the working poor - These are NOT God centered nations!…That being the case…How can we expect our people to “get along”?…..Not going to happen! - Until once again - Christ Jesus is the “capstone”….And that reality is reflected in our laws - or - Its not reflected in our laws - And then YOU get what YOU get", which is what we have today - CHAOS……You don’t “plant dandelions” and expect an oak tree to grow!

“Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles”

Religion molds culture and culture molds politics….So many today get it wrong - Because we get it backwards!…People expect to “vote” our society into place - Without first building a foundation….Jesus tells us very clearly in Scripture…..“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined”…Before we “fix the politics” of America - We need to fix the culture, which is shaped by the family and our education system….The family unit in America is deeply fracture…Close to 55% of American marriages end in divorce, which leaves children broken, wounded and lost…..It also is a leading cause of poverty….How can we have a “healthy” nation when an overwhelming majority of our people are negatively effected by broken marriages…..How about the American Public Education system?….God has been “shown the door” and radical ideologies have been introduced….Homosexuality and Same Sex marriage has been normalized - Transgenderism has been introduced as a “life choice”….Our children are sexually active in their early teen years and our public education system normalized that behavior as well…How on earth are these children going to grow up and know what it means to have a lasting and stable family!?! - The answer is - They are NOT…..Families that have God at their center work!!!!…And families that don’t - well - The statistics speak for themselves - They do not work!…..So stop with all the talk about voting and politics - Just stop!!!!…We are putting the “horse before the cart”….You don’t “plant dandelions” and expect an oak tree to grow!…….JMJ

“Through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message”

All this and more…..Comes from a “small seed”

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the Gospel of St Luke the story of the mustard seed….The smallest of seeds when planted becomes a large bush…..At our Baptism, we were grafted into the life of Christ….A “small act” but a VERY significant one….When we were baptized, a “seed” was planted within our soul…But if we do NOTHING, that seed will remain just a seed…Its then for our parents to ensure we are educated and raised in the Catholic Faith…And then at some point, we must make the faith our own as an adult…Then the journey of a life time begins! - And God’s plan for us from the beginning of time starts to take shape…But we still must cooperate…How?…..Daily Prayer - Weekly Fasting - Monthly Sacramental Confession - Frequent reception of the Blessed Sacrament in the state of grace….If we do those things consistently and persevere in doing them - God will take care of the rest! - TRUST ME….Our “small seed” will grow….And bear fruit for the Kingdom of God….We do not even know how or what “our tree” from that “small seed” will look like - Only God knows…But that is not our concern…Our concern is to do “the basics” - YES - The spiritual practices I noted above are BASICS…..Being Catholic is not some esoteric belief system for the few - Its for EVERYONE…ANYONE can do what I just noted above and if we do - Christ will LIVE in us - And our life will be FAR from mediocre….The public ministry of Jesus was only three short years…And fast forward two thousand years later - The Catholic Church is all over the world…It has endured tyrants, scandal, and persecution…And here we are……What makes YOU think the same thing cannot happen in your life?…..What we lack is faith - What we lack is courage - And we “hold on too” mediocrity, which takes the form of “comfort”…..”Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened”…If we only take Jesus’s words seriously today - Then our “one seed” WILL shake the foundations of the world - If only we cultivate it - That one simple seed…That is all we have to do! - Cultivate it! - God does the rest!

Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”

In the Book of Revelation, we are told in the Kingdom of Heaven , we will be given new name…A name only God knows…..That name in many ways is symbolic of the person we were born to be - Or better put - To become if we cooperate with God’s Sacramental Grace here on earth…Each of us have God given talents and if we nurture those talents and give them over to God in service of the Kingdom - We will be transformed and in the process, we will transform others….This my friends is the meaning of life…Not to “get rich”…Not to achieve “this or that”…Its simply to become who we were born to be from the very beginning of time…To “live up” to that “new name” that God will give us when we stand before him………..As a young man, especially while I was in college, I lived a party lifestyle….All my friends were wild guys who were the “life of the party”…When I came home from college, I made a personal decision to live as a Catholic because before that decision, I clearly was not living as I should…Fast forward three decades….I am now a completely different person….I go to Mass just about every day….I go to confession every other week….I pray the Rosary daily with my wife and children…I have five children, all under the age of twelve years old….If you told me this is the person I would become, say at the age of twenty while in college - I would have laughed in your face - And so would my friends at the time…..Recently one of my college roommates passed away and I attended a memorial service for him…At the service I saw many of my old friends…Many of them I had not seen in awhile, but they had heard about my Catholic transformation…To say it was strange to see these people after all those years is an understatement….These were people I knew at one time in my life very well but now they looked at me as a complete stranger - And I looked at them the same…..Interestingly enough, if I were honest, I am still not where I need to be - I am far from being a saint!….Our conversion to God takes place everyday - God is STILL working on me….And I must cooperate…How?…I will say it again…..Daily Prayer - Weekly Fasting - Monthly Sacramental Confession - Frequent reception of the Blessed Sacrament in the state of grace…..The Basics!……And God will take care of the rest……“Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victor I shall give some of the hidden manna; I shall also give a white amulet upon which is inscribed a new name, which no one knows except the one who receives it”…….All this and more…..Comes from a “small seed”…..JMJ

“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; You have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom”

Oil and Water do not mix - Neither does God and the material world

Today at Holy Mass in the first reading in St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians - He tells them how a Catholic is to live….”Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God”…..Now - Think about those comments made by St Paul and ask yourself…How would they translate in the world of business today?….In the world of power?…..If we were honest - Not too well…So what does that tell us? - That this is not our “world” - “This world” and those who “thrive” in it play by a “different set of rules”…And because of that, they “thrive” in the here and now…And here is the part no one wants to hear - AND YOU MOST PROBABLY WILL NOT!!!!…..Its human nature to want to have “the best of both worlds” - To be a faithful Catholic and thrive in the here and now materially and have God as well…The reality of the matter is - If we follow Christ and do what St Paul tells us today - We most likely will not thrive in the here and now - Sorry to be the bearer of bad news….”The world” does not honor the things that St Paul talks about in this reading…Kindness - Compassion - Forgiving others….So that means we must make a choice…Are you willing to “walk the narrow road" that leads to heaven?…Think long and hard before you answer - Because if you do…Know this - That “narrow road” is full of “stones” and “thorns”….Are you still willing to walk it? - Is it worth it?….To answer those questions in one word - YES!….."So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God."

“Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth”

There is an old saying in America - “Nice guys finished last”….And if I were to be honest - There is “some” truth to that statement…..If you see the world purely from a secular and materialistic lens - As many do - That statement is very accurate…..This world does not reward virtue…Try being “virtuous” around the boardroom table of a Hedge Fund on Wall Street - See how far that gets you!…..But here is the part of that statement, which is not captured….When we live differently from the world - As we all know - Catholics are to be “in the world but not of the world”…We have a deep peace and joy - The likelihood of having a solid and strong family and living “according to the rules of the world” is slim to none…How can I make that statement? - Look at how many divorces “power brokers” go through - How their children want nothing to do with them - Now of course there are exceptions to that rule - But if we are honest - What I just stated happens a lot!…..Now, say we do as St Paul tells the Ephesians today at Mass…..”Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma”…You may not become rich…or….Marry a movie star…But you will have peace - You will find a good woman, who loves you for who your are - You will have stability in your home and family - Your children will love you - You will have deep and lasting joy that can overcome any hardship the world throws at you - Not a bad “trade off”!…So I guess we have to make a choice right?….When you think about it - Life is all about choices….And if you do not agree with what I just wrote….Let’s look to the words of Jesus Christ, who also addresses this matter…..…”The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’t If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me”……So we MUST make a choice - Choose well - There is no “sitting on the fence" either because no choice is a choice……Oil and Water do not mix - Neither does God and the material world……….JMJ

“Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. So do not be associated with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light”