No need for “magic tricks” - Just saints - So strive to be one!

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the Gospel of St Luke how Jesus speaks to a people looking for a sign…And he tells them…”No sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah”…What does he mean by this - Let’s break it down….As we all know the story…Jonah was a prophet sent to the people of Nineveh, who by the way were a VERY corrupt people….Jonah went to Nineveh reluctantly but none the less he went…When he travels through the city of Nineveh - What did Jonah do? - He preached repentance!!!…And believe it or not - The sinful people of the city repented…That is the “sign” or maybe put another way, “the miracle” Jesus is referring too when addressing the crowd, who by the way were Jewish and would know about the story of Jonah from the torah…..The message and the miracle Jesus was speaking about 2000 years ago applies today….There will be no sign from the sky! - Repent and Believe the Gospel - That is the message - That is it!…..Now - How are we Catholics going to be as successful as Jonah was in Nineveh?…I am not a Biblical historian but I would bet our current American culture could rival the corruption of Nineveh - Maybe even surpass it!….How can we “open the eyes” of the American people?…..Words teach but personal example show people the meaning of words - Remember that!…As Catholics we have “the best game in town” - meaning - The Catholic Church contains the Fullness of Truth…We as Catholics can recite the teachings of the Church up and down - But if people do not see the Truth in us - Guess what? - We will be ignored!….And only Sacramental grace, weekly fasting and daily prayer can transform us into being that “witness” our world “thirsts” for - Whether they realize it or not!….We cannot read our way to become a holy witness to the world…or…Self-Manufacture our way to it…or….Worse - Fake it!…..Even the simplest of people have eyes to see - They KNOW the real deal when they see it…And this is why only saints change the world…Not politicians - Not scholars - Not theological authors….Jonah was successful in getting the people of Nineveh to repent because the people of Nineveh saw God in Jonah…..So it must be with us today!…..Strive to deepen your interior life daily - Make it your number one priority, doing so within the confines of your vocation, whether Bishop, Priest, living in the married state or single….Then when you speak - You will be heard…And the Holy Spirit will convict whoever God puts in front of you!…That is how it’s done!…This is why Jesus today tells the crowd…No - I am not going to perform a “magic trick” before you - What I am going to do is - Rise up people like Jonah - That will be “the sign”……So it is today - Our world is in need of repentance and God will rise up saints to address the need - As he as always done throughout the centuries…No need for “magic tricks” - Just saints - So strive to be one!

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts”

What makes people change?….It does happen you know! - But what is the “turning point” that changes great sinners into saints? - A great question….More times then not, people who live overtly sinful lives have been wounded deeply and most times we cannot see those wounds…The person can even be a brother and we will not understand how a particular event or encounter has effected him to the point that his life is altered negatively for years and years - This happens!….And “nice words” do not address those kind of deep wounds…Only God, the “divine physician” can cure such a person….But some people cooperate with God to such a radical degree that they become holy - They become examples and their life reflects the Light of Christ in radical ways - Our world calls “those people” saints! - Have you ever met one? - Because if you have, trust me! - You will never forget such a person!….Today we hear at Mass about such a saintly person - Jonah converts an entire city…My bet is - Jonah was a very holy man!…Because clearly people could care less about “fancy words” - His witness must have reflected the love of God in such a way that no matter how evil the people of Nineveh where, the Light of God reflected in Jonah must have been something to behold!….In the seven years that I was the Saturday driver for the Missionaries of Charity in New York City…I have seen similar changes in people….Mother Teresa’s sisters are holy women….I have watched them “part the crowd” walking through the dangerous housing projects where violence is a common everyday occurrence…People respected them, even if they were not Catholic…Why? - Because they “walked the walk”….They not only took care of the poor - They voluntarily lived in poverty themselves - Side by Side with the people they care for….As many know, I co-host a Catholic radio show in the New York City Metropolitan Area…I am one of many Americans trying to evangelize the culture…..And America sure needs Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church!…….With that said, and I write this to all the people who are also trying to do the same thing I am trying to do - Convert the nation back to Christ! - If we do not reflect God in our life - Everything we do is in vain - Everything we say is said in vain!!!!…..Like the witness of Jonah - And like the witness of Mother Teresa’s sisters - People who encounter authentic holy people cannot look away! - Such people CANNOT be ignored - Their witness pierces even the greatest of sinners deep within their heart…I know this because this is how Mother Teresa’s sisters effected me…So much so before I was married I worked side by side with them tirelessness all over the world…..A holy life attracts others!!!….This is our job as Catholics, to strive each day to be such a person - And that kind of life only comes from a deep interior life (i.e. Sacramental living, weekly fasting and daily prayer)….This is how its done!…And this is why Jesus in the Gospel today tells the crowd……”There is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here”……..No need for “magic tricks” - Just saints - So strive to be one!….JMJ

Because he said so!

Today at Holy Mass we are told in the Gospel of St Matthew about a King who prepared a Feast for his people…And believe it or not…His people did not want to attend…How could that be! - Why would people not want to attend this feast prepared by such a gracious King? - It makes non sense - Right?…..But knowing human nature as I do - It does make sense…To enter this “feast” one must enter on the King’s terms….Not our own…How do I know that?…Well, Jesus tells us this in the Gospel….”But when the king came in to meet the guests, he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. The king said to him, 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?' But he was reduced to silence.”………This is why the people did not want to enter…They were “not on board” with the King’s terms……Interesting - How things have not changed….In American Christianity - This includes many Catholics too - There is a misconception that we can live our life on “our terms” and still enter the Kingdom of God - That my friends is nothing more then a self-manufacture delusion…How do I know that - Parable after Parable taught by Jesus tells us so - As does this parable tell us today….To enter into the Kingdom of God - We must live as the Church tells us to live…Not the “church” we created in our mind that suits what we like - But “THE Church” as it is laid out in Catechism…..Some (Protestants) try to separate Jesus from the Church - As if that is possible…And then there are others (SSPX) who ignore the Pope, the magisterium and Vatican II…creating a “church” which has no authority and is not in line with apostolic succession…In both cases (The Protestants & the SSPX) both are wrong!!!!……To enter the Kingdom of God, we need to enter on “the King’s terms”…Sadly, when we refuse to do so, (like we hear today at Mass) - The only people we are fooling is ourself….Our human pride prevents us from “seeing” reality…..Like a child standing in the corner holding his breath because he did not get what he wanted….To ignore the invitation of God - Is simply foolish - Why? - Because we die!….And we will NOT enter the Kingdom of God on our terms - This reality must taught and preached…Why? - Because it is reality…Does that mean only “perfect people” enter heaven - Actually its the opposite - Humble people enter heaven, who acknowledge that they are sinners and ask God through a Sacramental Confession to forgive their sins - And forgiveness, grace and mercy is given to those people - They enter heaven…Its the people who do not think they have to ask God for mercy…or…Take God’s mercy for granted…or….Delude themselves into thinking they enter heaven on “their terms”…… That "crowd" (and it is vast) may find themselves in trouble!….Again - How do I know this? - Because Jesus said so today in the Gospel - Are we listening!

“Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.' Many are invited, but few are chosen."

I have taught the Catholic faith for almost thirty years in many different capacities…I have always said…Being Catholic is easy…Why?…Because everything is written down!!!!!!….All we have to do is “paint by the numbers” - Read what is on the paper and then do it!!!!…Easy right? - Apparently not…..I listen to very smart people on social media…MUCH smarter than me!!!….Invent concepts that not only conflict with what is in the Catechism of the Church, as well as the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church - And blatantly - And  BOLDLY conflict with Papal statements and Papal encyclicals…They have forgotten something that is fundamental - WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY!! - and - THE POPE HAS AUTHORITY…The Pope, while a man and subject to sin as we all are is given a special grace by God when he becomes the Pope - Does that mean he is perfect - NO - But it does mean God’s hand is on him in a VERY SPECIAL WAY…The Church is a divine institution, founded by Christ himself - Have we forgotten that in our hubris!!!!…These people I am referring too will swear up and down that they acknowledge all the things I just stated…But still “invent” their own Church, whether its the Protestants, the SSPX, or “TRAD” Catholics who vehemently ignore or do not acknowledge the Pope or Vatican II…..How can this happen?…..The answer comes to us in one word - PRIDE…..”I WILL NOT SERVE - unless its on my terms”……For those who see problems with members of the clergy anf the laity….And there are problems - Let’s be honest…Trust that God will resolve them…Also trust that God will purify his Church…..In the mean time…Live Sacramentally - Fast for the Church weekly - And pray daily - Develop a DEEP interior life…By doing so, you will save your soul…Leave the “heavy lifting” to God….Bend your knee fully to authority - The only legitimate authority there is - The Catholic Church…..And trust that God will do the rest…Because he will - Because he said so!…..JMJ

And so I say to you, 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.”

It’s not about what you say - It what you do that counts!

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Luke Jesus tells us point blank - Are we listening?…..Its not what you “believe” that matters….Its not what you read that matters…Its not what you know that matters - Its WHAT YOU DO!……”He replied, “Rather, blessed are those
who hear the word of God and observe it”…..Now if you have ever been around Protestants - As I have - One of the things they get right….Protestants will say - “All of us are sinners and we cannot live up to the laws of God” - And they are completely right! - However - This is what they get WRONG - Without Sacramental grace - Not only will you NEVER live up to the laws of God - You can NEVER do what Jesus commanded us to do - And that is problematic - Why? - Jesus tells us today……We are held to the standards of the law and MUST observe it - And without Sacramental grace - That is not going to happen!….Our world today does not “get that”….And if in fairness, I were to be honest, for two thousand years - Most people did not “get it” either…..Living Sacramentally is not an option!!!! - Its a requirement - Why? - Because our human nature is fallen and grace elevates our human nature…Jesus did us “a favor” by establishing a Church…Because its only through the Catholic Church that we can confess our sins and get fed by the Body, Blood, Soul, & Divinity of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament…Do you understand what I am telling YOU? - This is NEEDED - Its not an OPTION……..Because if you want to “observe” the word of God, as Jesus requires us to do, as we heard today at Mass - You MUST live Sacramentally - And frankly - No matter what state in life you are living in (Priest - Married - Single) - You will FAIL in living as God asks us to live if Sacramental grace is not the bedrock of your life…I will repeat it again…….Its not what you “believe” that matters….Its not what you read that matters…Its not what you know that matters - Its WHAT YOU DO!….Jesus is not looking for believers - He is looking for followers - There is a big difference between the two

“You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! He, the LORD, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail”

I am a co-host of a Catholic radio show in the New York City Metropolitan Area - I only state that because - Like me, there are many people who are attempting to evangelize the culture - And God Bless them all!…But how do we succeed in this venture?….Is simply “posting” something on X or Facebook going to make that happen?….or…Hosting a podcast?…..The answer is NO…People need to see YOU live as a Catholic…As Jesus told his disciples today at Mass……”Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it”…..And to do this, requires us to live sacrificially…..Sacrificial love witnessed “moves the dial”…..Once again - There is a lot of people out there “doing a lot of talking” - My suggestion, when evaluating “who to listen to” is this - Before you listen to someone - Watch what they do first….Now does that mean a person has to be perfect for you to listen to them - Absolutely not - But it does mean that an authentic Catholic whether a Bishop; Priest; married or single will live sacrificially - If you watch them - That will be clear as day whether they live sacrificially or they do not - Trust me! - They will “pay” a personal cost to live that way for others…….My old town doctor when I would go for my yearly physical told me that his father had a standard for politicians he voted for…..Ask the politician two questions:…How much is the price of a gallon of milk? - If the politician did not know this personally - That means he is disconnected from the needs of the “average person”…The second question….How much money each year do you donate to the poor out of your own pocket?…..It’s one thing to “allocate” tax dollars to the poor - Its another thing all together when you give YOUR money to someone in need….Why is this a good standard to observe in the American political class?…Jesus gives us the answer….“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”….Now if you are “trying” to change the culture as a Catholic evangelist…And your life does not reflect to the world around you sacrificial love for others - As we say in New Jersey - “Keep walking and stop talking!”…..You will not succeed at impacting anyone - In fact - You can “post” Catholic quotes - Memes - You Tube clips on social media all day! - You can host podcast after podcast….And frankly - No one will be impacted - Not a soul!…However - If you do what Jesus says today in the Gospel…”Hear the word of God and observe it” - And that will undoubtedly entail living sacrificially - The world will take notice - And your impact will be significant - Trust me!……People, even simple people, know the “real deal” when they SEE it - The “hearing” part comes after the “seeing” part! - And ONLY those who live Sacramentally will make those DEEP sacrificial gestures in life for others - Why? - Because without grace - We can do nothing! - Its not about what you say - Its what you do that counts!…..JMJ

“Look to the LORD in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought, his portents, and the judgments he has uttered”

If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out?

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the Gospel of St Luke that the people of Jesus time thought what he was saying came from the devil….Interesting?!? - And people were convinced of this!!!!….Has anything changed today?….Is America even interested in the Truth?….Even within the pews of many Catholic Parishes….What happens if a Priests speaks about abortion? - The dangers of contraception - How contraception leads to abortion?…What happens if a Priest talks about Sacramental Marriage - The only marriage that God recognizes?….What happens if a Priest takes about sharing our wealth with the poor in accordance with Catholic Social Teaching?…..I will tell you what happens - People write letters to the Bishop and walk out of Mass!!!….And that is in the Catholic Church - Never mind in the Public Square…Jesus tells us today - He warns us…“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters”…….As Catholics - This goes for ALL Catholics - Bishops - Priests - Lay Catholics…We must speak the Truth in season and out of season - Be damned the consequences!!!!!!….As the saying goes in New Jersey.......”Let the chips fall where they may”…..We must put our faith in God and live for an “audience of ONE”……Pope Benedict XVI identified this problem in the culture and wrote the following…..“The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness”…Stop trying to “get an invitation to the party”…..Be a voice of ONE, if you have too, but be that voice!!!….The only fear we must have, when it comes to speaking the Truth is the fear of God - If we do not speak it!……Jesus spoke the Truth and people thought he was demonic - Imagine that?!?…..What happens today when you tell your neighbor that you do not acknowledge same sex marriage as valid?….or…When you tell your “work friends” that there are only two genders - Male and Female - That transgenderism is a psychological disorder - What happens?….Do they think you too are demonic?….If they do - Blessed are you!

“The prince of this world will now be cast out, and when I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all to myself, says the Lord”

Catholic means universal - That means EVERYONE IS WELCOME to the Catholic Church…Anyone can attend Mass - You do not even have to believe in God to attend Mass…The same goes for Eucharistic Adoration - Anyone can sit before the Eucharistic Lord…In fact - I highly recommend such a practice for secular people and non-practicing Catholics….All that being said…The doors of the Church are open and ALL are welcome! - However - WE CANNOT CONSUME THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IF WE ARE NOT IN THE STATE OF GRACE….This point will never change and NO ONE can change it….It is an eternal and a perpetual teaching of the Catholic Church, which is not only biblical but it is also in the Catechism….Why?….Its not about “earning” the Eucharist, as if anyone is worthy…Its about KNOWING who we stand before - GOD - And because it is GOD and GOD is perfectly pure - We must make ourselves presentable by confessing our mortal sins before we consume him Body: Blood; Soul and Divinity…..When I would volunteer with the Missionaries of Charity in Manhattan before I was married, many of the men they cared for who had AIDS would attend morning Mass - Many of those men were not even Catholic - And if they were not Catholic or were Catholic and did not go to confession…They would not receive the Blessed Sacrament….If these men accept this teaching - Public sinners! - Then what is the problem for us?….The problem is not with the Church - Or the teaching - The problem is within our own hearts!…And if we believe this unchangeable teaching of the Church and are afraid to teach it - Or worse - Do not proclaim it at Mass when YOU KNOW that secular people are in attendance at a Mass - Say at an American Wedding or a Funeral Mass….Do you “think” you are doing anyone any favors?……Do you “think” you are being “merciful”?…..Jesus suffered and died because he spoke the Truth…Not a Half-Truth - But the whole Truth!!!…..And today - If we embrace the Truth - We too will be persecuted - In some cases hated - Accept that reality because it is reality!….So be it!!!!…Return love for hate - Be consistent - And be not afraid…Speak the Truth in season and out of season…When I got married I told my wife…”I did not get married to go to hell”…What did I mean by that strong statement?…..As a married Catholic we are called to be “open to life” - That means we CANNOT use contraception - That means we must accept all the sacrifices that go along with having many children…..I will say it again…..”I did not get married to go to hell”…..And true to our wedding vows…My wife and I have ALWAYS been open to life and NEVER have used contraception - Praise God!…..Some claim today to be against abortion - But use contraception….That is a contradiction!!!….Some say they are against abortion and are for the death penalty - That is a contradiction!!!…..Some claim to be against abortion and do not care for the elderly…..That is a contradiction!!!

“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out?

JMJ

If no one tells them clearly - Guess what? - They won’t know!

Today at Holy Mass in the first read St Paul calls out the Galatians…..Many Protestants hear this reading and misunderstand it - They seem to think Paul is “throwing out the law”…..The point Paul is trying to make is - We must do all things in and through the Will of God, acting in the state of grace - Grace propels us to live and act in the Holy Spirit…St Paul tells the Galatians - Your works mean very little if they are done outside the Will of God….Think about it - How many man-made things last? - Say more then one hundred years - How about more then two hundred years?…..Think now about the Church - Its 2000 years later since we killed Jesus Christ! - And the Church is still going strong - We are all over the world!…Why?…Because the Church is divine - Its Divine!!!!!…….And if we live and build our life on the “bedrock” foundation of God and the only Church he founded…What we build will last and IF we choose NOT too - Well - It won’t…..

“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.”

There is no such thing as “cheap grace” - We cannot “self-manufacture” grace…..And this is where the Protestants go wrong…In order to live in the state of grace - “The law” applies to us - All of it - Everything the Church teachings noted in the Catechism applies to us!!!!……

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven”

While we all “fall short” - I sure do! - And when we do - The Church tells us when that happens - We MUST confess our sins Sacramentally….At the minimum once a year…But the saints (Pope John Paul II; Padre Pio & Fulton Sheen) recommend going to confession once a month…We cannot save ourself - We DO NOT enter heaven on our own terms - And the “law” applies to us whether we ignore it or not!…..St Paul today in the first reading used some strong language - ”O stupid Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?”……Yes - Look it up - That is what St Paul said to the letter today at Mass!….Pretty direct - Right?!?….Maybe it’s time we are a little more direct too - You think?!?….

“Son of man, I have appointed you a sentinel for the house of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, you shall warn them for me. If I say to the wicked, You shall surely die—and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade the wicked from their evil conduct in order to save their lives—then they shall die for their sin, but I will hold you responsible for their blood. If, however, you warn the wicked and they still do not turn from their wickedness and evil conduct, they shall die for their sin, but you shall save your life. But if the just turn away from their right conduct and do evil when I place a stumbling block before them, then they shall die. Since you did not warn them about their sin, they shall still die, and the just deeds that they performed will not be remembered on their behalf. I will, however, hold you responsible for their blood. If, on the other hand, you warn the just to avoid sin, and they do not sin, they will surely live because of the warning, and you in turn shall save your own life”

Our people only know what they know and if no one tells them clearly - Guess what? - They won’t know!…….JMJ

It’s still the answer!

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Luke on the Feast Day of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary…Our Lord instructs the disciples how to pray…He gives them the one and only prayer he ever communicated…The Our Father….Jesus as we know is God - He never wrote a book - He engaged with the public in active ministry for only three years….He was a uneducated man, who worked with his hands…All that being said…As Catholics today - Why do we complicate things!!!!….All the debates on social media…All the controversy amongst this “group” and that “group”….Its really so simple!!!…Go to Mass Weekly - Go to Confession Monthly - Pray the Rosary Daily….So Simple…Do not concern yourself with “things” you have no control over…You have control over only one thing - YOURSELF - And if you faithfully took up the three practices I just noted - You may not live perfectly - No one does - But you will undoubtedly not be lost! - As so many today are!…These three simple practices will keep you on “the narrow road” which leads to heaven…Again - Why is this so hard?!?….All the nonsense on Catholic Social Media - And that is what it is - NONSENSE!…..Jesus who was God only gave the disciples one prayer!…..He founded one Church….What is so hard about that?….The problem is not the Church - The problem is within the human heart…The problem is YOU and ME….This is why we must be faithful in really only three things……Go to Mass Weekly - Go to Confession Monthly - Pray the Rosary Daily…And in time - If we persevere in those three simple things - God will perfect us…..Why do we have to make what is so easy - So hard…Its really not that complicated!

“Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test”

Today being the Feast Day of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary…I would be remiss if I did not write about the importance of this prayer…Mary asked the world to pray the Rosary everyday for peace at Fatima…Now for the million dollar question - Do we do what she asked us to do?…It literally takes 15 minutes to pray the Rosary….And in that 15 minutes, you are reminded of so much….And if you pray that Rosary with your spouse and children - Just 15 minutes out of your day - Your family life will improve dramatically!…Yet our world ignores just about everything that is good for it - Persists in nonsense and then wonders why the outcomes are not good….If we “plant dandelions” we should not expect an oak tree to grow….Its really that simple - But people do not like simple…And the cycle continues - and continues - and continues - There is “nothing knew under the sun”……I carry my Rosary in my pocket everywhere I go…As I walk to my office each day in New York City - I actually hold my Rosary in my hand…….Just holding my Rosary gives me strength!……So many people today are looking for answers - And the answers are staring us right in the face - Sadly - People seem to not be interesting in them….As I tell my children all the time….”No one can help you unless you help yourself”…Not even God can help you if you do not cooperate with him!…..It’s really so simple!…….Go to Mass Weekly - Go to Confession Monthly - Pray the Rosary Daily…..There it is - THE ANSWER….Take it or leave it - And if you leave it - That does not change what it is - Its still the answer!…..JMJ

“Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples."

Do not get distracted!

Today at Holy Mass in the first reading we hear from St Paul’s mouth how he changed from a man who was convinced that he must persecute Christians to a man on fire for Christ and the Catholic faith…..”And I was unknown personally to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only kept hearing that “the one who once was persecuting us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” So they glorified God because of me”……What made Paul change? - Well, as we all know God radically reached a hand to Paul as he traveled to Damascus and he “fell off his horse” - This is the important part! - So pay attention! - Then Paul RESPONDED to God - HE RESPONDED!!…Does God not do the same to us?…..Every single person on this earth was made by God for a greater purpose! - Not one person is excluded….And instead, most people get distracted from that purpose - That is what the devil does - He distracts us from our purpose and he does this masterfully!…..The difference between St Paul and most of the people in the world is - St Paul did not get distracted - And nor should we - But how? - How do we not get distracted!?! - Because frankly the “best of us do” - Don’t think because you have university degrees - A high paying job - And “brains in your head” that the devil cannot distract YOU - Because if I were honest - “That group” of people are the easiest to get distracted!…..So how do we stay focused and not get distracted? - Live Sacramentally - Its not rocket science!!…Pray the Rosary daily - Its not rocket science!!…..Grace perfects human nature and when we live by grace - We “see” the world clearly - AS IT IS!…But we are also given fortitude - The human will is easily weakened - We get distracted!….Grace fortifies the human will…Our problem - Most especially people who are "high achieving" and have a lot of “stuff” - We are way too confident in our own abilities - This mindset MUST be discarded - No matter who you are or what gifts you possess…When we are too over confident in our own abilities - The devil KNOWS and he has us right where he wants us!….We must look to God as a helpless child….In need of everything! - And when we do this - God will sustain us and in turn we will not get distracted…God will show us our purpose and give us the grace to fulfill it…This is how we become saints…And each and every person was born to become a saint…This “luxury” is not just for people like St Paul……The great French novelist Leon Bloy famously said……“The only real sadness, the only real failure, the only great tragedy in life, is not to become a saint”…..Each of us were born for this…Do not miss the opportunity….And do not get distracted!

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

Recently the American Catholic Church celebrated the Beatification of Fulton Sheen…Fulton Sheen was born with amazing gifts - He was brilliant - A great communicator - A Bishop of the Catholic Church…But frankly there are many people who are equally as gifted - What set Fulton Sheen apart? - The answer was - He was a man of deep prayer - Again - Its not Rocket Science!!…Each morning, Fulton Sheen would sit for one hour before the Blessed Sacrament….Sheen called this his “Hour of Power”…..And as the saying goes…”We know them by their fruits”…..If this worked for Sheen - Why would it not work for us?….Being a married man with five children - It would be very hard to spend one hour each day before the Blessed Sacrament…My wife and I have to take care of our home, work and care for our children…But on the weekend….We do spend an hour in Eucharist Adoration….My wife and I go 30 minutes both on Saturday and Sunday - We make the time!…..Why? - Because it’s important!……..A reporter once asked Mother Teresa what was her secret - She responded very simply - “I pray”……Many years ago a friend of mine from New York asked me to deliver a few things to one of the original sisters of the Missionaries of Charity, who was living in Kolkata at the time - Sister Ancy was one of the first 50 nuns to join the order and she knew Mother Teresa personally…When I met Sister Ancy in 2009, she was the Superior General of the Contemplative wing of the Missionaries of Charity….Sister Ancy had seen a lot in her many years in religious life and speaking with her was a privilege in my ways as I see it…When I met her she told me something I will never forget….”Joe - Prayer is the answer to EVERYTHING”…..To the secular mind - That statement is utterly ridiculous!…But I have found that Sister Ancy was RIGHT…She understood what Fulton Sheen understood….Siting before the Blessed Sacrament is in deed an “HOUR OF POWER”….Prayerful people do not get distracted and prayerful people ultimately fulfill God’s purpose - They get transformed in time - They become saints…Maybe not canonized saints - But saints none the less…..Do not get distracted!…..JMJ

O LORD, you have probed me and you know me; you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
My soul also you knew full well; nor was my frame unknown to you When I was made in secret, when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.