This is our task….But is this YOUR priority?

Today at Holy Mass in the first reading St Peter addresses the first Catholics…He talks about manifesting the seeds of faith into action…This is what each of us must do - It is not enough to say we “believe” if we do not put our belief into practice….”His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and power. Through these, he has bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature, after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love”…..Human nature being what it is prevents us from becoming the people we are called to be…..This is why St Peter tells us today - “His divine power has bestowed on us” - What does he mean by that? - Through the Sacraments, we are grafted into the life of Christ - This is something the Protestants miss - And its a BIG miss!….We can read all we want about Jesus Christ - Memorize the entire Bible to the point we can cite chapter and verse at will! - But that will not gain us virtue - Nor will it transform our flawed human nature - Only when we live a Sacramental life does this occur….When we confess our sins regularly (once a month), not only are we forgiven but we are given grace to overcome the sins, which seem impossible for us to overcome…Along with frequent confession, when we then receive the Blessed Sacrament in the state of grace, our fallen human nature is elevated!!!…Again something Protestants miss!!!!…..Catholics must return to the practice of frequent Confession….What I just documented is not “rocket science” - Its what I call “First Principals”  - But if we return to these First Principals, we will be transformed in time…Why? - Because as St Peter rightfully stated….”His divine power has bestowed on us”

“Because he clings to me, I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name”

The name of the “game” as a Catholic is to grow in virtue…This is how we put our faith into action!….And this takes time - One does not become virtuous over night and this is why as Catholics our top priority should be to develop habits that allow God to work in our life…..Weekly fasting, daily prayer, Sacramental living….All these things, like an athlete trying his body, a Catholic “works out” his salvation each and every day - And in the process we transform those around us by our example - Example is everything! - No one will believe what you are “selling” as a Catholic if they do not “see” God in us - And that transformation ONLY happens when we are consistent in our daily spiritual practices…..This past weekend I ran into a man I knew from many years ago - When I first met Joseph, his life is a mess…He was in a bad marriage, in which he was not faithful to his wife - He had destroyed his relationship with his son…Joseph was a mess!…..I met Joseph on a pilgrimage and since then he began to take his Catholic faith seriously - What do I mean by seriously?…..Confessing his sins regularly, praying daily, and going to Mass just about everyday….Joseph now is still not “perfect” but Joseph is a very different person from the man I met fifteen years ago on that pilgrimage…But this transformation did not happen over night….And such a transformation is available to ALL of us!!!!…..But here is the take away - Because we are fallen human beings, meaning we are ALL sinners, we need Sacramental grace to make that transformation happen and last - Jesus established a Church because the Church gives us the “medicine” we ALL need….The Sacraments are the “cure” and the secular world refuses to “take its medicine” - This is why the world is the way it is - Reeling in its “sickness”….So take your “medicine” and allow God, who is the Divine Physician to do what he does best - Cure us of our “sickness”........You can read all the “self help” books in the world - That will never “cure” us, nor make us virtuous - So take your “medicine”!

“He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in distress”

Today St Peter in the first reading is instructing the faithful…He is trying to tell them how to become the people God called them to be….That is the role of the Church - To Teaching - To Admonish - To Instruct by example…..St Paul tells us something similar……”I am writing you this not to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children”…..If a father does not instruct his children in how they are to live - How can he expect them to grow properly?….The voice of Truth must be boldly proclaimed by the Church - And that “voice” must be inserted into the public square fearlessly!……Is this happening? - More importantly, are we as Catholics living witnesses of that same Truth? - Are we growing in virtue each day? - Is this our priority?…..All these questions need to be considered….And if we commit our life to accomplishing what St Peter tells us today at Mass, we not only will save our soul but set the world on fire around us - This is our task….But is this YOUR priority?…..JMJ

Our “itchy” ears are easily deceived - Don’t be deceived

Today at Holy Mass, the Gospel of John is read to the faithful. This particular text is one of the most familiar passages in the entire New Testament….John 3:16………”God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life…Its clearly a “feel good” passage…..And it’s a passage that gives people hope!…..But have we ever really thought about this famous statement deeply?…….Here are some thoughts to consider - What is love? - Do we have a clue about the kind of love God has for us, never mind the love we should aspire to have as human beings for each other? - Have you ever stopped and thought how much of a sacrifice it was God to give up is PERFECT son for an IMPERFECT world!? - Would you do such a thing,  give up your son for sinners? - I surely would not! - What does God mean by believing in his son? - Does this “belief” imply we do anything?…..These are some of the questions and thoughts we can reflect upon when we meditate on this passage that is used by many both inside the Catholic Church and outside its walls as well…….St John in his Gospel goes on…..”For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God”…Like any good father, God wants what is BEST for his children and WE ALL are God’s children…That means God wishes us to live in the state of grace - When we sin, which we ALL do, we NEED to reconcile our sin - God wants us to communion with him daily, which we do through prayer and receiving the Blessed Sacrament at Mass….Why would God want this? - The answer - Because its what is BEST for us!……..Interestingly enough, St John also implies an alternative to NOT believing in his son - What is that “alternative? - St John describes it as “condemning the world” - That means if we do not spend eternity with God in heaven - There is “another” place we will go - That “other place” is hell - Yes - Hell is real and Jesus spoke clearly about it often in the Bible…No one likes to think about “hell” these days but the reality is every human being we know will spend eternity in one of two places…Heaven or Hell - The entire world will be divided into two camps - And the only way to stay our of hell - As St John tells us today - Is to believe in God’s son……Seems pretty clear - RIGHT?!?

“Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you”

American Protestants have interpreted the words of Christ and somehow made avoiding hell and entering heaven as easy as saying a few words….”I accept Jesus Christ as my personal Savior”….That is wonderful - But when one comes to this decision in life - What then does such a statement imply? - Do we have to live a certain way? - And if we fail at living as God commanded - Then what?…..The Catholic Church offers an alternative to the Protestant mindset - And that alternative is Sacramental living….Jesus did not write a book, he founded a Church - Why? - Because we need it!…The Church gives us the Sacraments and its the Sacraments that give us the grace to live the Gospel….If you “think” you can do as Jesus commanded without Sacramental Grace - You are deluding yourself! - Its simply impossible!….This is a driving reason why Jesus created a Church and gave us the Sacraments - Jesus understands human nature and knew we would need divine assistance to live out the Gospel……Somehow the Gospel has been “sanitized” - We have made it “palatable” for “polite society”…..How can this be when the words of Jesus are so very clear…St Paul tells us how - “We hear what our itchy ears want to hear”……The words of God are not for us to manipulate - God is very clear and He points the way forward - Its then up to us to go where he tell us to go………….Go to the Catholic Church!!!!!…….. Ultimately, all of us will end up in one of two places based upon the lives we lead, not simply by the words we speak…….Its “Upstairs or Downstairs” - Choose well

“This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins, and receive us as your own."

Today at Mass we hear a Gospel that is very familiar to us all….But did we stop and think about the words? - Its very easy to just hear them and make a superficial interpretation, taking the very words of Good for granted…..The Catholic Church’s teachings are very clear - So are the words in the Bible - Its all crystal clear!….With that said - How do so many people hear these words and come away believing something completely different? - The answer - PRIDE - We do not want to bend our will and change our life…..God is our father and he meets us as we are! - But when we meet him - God then asks us to CHANGE…If we begin the process of transformation - We grow in our faith - But if we refuse to change - Our faith regresses backwards and we simply “fool” ourself……In the final analysis - Its not enough to say - ”I accept Jesus Christ as my personal Savior” - Once we make that statement - We then have to LIVE like we mean it! - And the only way to do that is to live Sacramentally........Our fallen human nature will not permit us to do what cannot be done without Divine Grace given to us by the Sacraments………Walking the “narrow road” that leads to heaven is not accomplished by saying a few simple words……“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light”……….Our “itchy” ears are easily deceived - Don’t be deceived……..JMJ

Know the Truth - Speak the Truth - Live the Truth - And be willing to suffer for the Truth

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Mark, Jesus was seen in the Temple area and is questioned by the the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders…They want to trap him - So Jesus asks them a simple question - One in which he knew they would not answer…..The Jews who rejected him instead of answering the question from their heart were concerned with the “politics” of the moment…..Is this how we respond to simple questions - Questions we know the answers too but refuse to address - Because of “the crowd”? - Because the answers are not “politically correct”? - Because of our concern for social status?:

“Jesus and his disciples returned once more to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him and said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.  Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me. ”They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”–  they feared the crowd, for they all thought John really was a prophet. So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” Then Jesus said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

As Catholics we should - Know the Truth - Speak the Truth - Live the Truth - And be willing to suffer for the Truth when necessary…Is this what is happening?……The Truth is not always going to be convenient but we are to speak it and live it, in season and out of season…..Again - Is this what is happening?…….The secular world will NEVER respect the Catholic Church if it functions as a “paper-tiger” - Writing down eternal Truths but never applying them to public life and speaking them body in the public square….Even if the unbelieving world does not agree with us - They will respect us if we live what we speak….Let me ask this again - Is this what is happening?

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; giving thanks to God the Father through him”

The Catholic Church is to be the moral voice for the world - And if we do not insert ourselves into the culture - Who will?…….“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lamp-stand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father”…….Recently, a friend of mine who is a Priest in one of his homilies at Mass in New York City made statements about the sin of homosexuality….While we as Catholics must love the sinner - We CANNOT “gloss over” behavior that is objectively sinful…In his homily he spoke about some in the Church, who are minimizing active homosexual behavior….While what he said is 100% accurate - It was “text-book” Catholicism taken right out of the Catechism and the pages of the Bible - That does not mean he will not get “push-back” from both those in the congregation as well as from some clergy….This is reality and a sad reality at that - But that does not mean homilies like the one my friend gave should not be proclaimed to the faithful…If we do not boldly preach the Truth - If we do not boldly teach the Truth - We are NOT living our Baptism mandate as Catholics - To Know the Truth - Speak the Truth - Live the Truth - And be willing to suffer for the Truth…The problem is - We do not what to suffer for the Truth!!!!! - But that is “part of the deal”….We cannot expect the world to always agree with us - But that should not stop us from speaking and living as Catholics - RIGHT?!? 

“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken* to them, they would have no sin; but as it is they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me also hates my Father”

Today in the Gospel we are reminded once again how the secular world “operates” - The Truth is avoided - Power, Comfort and Status are given priority over the Truth….Catholics must be different and if we are not different - We will NEVER make an impact….A “lukewarm” Church that does not “ruffle” feathers is not a living up to its Baptismal promises…..While “lukewarm” Catholicism is socially accepted in “polite company”- It will NOT be accepted on the day of Judgement before God……Jesus was very clear…”I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth”……Know the Truth - Speak the Truth - Live the Truth - And be willing to suffer for the Truth…..JMJ

Its not enough to just “believe in God” - God expects us to act!

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Mark Jesus uses a fig tree to teach his apostles…The tree was not bearing fruit, so Christ cursed the tree and as a result, it died - What should that teach us?….”Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, he went over to see if he could find anything on it. When he reached it he found nothing but leaves; it was not the time for figs. And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!” And his disciples heard it……….Early in the morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots. Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered”……What is Jesus trying to teach us? - Let’s “break it down” - Each of us has gifts, some more then others, but that reality is irrelevant - The gifts we were given are to be used to build the Kingdom of God…..Not to keep for ourself - God gave us gifts for a reason!….And those who have been given much - Much will be expected……When we stand before the Lord at our individual judgement, not only will our sins be brought to light, but also all the good we did - But here is something else that will be shown to us (I believe) - God will show us what was COULD have done - If we trusted him more!…..Every single baptized Catholic, without exception was born to become a saint!…..And if we allow God to animate our life, He will take the gifts he gave to us and magnify them!….What stops us from giving God permission to work in this way through us?….FEAR - A lack of faith - Unrepentant sin - A weak interior life - All these factors contribute to us not becoming the people we were ALL born to be - Its within our power to address this sadly reality!……All we have to do is give an unconditioned YES like Our Lady did….And God will act!……The Gospel today also addresses a misconception that Jesus is simply looking for “believers” - That all we have to do, to get to heaven is “believe in Jesus” - WRONG! - Jesus is looking for followers not just “believers”…Its our job to follow him! - And to follow him means we act! - St James put it best - “Faith without works is dead”…And Jesus puts an “exclamation point” on that idea with the story today told to us about the fig tree that did not bear fruit - A fig tree without figs is useless! - Such a tree had one purpose - To produce figs and it failed in doing so - So it died…Again - What does that tell us about the purpose of a Catholic life? - If we “bear fruit” we live and if we do not - We die!….Seems pretty clear to me

“I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord”

Not everyone is meant to do “big things” but all of us can do “little things” with love in our hearts…..If we only lived life through this lens!…..Our world measures people by “output” - Its concerned with status and material success - God does not view our worth in this manner, however God does expect us to use what was given to us to build the Kingdom of God…..As we all know, there are many people in the world who are infinitely gifted - Are those “gifted” people using their gifts to serve God? - Some are but many are not….Then there are some who are very limited in their gifts - And they give everything they have to God…Who do you think will be rewarded in the coming judgement more?………Years ago, it was a Saturday and I was headed to New York City to serve with Mother Teresa’s Sisters at their convent in Lower Manhattan….When I got to the convent, three of the sisters were headed out the door….I asked them where they were going…..They told me they were going to clean the apartment of this old woman who lived in a tenement apartment down the street…The old woman’s name was Sarah and she did not take very good care of herself, so the sisters would “check up” on her from time to time…..So that after noon, three nuns spent the day cleaning the apartment of an old woman and doing all her laundry…..I will never forget that gesture! - Why? - Because who does that? - No one I know!!!!….Its such a small gesture but I am sure that old poor woman appreciated it….But when we step back and think about what Mother Teresa’s Sisters did for that woman, it was much more then just cleaning her apartment - They showed her that they cared!….That is a lesson for us all - As Catholics, we have all of the “answers” - The Church contains the Fullness of Truth - But just telling people about it will not convince them - We must show them and we show them by small gestures of love, which anyone can do - Like cleaning an apartment for someone who can’t clean it for themselves….People do not care what you know, until they know how much you care! - Remember that - And this is the “currency” that God “deals in”…..Those who have been given much - Much will be expected….As Mother Teresa would often say - “If you can’t feed one hundred people - Then just feed one”……This is how we will be judged by the way - So “write this down” - Its on the “final exam”

“Before the LORD, for he comes; for he comes to rule the earth. He shall rule the world with justice and the peoples with his constancy”

Today at Mass Jesus attempted to teach his friends by pointing out something very basic - A tree is meant to bear fruit…And just as a fig tree is meant to bear fruit, so are we as Catholics meant to put our faith into action and produce good works…Not everyone is meant to do “big things” but all of us can do little things that come from our heart - And that is all God expects from us!…But how do we live our life through that lens? - And not get “distracted” by daily life?…Allow me to give you the answer to that question - If we can see Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament - We surely will see Jesus in our neighbor - And in turn we will treat our neighbor as ourself…..If you are reading this reflection and do not believe in the True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist - I have a suggestion to make…..Go into a Church where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed on the altar in the monstrance for the faithful to pray….You do not even have to be Catholic to do what I am about to suggest - Go before the Blessed Sacrament and say these word….”God, if you are there show me that you are there - I do not believe that you are there - But I want to believe - So please show me”….Say nothing more and just sit in silence before the Blessed Sacrament…Repeat that action once a week and spend five minutes in silence before the Blessed Sacrament - Simple Right?!?…..Make this apart of your weekly routine - Its just five minutes - Right?!?….Here is my “bet”- In fact, it’s a guarantee!….Before you know it, God will answer your prayer - And you will be given “eyes to see”….How do I know what? - Because Jesus said so! - ”Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened”…..Once we “see God” Sacramentally, we will see him in our neighbor and then we will put our faith into action….Its not enough to just “believe in God” - God expects us to act!…………..JMJ

So take courage - And conquer the world!

Today at Holy Mass in the first reading St Peter encourages his people….”You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light”……..Catholics are to live among the people of the world…We are not to separate ourself like the American Amish or Mennonites…..We are to live among the world for the very reasons given to us from St Peter today……”To call others out of darkness into his wonderful light”….Within each human being there is a “spark” of God…Even the darkest of people - Even the hardest of hearts…When they encounter authentic Catholicism, they stop in their tracks - Something deep within their soul knows that such a witness is meant for them too - Even when “choices made” make becoming Catholic very difficult….This is why - Catholics must be an example in the public square!….Even in the darkest of places - And to do that, one must develop a deep interior life but also be willing to suffer persecutions and rejection…..In doing so, we participate in a “share” of Christ’s passion…..St Peter goes on today in the first reading speaking about giving a good example to the secular world…..”Beloved, I urge you as aliens and sojourners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against the soul. Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that if they speak of you as evildoers, they may observe your good works and glorify God on the day of visitation”……Its very hard to hate someone when their conduct is pure…..Catholics must endure a lot to give the example St Peter speaks of today….But this is how we spread the faith, not by arguments, which fall on deaf ears - But by consistent witness - By patiently enduring hardship - And by the example of good works…..There is no other way to evangelize the culture - Mere words will always fall short - Its the witness of a life built on sacrificial love that changes minds and moves hearts - This is the kind of faith that moved “the good thief” on the cross next to Christ to commit his life to God - No argument could have changed such a “hardened man”…But to live this way requires us to share in Christ’s Passion - Are we willing to “drink the cup” of suffering and live amongst the unbelieving world?

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

For almost thirty years I have worked on Wall Street in New York City…Not exactly an easy place to work!…I have encountered some of the smartest but also some very “shady” and dare I say “dark” individuals over those thirty years - Many times, people have disappointed me greatly - Even betrayed me!…Yet, each day I get up and go to work…For a large majority of those thirty years I have gone to Mass on my lunch hour…The people at work know this…While they go to nice places to eat - I go to Mass……Every once in a while someone asks me about what the Catholic Church believes….I do not advertise the fact I am Catholic - I just quietly live as a Catholic in a very aggressive materialistic place in which I have worked for many years….Like me, many Catholics around the world do the same as I have done - Witnessing their faith to an unbelieving world…..Only God knows what our impact is on those around us - But the “outcome” of our witness is not our “business” - Its God’s alone!…Mother Teresa would always say….”We are called to be faithful, not successful”….That statement is very profound!…That means what we do and how we live is between us and God - And no one else!…And if God wants to use our Catholic witness to “spark” a “change” in the unbelieving world in which we live and work - So be it! - But if not - Our “job” is simply to be faithful…….Mother Teresa wrote this short poem, to help us to further understand what she was attempting to teaching the world……”People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered; Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God; It was never between you and them anyway”…Jesus never promised us an easy life - But what he did promise us is eternal life if we follow him!

“Know that the LORD is God; he made us, his we are; his people, the flock he tends”

Today St Peter, the man Jesus appointed to lead his people as the first Pope told the original Catholics how we are to conduct our lives amongst a very antagonistic world…St Peter told it like it is! - He did not “sugar coat” anything….To live as a Catholic in the world is hard - This is why one must live Sacramentally, develop a daily pray life, fast weekly, have a devotion to Our Lady…I do not care who you are - From the Pope down to the lady who cleans the church…If you “think” you somehow can live as a Catholic in the “public square” without doing the things I just noted - You are deeply mistaken! - The world will “eat you up” and “spit you out!”…But if you do what I just recommend - You will not only find out that living as a Catholic “amongst the wolves” of the world is possible - But you will thrive in that “jungle”……Remember the words of Christ……”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”……One man “armed” with Truth and Sacramental Grace can “stand up” against the entire world - How do I know this to be true? - Because that is exactly what Jesus Christ did - And he has called each of us to do the same…..So take courage - And conquer the world!….JMJ

“No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master”

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Mark Jesus settles an argument that arose between the disciples about status and power…..He tells something that goes against everything the world says is important - Power belongs to God alone and status is not gained by being served but by serving others….”You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many”……..The Kingdom of God is structured in a completely different manner then the power structures of this world….Keeping that in mind, when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we say the following words - “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”….That means we are to live differently while we are here on on earth, trying to build the Kingdom of God - “As it is in heaven”….To do that means we do not “go along to get along” with the crowd…..And if you find your self in a position, whether at work or as the head of your household, the only way to properly lead the people God placed in your care is to first bend your will to God….No person can properly lead others if that person does not first serve God - That should be a key indicator when assessing politicians - Any man or woman who seeks such a position, which has power over others and does not faithful serve God - Should not have the position!…The same goes for a man who wants to marry your daughter - Any man who does not believe and serve God can not possible lead his family properly! - Impossible! - Such a man will eventually given in to his passions and lead his family astray……All of us are called to serve, whether a Priest or a lay person…But if you want to lead - There is no other way to do it properly outside of allowing God to lead you first and foremost……“Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?”……Before we lead, we must understand how to serve - We are all under authority - Like it or not - God is God and we are NOT - No matter who you are - Authority is given to us for one purpose only - To lead others to the Lord

“The Son of Man came to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”

A man is the head of his household - He must protect, lead and provide for his wife and children - How is a man going to do that properly without God and the grace of the Sacraments? - Not going to happen!….I have said this before and I will state it again - I do not believe in civil marriage, meaning a marriage that is not lived Sacramentally - Why would I make such a statement? - Because all people are flawed by nature and to have a good marriage is hard work - It requires Divine Grace….That is why God made it a Sacrament and when we live it Sacramentally - We are given grace…Any man that says he does not believe in God - Is not properly prepared to be a husband or a father - How is such a man going to make the required sacrifices for his family? - Not going to happen!……These are some “strong statements” to make - But they are true!….To be a husband and a father is not for the faint of heart! - To head a family properly requires a man to open his life up to God’s grace, which will animate his example and his leadership to his family….To get married outside of God’s authority is simply a fools errand - Don’t believe me? - Look at the divorce statistics for secular marriages around the world - They speak for themselves!…..Marriage is a Sacrament for a reason and to live it any other way is a HUGE mistake….Men must lead their families but first they must bend to God and the Church….A person in authority must recognize true authority and the only one with true authority is God.

"All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the field; the grass withers, and the flower wilts; but the word of the Lord remains forever.”…….This is the word that has been proclaimed to you.”

St Mark today in the Gospel teaches us about the importance of service - And how to be a good leader - And before we can lead, we must first know how to serve…God is in charge! - To think any other way will always lead a person down the wrong road…And to acquire this mindset, one must understand what it means to be humble……Humility is learned by living, its not learned by reading a book…Temptations and earthily comfort can easily make one forget who God is and who we truly are - We are ALL poor sinners in need of a Savior!….Humility is the foundation of all the virtues and without it, we will never bend our knee to the Lord or to the teachings of the Church….”Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him”…..A Catholic must be at the service of others - And those who have been given much, much will be expected!….Servant leaders are required today now more then ever………..“No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master”…..JMJ

God provides!

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Mark we are told about how God will provide for us in this age and in the age to come….However, while Jesus tells his disciples that he will provide for them, he does not say that they will not have to live a sacrificial life and even will have to endure persecution - To think we as Catholics will not have to experience the same thing is frankly a self created fantasy!…......"Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come”…….To live in trust is a grace - Catholic families who do not use contraception, religious orders who rely upon donations for their survival, and diocesan priests who trust that the parish bills will get paid from weekly collections understand full well what I am writing about - Such people understand what Divine Providence is all about…The secular world mocks such a way of life - Because “on paper” it does not make sense! - To live in trust, that God will provide to the unbelieving world is simply crazy!….But for those who have taken this “step” in the spiritual life, they know that great peace is found in KNOWING that God ALWAYS provides….As a father of five children under the age of twelve years old, my family has never wanted for anything…I tell me children all the time - “We take care of God by living in his will and God takes care of us” - That is the “calculus” the world can not comprehend but just like how mathematics is exacting in its objective outcome - So is trust in divine providence - God will provide!……Interestingly enough, Jesus ends his commentary today in the Gospel to his disciples by addressing those who live by the world’s standards and who reject the will of God - Those people who seem to “have everything” while the children of God struggle - ”But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first”…..When we stand before God, the power structures of the world will be flipped - The “currency” that the world relies upon will not matter - The only thing that will be of value is the life we led and the good fruit we bore for the Kingdom of God…….Those who have ears - Let them hear!!……We can not “buy” our eternal salvation…..What is of value on earth is an abomination to God - So be “rich” in good works in the here and now - Because an authentic Catholic life pays “dividends” - Believe it!…….In God We Trust - God Provides!

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

At the age of fifty-one years old, I had my fifth child…I remember telling my manager at work I was about to have another child…His exact words to me - “Joe, you are crazy”…Secular minded people in our world today do not view life through the lens of faith - Its all about acquiring “stuff” - Most of which we do not need…..A Catholic does not have this world view or at least should not “buy-in” to this mindset….A Catholic only wants what they need - We live for the Kingdom of God - A Catholic shares his gifts, first with his family and then with the community…When we live this way, we find that we always have enough! - And that God ALWAYS provides for what is needed - Also, we are given a deep and lasting peace that the world can never give or take away…..A choice has to be made to live in this manner because we can not have it both ways - We either live according to the standards of the materialistic world or we live according to the standards of the Kingdom of God….And if we choose the Kingdom of God - Our way of life will be “different” from others - And that means some level of persecution will go along with our choice - And Catholics must accept this reality - Its part of “the deal”…..But in the end, remembering the words of Jesus told to us today in the Gospel - ”Many that are first will be last, and the last will be first” - God will reward us - How do I know? - Because Jesus said so….. “There is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come”….Believe it! - And if so, we need to live it!

“The LORD has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel”

Radical trust in God can be difficult - And trusting in this manner is a grace…But for those who live under the care of God’s Providence - They know that grace builds upon grace - God shows us just how much he will care for us when we take each uncertain step in faith…And with each step, our trust grows….Life as a practicing Catholic is not always a “bed of roses”…Its a life of deep sacrifices - Let’s call it what it is - But choosing such a life comes with many advantages that the secular world can not perceive and will never understand….I have lived as a practicing Catholic for over thirty years and I still have many secular friends, who live according to the standards of the world - And I would not trade my life with any of them!….God has been so good to my family and has ALWAYS provided for us - And I KNOW that he will continue to do so……Jesus assures us…..”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” - We either believe that or we do not - But before we can experience it - We must “put out into the deep”….”Taste and see the goodness of the Lord” - With each uncertain step, our trust in Divine Providence grows………God provides!…………JMJ