Give your consent - Realize your potential - And set the world on fire!

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Matthew Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a mustard seed that is sown in a field…..”It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches”….Within each Baptized Catholic is this “seed”….But like all seeds, we must nurture it for it to grow - And if we do not, it will bear no fruit……If one was to step back and objectively ponder the life of Jesus Christ and what he accomplished - It literally will blow your mind…An uneducated carpenter, who lived in a far corner of the Middle East two thousand years ago - This man preached for just three years and was then brutally murdered….After his death, he made such a deep impression upon twelve other uneducated men that they formed a global Church…Now again, step back and think about this - How could that have possibly happened if Jesus was not God….If that historic reality does not point to God - I do not know what does….Think about how global corporations are founded - Think about how many highly educated men and women are involved in establishing this corporations…And most of them, even the most successful of the companies - They do not even last one hundred years….And in the case of Jesus - A man who had no formal education - Who surrounded himself with other uneducated men - He forms a Church that has lasted two thousand years and has spread all over the world….If that does not “blow your mind” - I do not know what will……The parable of the mustard seed is also the story of the Catholic Church - The “seed” was Jesus…..How does this apply to us today? - Well, we were grafted into the life of Christ when we were Baptized…That means if we give God permission and “make room” for the Holy Spirit to animate our life - We too will shake the foundations of the world…What prevents us for this reality? - FEAR!!!….We are afraid, so we “settle” for mediocrity…..Think for a moment about the lives of the saints…The only difference between us and them is - They radically trusted the words of Christ - They took Jesus at his word and lived their lives through those words......The saints radically abandoned their dreams…And look at what happened…Look at the impact of the life St Francis - St Dominic - Mother Teresa…..All these people were in essence “mustard seeds”….And look what happened as a result of their radical trust in the words of Jesus Christ…..I believe when we stand before God, he will show us what we could have done if we trusted him more….Each of us, due to our Baptism has so much potential - Its about time we “tap” into that potential - And shake the foundations of the world!

“The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures”

When I returned home from college at twenty-two years old, I decided to live my life as a practicing Catholic - To take my faith seriously….And that decision proceeded over the years to guide every decision I made since….And because I said YES to God…Many good things happened…For one I met my wife, who also shared in my Catholic faith….Once we were married we had five children in ten years because we were both open to life and fully believe what the Catholic Church teaches about not using contraception…If I did not make that decision at twenty-two years old - I surely would not be married to my wife nor would I have five beautiful children today….I could go on and on….I am now fifty-six years old…And all the “good things” in my life grew from that one decision I made over thirty years ago - To live as a practicing Catholic…That decision was the “mustard seed”….which “is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches”……”My story” is not finished either!….God continues to form and sanctify my life….The greatest “adventure” one can have is to radically commit one’s life to God….God has taken me all over the world and now I find myself on the radio co-hosting a Catholic radio show…What is next? - Only God knows - But in the meantime I have placed my complete trust in him…..He has taken the “smallest of seeds” and grown it into “the largest of plants” once again!…That “seed” was me!!!!

“The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened”

Today Jesus teaches us about just how much potential each and every Baptized Catholic has….When we study the lives of the saints, we learn that they were all very different…Some were brilliant - Some were simple minded - Some were rich - Some were poor…But even with all their differences, they all shared one thing in common - Radical Trust in God…..People today do not take Jesus at his word!!!!…If we only did - We would set the world on fire!…..Every Baptized Catholic is in essence a “mustard seed” waiting to grow into a massive tree!!! - What stops us from growing into that “tree”?….Maybe we are not convinced that God can do more with our life then we can - So we “settle” for mediocrity…….DO NOT SETTLE…….We were not born to be comfortable - We were born for greatness…There are no “mediocre” people in heaven and each person who is admitted into heaven was at one time a “small seed”, which over time grew into the “largest of plants”…..This “growth” begins with a commitment - Giving God consent to work in our life…..Never forget - One YES changed the entire world……”Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word”…..Don’t think for one second that your YES will not have an impact…Give your consent - Realize your potential - And set the world on fire!…..JMJ

You have no life within you unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man!

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the first reading from the Book of Kings how Solomon asked God for wisdom as opposed to having a long life or acquiring wealth….."Because you have asked for this— not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right—I do as you requested. I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you”…….If God asked you to wish for something - What would it be?……When a person lives in the State of Grace, the Holy Spirit animates their life….When a person lives in that reality, we are given by God seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord…….These gifts make for a good life - Now that does not mean you will be rich but it does mean you will make good choices, empowered by the Holy Spirit to live out those good choices - And that makes for a good and fruitful life!….How many people today make poor choices? - Even highly intelligent people - They marry the wrong people - They spend their money on ridiculous things - They acquire vices…..All because they are not animated by the Holy Spirit…….We are warned by St Matthew, what we see in “real time” today, right before our very eyes - “If a blind person leads a blind person, both will fall into a pit”…Look at our politicians? - Look at the ruling class in our society? - Look at the heads of industry? - Look at far too many familles?….Are their choices animated by the Holy Spirit? - That is why what they “build” does not last

“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it”

There is what I call - “An art to living”….This “art” is NOT what is advertised by Hollywood and Corporate America either….I was fortunate to have witnessed this “art” by my parents, who were simple people that built a 50 year stable and fruitful marriage……This “art” today is completely lost and needs desperately to be recovered!…..In America we no longer know how to live!!!!….We chase after material things we cannot afford and acquire them by going into debt - Living in debt is slavery!!!!…..We project an image of our self on social media that has nothing to do with God…..We evaluate ourself based upon the shifting standards of a Godless world, which leaves us empty……We no longer value marriage, children or anything which requires sacrifice…..These reasons and more have left far too many Americans lost and alone - Clinical depression, suicide, and substance abuse are the result…..Why? - Because we no longer know how to live!…..This “art of living”, which I am describing can only be found by a life lived in and through the Holy Spirit…This requires living Sacramentally…..How many Baptized Catholics go to confession regularly?…How many Baptized Catholics receive the Blessed Sacrament on Sunday in the state of grace?…If the majority of Baptized Catholics are not living in the state of grace - How can they possibly live a good life and make good decisions? - Again, the words of St Matthew come to mind - “If a blind person leads a blind person, both will fall into a pit”…..America needs to stop “chasing” lies and start focusing on the fundaments - What I call “First Principals”…When we put God first, everything else in our life falls into place….We are assured of this by Jesus…”Seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides”…Its because we no long prioritize the “things of heaven” that America and Americans are lost.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it"

Today we are told about the importance of wisdom - How King Solomon asked God for wisdom so he could rule his people well….Is this what you see in our ruling class today in America? - When we build our life upon God, our life bears lasting fruit…Conversely, when we build our life on the “shifting sands” of this world - Eventually, everything collapses…..America must re-learn what it means to “live well”…..And that will NEVER happen unless we “invite” God back into our society…..St John in his Gospel tells us very clearly what Jesus told him and the first disciples - “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you”…..How can we as a people possibly “live well” when we no long live Sacramentally?!?….Notice again what St John wrote…..”You do not have life within you”……Every human being was meant to live Sacramentally - How do I know that? - Because Jesus said so - You have no life within you unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man!…….JMJ

"Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more”

Today at Holy Mass in the first reading St Paul in his letter to the Corinthians warns them….”We hold this treasure in earthen vessels”……Paul knows who he is - A sinner!…..He also knows who God is and just how powerful God is….Why is it important to KNOW that we are ALL sinners? - Because when we forget this reality…The devil creeps into our life - The devil can convince us that all the good we do came from ourselves - God was not the primary driver of that good - When this happens - God slowly is put in the “back seat” - This can happen to ANYONE - And St Paul knows it - Yes - The Great St Paul is telling us this - Are we listening?!?……”Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh”……The devil does not come into the “front door” of our life announcing who he is - The devil finds “the cracks” in our life and “slides” in when no one even realizes it…..This is why we must ALWAYS live in the state of grace as a Catholic…Any person who is NOT in the state of grace - Its does not matter who you are - How “smart” you “think” you are - How “holy” you “think” you are - The devil is real and can take you out!…..St Paul tells us how we fight this battle, which is in reality the battle for our eternal soul……”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”…….How do we put on this “armor” St Paul speaks of?……Pray the Rosary everyday - Go to a Sacramental Confession once every month - Go to Mass and consume the Blessed Sacrament every Sunday….This is something EVERY person can do no matter what state in life you are called to…These three practices cost nothing - They are FREE OF CHARGE…And they will save your soul…..Any person who “thinks” they can self-manufacture a holy life and travel the narrow road to eternal life without those three practices I just noted - In my humble opinion is making a HUGE mistake…Why would I make such a bold claim? - Because “the spirit is willing and the flesh is WEAK”…..Those who have ears - Let them hear!

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

How does a person “fall from grace”? - A good question - This happens gradually but it happens….This is why we MUST remain vigilant and NEVER trust solely in “earthen vessels” but put our trust in God…..As Catholics we all know what happened in the 20th century with regard to the crisis of the priesthood, where priests sexually violated young boys in many countries around the world….If we were to step back and think about this objectively - One would say - How could this happen?!?…..One thing I can say with certainty - I would bet those predator priests stopped going to confession - I bet those predator priests were not praying the Rosary daily…..That is what happened!!! - And then the devil gradually crept in!…..Bishop Hugh Doyle famously said, “No one can live continually in sin and continue to say the Rosary. Either he will give up sin or he will give up the holy Rosary”……Any adult, who has lived in this world and has seen how the world “operates” - Who has seen and experienced the limits to their own strength and are honest about those limits knows deep within their heart - God is God and we are not! - All human beings have limits!…Because of this reality - Jesus gave us a Church - He gave us Our Lady - He gave us the Sacraments!!!!!….To not utilizes these gifts is simply FOOLISH!…..The world, the flesh and the devil will grind you into the dust without “the armor” of God….Those who have ears - Let them hear!

“Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the torrents in the southern desert. Those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing”

Today the Great St Paul, an extremely gifted and capable man warns us - So don’t think for one second YOU alone can “bear fruit” that lasts in this life without God…..How many people forget this reality, if not outright ignore this warning?!? - The pages of history are full of these people, so are the newspapers we read….Because of this, today at Mass, we are warned……So here is the question - Do we take this warning seriously? - And if we do - What are we doing about it?….Pray the Rosary everyday - Go to a Sacramental Confession once every month - Go to Mass and consume the Blessed Sacrament every Sunday……Put on the “armor of God”…Because the devil prowls the earth like a lion seeking the ruin of souls……..”Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more”…JMJ

Then “Blessed are you!” - “For your reward will be great in heaven”

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the Gospel of St Matthew the parable of the Sower and the Seed…..We are assured that if we “adhere to the vine - we will bear fruit” - Jesus himself tells us this….So what stops us from doing what Jesus tells us?…St Matthew in this parable today tells us the answer to that question…..”When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit”……….The road to Jesus Christ is narrow!!!! - And to walk it means we will “walk against the tide” in this world - Are you willing to walk this path?….This is what St Matthew is attempting to articulate to us…Its easy to accept the word of God when everything is going smoothly - But what happens when we are rejected, even persecuted because of being a Catholic? - What then?…American Christianity tells us we can have both - God and the world - This is a self delusion and a lie!….Jesus himself tells us…..”No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon”…And this is why people “fall away” for God….Jesus again is VERY clear…“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.”…However, after making this statement, Jesus follows up with this - “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it”….Catholics MUST be willing to “lose their life” for God - Now that does not mean we will die a martyrs death but it does mean we give Jesus all our hopes and dreams - That we bend our will until it breaks - That we surrender our entire life and put it at the service of God - Sadly, when we do this - The secular world will in many ways reject you but here is the “good news” - God will embrace you!…There are only two options - Pick one!…….This is the path to heaven - The “narrow road” - Are we willing to walk it?…..St Matthew today tells us what happens if we chose to walk this “narrow road” - “But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold”……Those who have ears - Let them hear!

“Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance”

Most people will tell you, who live their lives through a Catholic lens, that many of the people who once “knew them” before they made this life altering decision think they are crazy! - Some outright reject you…..When a person makes the choice to follow God seriously, sadly, they lose friends - Even members of their family can distance themselves from a serious Catholic….Jesus tells us this in the pages of Scripture…..”Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved”…..So why should we be surprised when this happens?……..When I returned home from college, I went to a Sacramental Confession and began my life as a practicing Catholic at twenty-two years old - That was over thirty years ago….Before that time I lived a very worldly life and my friends were just like me - Drinking too much alcohol and doing everything that goes along with such a depraved lifestyle….But after my decision to live as a Catholic - Many people, who I was friends with for many years, no longer wanted to be in my company - Some even thought I was crazy…..So when I talk about being rejected because of our Catholic faith - I am speaking from experience!…Everything Jesus warned us about is true!!! - Because it happened to me….But like St Matthew tells us…….”But whoever endures to the end will be saved”……Only by living a life of daily prayer, fasting and frequent reception of the Sacraments will you persevere when “times get tough” - And guess what? - They will get tough!

“Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, proclaim it on distant isles, and say: He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together, he guards them as a shepherd his flock”

Today at Mass we hear a parable many of us have heard time and time again since we were children - And because we know this story - Ask yourself the question - Which “seed” are you?…The one that “bears fruit” or the one that “dies”?…..A good priest once told me - “No one just floats into heaven” - What does that mean? - It means that we ALL must make a deliberate choice to live our Catholic faith seriously….And when we do, we must cling too Christ because the secular world will “attack us” in many ways…..This is why Jesus tells us - The road to heaven is “narrow” - And he was not lying!!!!…..To live as a Catholic boldly in this world in the public square is not an easy thing to do….In fact, when Jesus gave his first disciples the teaching of the Beatitudes, he addressed this idea, which I am attempting to articulate in this reflection…..”Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.  Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you”…..Are you willing to be persecuted? - Are you willing to be insulted? - Are you willing to be slandered falsely?….If you are - Then “Blessed are you!” - “For your reward will be great in heaven”…..JMJ

Rinse - Wash - Repeat!

Today in the first reading from Holy Mass the Prophet Jeremiah tells the story of how God gave the Israelites everything and they squandered it…Never under estimate your human nature!!!……..The devil prowls the earth seeking the ruin of souls - YOUR SOUL…The devil is smarter then you and knows ALL your weakness…….Why bring this up?…Because no matter who you are - We MUST stay close to Christ and the Sacraments……If we rely on our own gifts and strength, the devil will eventually “find a way” to unsettle us…..This is why Jesus founded a Church - So we can feed on his body and blood - So we can reconcile our sins to God…..Again, we can not self manufacture sanctity….Jeremiah tells us today that the Israelites - ”Dug themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that hold no water”…This is what we see today across the once Christian West - The secular world putting its trust in men - In politics - In material wealth…All these “things” will fail us!!! - They have failed us!!!!….…History proves this reality time and time again however, human beings never learn the lesson….Only a life grounded in God lasts - Only a life grounded in God bears fruit that will last……The secular world refuses to acknowledge this reality and in doing so, costly mistakes repeat themselves over and over again

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

One of the most prophetic statements, for anyone who pays attention to politics in America, comes from the Old Testament and the Book of Samuel….The Jewish people at one time did not have a King - God was their King - They had judges to settle disputes and God’s law was the guiding principal everyone followed - And as a result - The Jewish people thrived…Sadly, as time went on, outside influences corrupted the Israelites and because of this - They drifted from God - And wanted to be like other nations and have a King…The Prophet Samuel tried to warn them - But they did not listen………Today the Catholic warns America of the same forms of corruption….But we as a people do not listen…We vote for abortion on demand - Same Sex Marriage is legal from coast to coast - Forever wars take place no matter who the President is - No fault divorce is common place and memorialized in our laws - Usury is the primary source of American wealth……..How can God bless this nation when we have turned our backs to him? - All the while, the Catholic Church, like the Prophet Samuel, has warned the American people for years!!!…So how will this all end? - The same way it ended for the Israelites…God will cast us out into the “desert” - And through our period of suffering a “remnant” will emerge…..Once again - History repeats itself

“Samuel delivered the message of the LORD in full to those who were asking him for a king. He told them: “The governance of the king who will rule you will be as follows: He will take your sons and assign them to his chariots and horses, and they will run before his chariot. He will appoint from among them his commanders of thousands and of hundreds. He will make them do his plowing and harvesting and produce his weapons of war and chariotry. He will use your daughters as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his servants. He will tithe your crops and grape harvests to give to his officials and his servants. He will take your male and female slaves, as well as your best oxen and donkeys, and use them to do his work. He will also tithe your flocks. As for you, you will become his slaves. On that day you will cry out because of the king whom you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”

Rinse - Wash - Repeat!…………JMJ

Our life “begins” on the “other side” of this change - When we touch “lightning”

Today the Universal Church commemorates the life of Mary Magdalene, who Catholic tradition calls the apostle to the apostles……The life of Mary Magdalene should serve as an example of how Christ can transform a person into a new creation…Scripture tells us that Mary Magdalene was a woman possessed by seven demons…But somehow she was able to change - What about us?…..Nothing is impossible for God and even the worst person we have ever encountered in life can change…But how?….Only God can change people - We “think” we can people and sadly we try to change people all the time - This is a waste of time!…All we as Catholics can do is give a grace filled witness to the world - That witness must be consistent - Day in and Day out - And if we do this - In time - The Holy Spirit works in the hearts of the people close to us - And some of those people, by God’s grace will change, as a result of the Holy Spirit, not us…If you look closely at Catholic social media today, which I do because of my role as a co-host of a Catholic radio show in New York - People are constantly trying to “change others” - I know this because I was one of those people!…But I have learned that changing others is impossible - Our “job” is to change ourself…With that said - The closer we get to Christ, the more others will be attracted to us - And the more we witness a life of holiness - The world around us will be transformed….Mary Magdalene was truly transformed - And as a result her life’s witness shook the foundations of the world….This is the impact of a saint….And each baptized Catholic is called to be saint - Why do we “sell ourselves short”? - Aspiring for material things and achievements that in the end will mean nothing…..Inside of each of us is a saint - It should be our number one priority to become who we were ALL born to be - A saint!

“So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come”

When a man becomes the Pope, he takes a new name - There is great symbolism in that new name - The Pope is now beginning something completely new in his life….The same goes for Catholics when we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, we take a new name - Why? - Again, because something new is about to begin on our life…..Scripture tells us….”I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh”…..This is a process that does not happen over night - Have we started this much needed process?…..Before we stand before God, our hearts must be purified…This happens as we live now but if we do not complete what needs to be completed, the remaining “work” is done in Purgatory……When I was a young man I was a very different person then who I am now…..The people I lived with in college and were at the time very close to me, seem to me a stranger now….One of my roommates from college recently passed away…I lived with Jude for three years and he was a big part of my young life….Because of his death, a number of people from my university got together to celebrate Jude’s life…..I attended this event with my youngest son Gerard….Seeing and speaking with the people I once knew at this event was a strange experience - We no longer had much in common and frankly I felt like a stranger among people I once knew very well…..This is what happens when we give our life to God - We change!……”So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come”……Our world today lives under a great misconception - We do not just “float” into heaven when we die - We must be transformed and in order to be transformed - We must cooperate with Sacramental grace….God will not force us to change - We must desire it and when we desire it, we must strive each and every day to “carry our cross”, allowing God to work in our life….Mary Magdalene is a great example of this…And if I were to be honest, so am I, while not a saint like Mary Magdalene…God took a “wild young man”, who was always the life of the party, caught up in nothing but himself and God transformed that man - That young man was me!

“I will put my spirit within you so that you walk in my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep them. You will live in the land I gave to your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. I will deliver you from all your impurities. I will summon the grain and make it plentiful; I will not send famine against you. I will increase the fruit on your trees and the crops in your fields so that you no longer endure reproach from the nations because of famine. Then you will remember your evil behavior and your deeds that were not good; you will loathe yourselves for your sins and your abominations. Not for your sake do I act—oracle of the Lord GOD. Let this be known to you! Be ashamed and humbled because of your behavior, house of Israel. Thus says the Lord GOD: When I cleanse you of all your guilt, I will resettle the cities and the ruins will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be tilled—once a wasteland in the eyes of every passerby. They will say, “This once-desolate land has become like the garden of Eden. The cities once ruined, laid waste and destroyed, are now resettled and fortified.”

The life of Mary Magdalene should inspire us…..She is an example of the transforming power of God….If we read the lives of the saints, there are many examples similar to Mary Magdalene…The saints are people who encountered the “Living God” and because of that encounter - They radically changed…..If we are honest, that is something we all must experience, an encounter with the “Living God”….Until we know deep within our hearts that God is real - That Jesus is fully present in the Blessed Sacrament - Our Catholic faith in many ways is just about “ticking boxes” - We simply go through the motions…..But when we encounter the Lord - Everything changes….The great Boston College philosopher Peter Kreeft wrote a book entitled “Jesus Shock”, in it this is what he wrote….“If anyone claims to have met Him without being changed, he has not met Him at all. When you touch Him, you touch lightning”….Have you touched “lightning” yet? - That is the question! - Because if you have, you know it - And you are changed as a result…..Mary Magdalene experienced such an encounter with this so-called “lightning” Peter Kreeft wrote about in his book - Have you?…….If you have not changed your life know right now - Something is missing!……Our life “begins” on the “other side” of this change - When we touch “lightning”……..JMJ

Set the world on fire

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Matthew Jesus asks a question to the crowd that followed him….“Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”…..He asks the same question today to us…..Jesus established one Church - The Catholic Church…This is an undeniable fact…The Catholic Church existed 400 years before there was even a Bible and when the Bible was put together, it was the Catholic Church who complied it…..But sadly, even within the Catholic Church today people ask the same question that Jesus raised today in the Gospel - “Who are my brothers?”….While everything that the Catholic Church teaches is written down - Very clearly I might add - People within the Church argue and bicker about what is authentic….Funny how the human mind works!…..For purposes of this reflection - I will try to answer this question - “Who are my brothers?”……The Catholic Church contains the fullness of Truth, which means as Catholics we MUST believe everything the Church teaches and live our life through the lens of those teachings…But that is not all - We must also strive to purify our hearts daily because a pure heart is a heart that is full of love of God and love of neighbor….That means if we profess to believe everything that the Church teaches to be the Truth but our hearts are not full of love - Sadly - We are NOT brothers of Jesus Christ…..The same goes if we distort the Truth taught by the Church in the name of “love” - Such an approach also falls short of the question asked by Jesus today - “Who are my brothers?”……..When the secular world witnesses authentic Catholicism - Trust me - Heads are turned and traffic stops!……How do I know this? - Because I have encountered holy people in my life - Specifically speaking, when I worked with Mother Teresa’s nuns actively for seven years in New York, Haiti and India - There I witnessed faith in action - A religious order who believes everything the Church teaches, lives those teachings with their lives and possess love in their heart for both God and neighbor….This is the witness the world needs and this witness addresses the questions asked by Jesus today - “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”....There is no Truth without love and so called  “love” falls short if it lacks the fullness of Truth.

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

The Catholic Church teaches that in order to consume the Blessed Sacrament at Mass, we must be in the state of grace…This teaching is biblical as well as clearly documented in the Catechism…Yet - Somehow, this teaching has become unclear to some….Trying to “side-step” this teaching in the name of being “pastoral” or in the name of “accompaniment” falls short and does not bear fruit for the Kingdom of God - It is also objectively a sin…..We can not call such false practices, (even if they are well-intentioned) love either……If we love someone, we tell them the Truth…That does not mean we are mean-spirited when we tell them the Truth - But if we conveniently “leave parts of the Truth out” or we intentionally speak in ambiguous terms about the Truth - We can not honestly say we love that person….Jesus never did this and nor can we…The voice of the Catholic Church MUST be clear, but it also MUST come from a place of love…God sees the human heart - He knows our intentions…..When the secular world witnesses a Church that embraces the fullness of Truth in love - The world may not agree with us - But trust me - The world will take us seriously!….And in the process, many will experience a change of heart - Because authentic Catholicism sets the world on fire.

“As in the days when you came from the land of Egypt, show us wonderful signs. Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance”

Today Jesus challenges us….“Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”…In our hearts I believe we all know the answer to those questions….The challenge comes more from living out the answers in real time….Such an authentic lifestyle requires grace, which produces courage….An authentic Catholic stands out from the crowd - No words are necessary to tell the world around us that we are Catholic when we are authentically living out our Catholic faith - The secular world knows this with one glance…This is the witness our world needs to see…Its not just a matter of “going to Church on Sunday” - Its what we do the rest of the week…Are all our choices, most especially how we spend our money and what we do in our bedroom - Are these choices guided by Church teaching?…Do we share our resources with the material poor? - Are we open to life from conception to natural death? - Do we use contraception in our marriages?……The answer to these questions tell us a lot - They also tell the world around us a lot…..Our world today will not be transformed by a form of “counterfeit Catholicism”…..People believe what they see….And when they see the “real deal” - They know it…….“Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother”…….These are the people who set the world on fire - And this is what we are called to do - Set the world on fire……..JMJ