Today at Holy Mass in the first reading we hear from St Paul….In his letter to the Thessalonians he tells them something very important….His message is for us as well…..”Practice what you preach”……The world will never listen to you if the world does not see for themselves what Catholics claim to believe….Now that does not mean we have to be perfect…No…However…..Catholics can not and should not live like everyone else…If we “fit in” with the world…Are we really following Christ?…Did Jesus fit in?…Or…..Did Jesus stand out?
“Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us”
We all know the famous saying…”The road to hell is paved with good intentions”…We all have good intentions…However, “good intentions” don’t equal results…Every January 1st, Americans make their New Year’s resolutions…..And more times than not…By February 1st….All those resolutions made 30 days prior…All made by the way with “good intentions” are forgotten…Why do you think that is?…..Because in order to execute, especially when it comes to virtue, we need grace!….That is the “missing link” in the chain!…..And we disregard it….And as a result…All our “good intentions” go out the window!….If you go into any book store…There is an entire section for “Self Help Books”……Its a huge industry…The reason why the book stores continue to dedicate an entire section to these Self Help Books proves just how little they work…Why is that?…Because anyone can diagnose a problem if they are looking clearly at the problem from a distance…Its another thing all together to resolve the problem
As Catholics, if we are not actively doing the following….. Praying daily….Fasting weekly…..Going to a Sacramental Confession monthly…Receiving the Blessed Sacrament at Mass in the state of grace at least weekly……There is NO WAY we are going to model the life of Christ to the world…..EVERYTHING relies on grace…But I assure you…If you do these things I just noted…Utilizing all the “tools” that Jesus gave to us in the one Church he founded……..You will stand out and set the world on fire!…No “Self Help Book” can accomplish that.
“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father”
In the gospel today at Mass Jesus warns his friends that if we do not “walk the walk”….Not only will people not believe you…But the world can and will see right through you!…..”You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones”….I am convinced that if the world was to witness our Catholic faith..In all its fullness…The world would stand in awe…..This is the only way to change the world and spark change…To witness the life of Christ before others…And the only way to do that is to utilize the “tools” of the Church……This is why prayer, fasting and the Sacraments are vital…..This is why the Eucharist is called “food for the journey”…To disregard these tools frankly is foolish….No “Self Help Book” is going to "get the job done”…….However…..When we open ourselves up to God’s grace…..The world will stand in awe……”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”
”Good Intentions” do not and will not….”Make It Happen!”…..It’s not magic - Its all about grace!
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