”Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience”…”When Jesus heard this he was amazed”

Today at Holy Mass we hear from the Gospel of St Luke…Luke tells us a story about an outsider, a Roman who had tremendous faith in Christ…So much so his words are not only remembered to this day but recited in every Mass…."Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof”….This man recognized the divinity of Jesus…To him Jesus was not just a “miracle worker”…He was not just “some guy” who spoke well…He was God!….So here is the question for today…Do you have the same mindset?…Do we acknowledge that Jesus is God and we are not?….Because if we do…That means we have to listen to what he says - Everything he says!…That means Jesus “makes the rules” and we do not…That means we live differently….Jesus was not just “some guy”…He was God…He rose from the died…And if we say we believe this…Then we need to show it by the way we live…Just like this Roman did today in the gospel

“When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith."

One of my children’s godparents gave my kids this series of DVDs that teach the faith. The DVD’s are cartoons and the main character is a Franciscan brother and one of the things he communicates is very appropriate for this refection…..”Just because you wear a cross around your neck…Does not make you a Christian”…..”Just like if you enter a garage…That does not make you a car!”……We were grafted into the life of Christ by our Baptist but if we do not excerise the gift given to us by how we live our life…Do we really live up to who we say we are as Christians?….Now, that does not mean we have to be perfect, no one is perfect…However, do we live in a “different” manner from the rest of the world?…Do we have a different set of priorities?……Now here is the kicker! - Get ready for it!...…How do we spend our money?….Did I just say that? - -YES I DID!……Because how we spend our money shows who we really are…Let’s just say it…..And not beat around the bush……Now I am not saying “give all your money away”…But how do we priorities our money and what do we spend it on?…Our checkbook tells us everything we need to know about what is important to us in many ways…..Many people do not wear a “cross around their neck”…Like the Roman Centurion today in the gospel yet their life demonstrates their faith……No words necessary!

“Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Burnt offerings or sin offerings you sought not; then said I, "Behold I come”

Back to our Gospel today from Mass…..The Roman Centurion tells Jesus he is a man “subject to authority”…What does that mean?…That means he has a “boss” and he fully understands that he has to listen to what “his boss” says…When he says this to Jesus, Jesus understands where he is coming from…Because Jesus “has a boss”…His boss is his Father in heaven and Jesus always listens to him……I got news for you…Whether we acknowledge it or not…Or whether we realize it or not…We ALL have a boss too….God is the boss and God has the last word…Its time to face the facts and face reality…When we understand that God is a loving father and does not “lay down the rules” to punish us but to help us thrive not only here on earth but get us home to heaven, the game is won!….That was the mindset of the Roman Centurion and that must be our mindset too…..And wearing a cross around our neck does not demonstrate that idea to the world…Nor does simply “going to church” on Sunday when we just do it to “tick a box”…..Our life should speak for itself…And so will your checkbook….It tells the world everything it needs to know and it should tell you the same if you at it carefully

”Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience”…”When Jesus heard this he was amazed”