”Give yourself to God, all that you have, all that you do, all that you know and all your talents - and you will be dearer to him than ever before and richer too”

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of Mark we hear Jesus telling us about giving of our self…He is not talking about money as many may think upon first reading this passage…God has plenty of money, he does not need yours!….God wants something more…God wants YOU…Not part of you…Not “some” of you…God wants ALL of YOU……”Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood”……Far too many “think” that if we give ourself completely to the Lord that we will be “missing out”…Nothing could be farther from the truth…..When we abandon ourself to God’s will…We are filled with peace and joy…..Some thing the world can never take away or give for that matter……However it must be stated - Its very easy to say things like….”I abandoned my self to God’s will”…I say that because to do so is a process and I am “working on it” to this very day….But in order to “complete the race”, we first must begin…..Trust builds upon trust….."Rome was not built in a day", nor will you be….However, we need to begin in order to finish.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”

I always wanted to get married and have children…But God did not bring to me my wife until I was 43 years old….And for many years before that I was alone…During that time, I believe God prepared me for marriage, he formed me in my Catholic faith…..Why bring this up?…For the seven years right before I was married I served of the poor working along side Mother Teresa’s nuns…I was their driver every Saturday and believe me when I tell you, I was sent on many “adventures” throughout New York City seeing a side to the city that many do not know exists…I always say, those seven years were like what a religious brother goes through before making their final vows to their particular religious order.....…That period of time I refer to as my "postulancy" before I made my vows before God to be a married man…The Missionaries of Charity during that time formed me…I owe them everything!…I learned to trust God’s providence from them….I learned a radical way to follow the gospel from them…..I also learned when you do those things, God will give you great joy and peace, unlike the world can ever give you…..When I got married I knew that if I trusted God and did things "God’s way", he will always provide for my family…I told my wife this and we have never been in want of anything, God has always provided for us and our five children…..To arrive at this “place” was a process…I had Mother Teresa’s nuns to show me…..I saw how Divine Providence works with my own eyes….We all must learn to trust God in this manner…His love for us all is beyond all telling!…We must have the courage to “take a different path” in the world…In doing so God will reveal to you just how real he is…How much he loves you and the world, who blindly “thirsts” for God so desperately….God always provides….Trust me….That does not mean the “road will always be smooth” but a “path” to “get through” on that "road" will always be there for you…Trust me!…More importantly…Trust God…He can do the impossible.

“The LORD keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets captives free.”

“In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, "Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink." She left to get it, and he called out after her, "Please bring along a bit of bread." She answered, "As the LORD, your God, lives, I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die." Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid. Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son. For the LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'" She left and did as Elijah had said. She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well; the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.

“The LORD gives sight to the blind. The LORD raises up those who were bowed down; the LORD loves the just. The LORD protects strangers”

In the Gospel today from Mass St Mark tells us about a widow who gave everything she had to the Lord….Its not about money people…Its about YOU…God wants YOU….We all have the tendency to “hold firmly” to “our way”…to “things”…to our pride…The sooner we learn to “let go and let God”…The journey begins…The greatest adventure one can embark upon…”Give yourself to God, all that you have, all that you do, all that you know and all your talents - and you will be dearer to him than ever before and richer too”