How we prepare determines what we “see” - And what we “see” dictates what we do

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the Gospel of St Matthew about Jesus’ family tree….The reading is long with all kinds of “weird” names…..”Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah”………and on and on……The reading today ends with this - To give us some prospective on just how long God took to bring about the time of Christ’s birth….”Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations.”….God’s time is not our time and God’s ways are not our ways……After hearing this litany of names and after pondering all the time that passed from Abraham to the birth of Jesus himself…Do we forget that Jesus is going to return once again?….Do we lose sight of this reality!?!…..Yes - Two thousand years has passed since Christ was crucified…..To us, that is a long time - To God, that is not even a second!……Christ will return - The question is - Are we ready?…What are we doing to prepare our hearts for his return?

“In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed; all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.”

We all know the story about how Jesus was born….Joseph and Mary were refused a place to stay and Mary was forced to give birth to the Savior of the world in a barn amongst animals…Do you imagine if you were one of those Inn keepers who refused to let Joseph and Mary stay in their Inn?……Talk about a HUGE mistake……What about us?……What keeps Jesus from our sight?………The last year I was in Kolkata was December 2012, I was engaged to be married and knew I would not be back in the city for many years……It was the afternoon and I was working in the Home for the Dying….Two men came to the door and they were arguing with the door keeper….The one man who requested to come in had a clear plastic bag over his hand…Two of his fingers had rotted to the bone and he wanted to be admitted to the home to get some care….The doorkeeper was trying to tell him there was no room……Coming from a country like America, we are not used to seeing human carnage like those who live in the third world and work in healthcare….If you are poor and you or a loved one suffer from an accident, there are no emergency rooms…The flesh on this man’s fingers was literally rotted to the bone!…..The Home for the Dying was full and the doorkeeper was trying to tell them they could not help…..So I begged the doorkeeper to let this man in…..And after some time of me “carrying on” like a crazy person from New Jersey - One of the sisters let him in….An Italian Doctor from Milan was volunteering there at the time and he took care of the man’s hand…….There is always room!!!!!….There is always room for one more at the table….One more child…..One more lost soul….Its for us to make room!!…Make room for Christ this Christmas in your heart…..One YES can change the world! - How do I know? - Because one YES did change the world

“He shall defend the afflicted among the people, save the children of the poor”

Today we get a glimpse at just how long it took for Jesus to be born…..Many generations came and went…..Jesus tells us very clearly he will return….Did we forget?…..But when he returns, will we recognize him?…..Remember, Christ walked among us as a poor carpenter…Many people did not recognize him……..And how about now?….Do we “hear” Jesus words when they are read to us at Mass?…Do his words penetrate our hearts?….And when we hear them - Do we respond?……Its very easy to “get lost” in all the noise of life….The Inn keepers who refused to let Joseph and Mary in their place did not think anything of it…..Jesus tells us….What you do to the least - You did for me……This is the entire Gospel summarized into one sentence….But before we “do” for the least - We must “see” and “hear” them…....”Blessed are the pure of heart - For they shall see God”…..How we prepare determines what we “see” - And what we “see” dictates what we do…………..JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

God speaks to us through the events of our life - Those who respond thrive - And those who don’t - Frankly don’t

Today at Holy Mass Jesus in the Gospel of St Matthew tells us a story about a man who changes his mind…..He first refuses to follow instructions, but later does….What makes such a man come to this revelation?…….”A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.”…….One of the greatest pieces of advice given to me was from a childhood friend who was not even religious…He told me - “Joe - Life is man’s greatest teacher”…The more I pondered that statement - And the older I got - The more I knew he was right!….Why is that?…Because God speaks to us through our life…..Most people don’t listen to “good advice”….We ignore the Church…We ignore our parents….We ignore the lessons from history…Only in time to “find out” that everything told to us was correct….But sadly, most of us find that out for our selves…..We are told in the pages of Scripture the following in the Book of Isaiah……”I will lay waste mountains and hills, all their undergrowth I will dry up; I will turn the rivers into marshes, and the marshes I will dry up. I will lead the blind on a way they do not know; by paths they do not know I will guide them. I will turn darkness into light before them, and make crooked ways straight. These are my promises: I made them, I will not forsake them”…….I tell my children all the time - “Making mistakes is apart of life but its the person who learns from their mistakes that become successful”…..How do we learn from our mistakes? - The first step is to acknowledge that we made a mistake in the first place…Not blame other people or circumstances….But to say - “That was me” - As we say in New Jersey - “My bad”….What is the next step?…To say - “I am sorry”…Some people can never say those words and frankly that is a terrible mind set to have…Because we all make mistakes, such a person who can’t admit they are wrong and say they are sorry ultimately destroys all their relationships, as well as their relationship with God….What is the next step?….To allow God’s grace in your life so you don’t do the same bad thing again….All humans are flawed and because of that reality, we need God’s grace to live the lives we ALL want…To deny that grace to penetrate our lives is simply a foolish decision…As I tell my children when they do something wrong and I correct them…”You are not hurting me - You are only hurting yourself”…..There are no humble people in hell - And conversely - There are surely no prideful people in heaven….Learn from your mistakes - “Own them”…Say your sorry to those you love and to God when you make a mistake…And rely on God’s grace to make you better….There you have it - Choose to ignore what I just wrote or put it into practice….Life is our greatest teacher - Those who learn from their mistakes succeed and those who don’t sadly don’t.

“Come, O Lord, do not delay; forgive the sins of your people”

So many people question the existence of God - I am going to tell you one way to prove God exists - So pay attention and "write this down"….If you are Catholic, go to Confession with a priest….What do you have to lose?…..If you take me up on this suggestion you will leave that confession feeling like a completely different person.....…That “feeling” is not some “psychological illusion” either…....Its a direct encounter with the Lord…Its PROOF that God loves you and that God CAN forgive even the worst of sins….It also proves that GOD IS REAL.......This is reality and its free!….Everyone wants peace…Everyone wants to be happy - I am telling you how to achieve both….Now its up to you!

“Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.”

Today we are told by Jesus in the Gospel at Mass that some people “change their mind” and learn to listen to the “good advice” offered to them….How about us?…..Before we can or will listen to someone, we first must learn to trust them….Grace builds upon grace and the same goes for trust....Give God a chance…..I can only say this and I say it from experience………God only gives - He never takes…….Don’t short change yourself - Learn from your mistakes - Learn to say your sorry….And make yourself available to Sacramental grace….. And from that grace will flow a good life - One in which you thrive…….Those who have ears let them hear….God speaks to us through the events of our life - Those who respond thrive - And those who don’t - Frankly don’t………….JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

Maybe it’s time to reach for the “top shelf”? - Its 100 proof and it’s the “Real McCoy”

 

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Matthew, the leaders of Jesus day try to trick him…But Jesus beat them at their own game….Why? - Because the Truth cuts through all the nonsense…..You don’t have to be the “smartest person in the room” to speak the Truth - All you have to do is speak it….The Truth is like a lion - Let it loose - It will defend itself……….."By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?" Jesus said to them in reply, "I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was John's baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?" They discussed this among themselves and said, "If we say 'Of heavenly origin,' he will say to us, 'Then why did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet." So they said to Jesus in reply, "We do not know." He himself said to them, "Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”…………..What prevents us from speaking and living the Truth?…….A couple of things - For one, many don’t think its practical….Secondly, we are afraid…..To address the first point - To live your Catholic faith and embrace the fullness of Christ’s Truth is not only practical but its necessary if we want to spend eternity with Jesus in heaven but its also a formula for a good and thriving life here on earth…Yes, we all fall short, but that is why we go to Confession monthly with a Priest - To confess our sins and “try again” with the help of God’s grace…..And as far as being afraid….God’s grace will overshadow us and help us…..Grace is a powerful “tool” at our disposal - If only we avail ourselves to it……Jesus tells us point blank - “Without me you can do nothing”…..And if you think you are going to boldly live your Catholic faith in the public square without the help of Sacramental grace - I got some news for you - Its not going to happen…….Jesus today shows us that we should be confident to live and speak the truth but before that happens, we must be formed in our Catholic faith - This requires reading and asking questions and then doing more reading…..If we do not know what and why the Catholic Church professes to be the Truth - How can we live it?…This task primarily falls to families, but it also falls upon the Church itself….The Truth needs to be boldly spoken in our schools and from the pulpits at Mass…..We need to stop being concerned that “the people” will not accept it in the pews…..To think this way is not to think as Jesus Christ thought or lived for that matter…..God does not lower his standards - Its for mankind to aspire to live up to God’s standards - Not the other way around…And we do that through Sacramental grace.

“Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior”

One of the aspects of being human is the desire to belong…And sadly, this desire drives people to compromise their values and Catholic faith….As I say on my radio show…”We all want to be invited to the barbecue”…Maybe its time to not be so concerned with “the crowd”….To cut a new path forward - To lead the way!…I will speak personally…You just might be surprised at how people will respond…Some will turn away from you - So expect that…But others will not only be attentive to the Truth but will also be open to it…..Jesus tells us in Scripture…….”My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”………Many years ago in the back of my parish were I went to Mass with my family for years I saw a flier to hear Fr Benedict Groeschel CFR speak…I had heard about Fr Benedict…He was an Ivy League educated tough talking priest from Jersey City….He helped form a new religious order and once a month he gave a public lecture - So I decided to go…..When I heard him speak I was rather surprised because even though I was raised and educated Catholic, I really never heard someone so boldly speak Catholic Truth publicly....…Fr Benedict was “one of us”….....Plain talking and ‘tell it like it is”….And this approach really “rang true” with me…..And clearly I was not alone….The religious order, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal that Fr Benedict help start has grown from its humble beginnings in the Bronx to serving people all over the world…..This was a great lesson to me and it should be a great lesson for the entire Catholic world…..We need to “step out” of our comfort zones…We need to be bold!…..The Catholic Faith is the “best story” in town - We need to proclaim it without any filters……Why?…Because that formula works - Why else? - Because Jesus said so…..”I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing”…....There is no need to “re-create the wheel”…...All we have to do is - Know the Truth - Speak the Truth - Live the Truth & Be willing to suffer for the Truth….If we ”stick to that formula” we as Catholics will undoubtedly bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.

“Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way”

Today at Mass we hear how the “power brokers” of Jesus' day disregard the Truth because of public opinion…...They are too concerned with retaining their position in life to fully embrace what Jesus was saying….....What a pity!….How about us?……Our world today is really no different…....Again, as I say time and time again on my radio show……”We all want to be invited to the barbecue”…....Maybe its time to not be so concerned with our “invitation to the summer barbecue” and embrace our Catholic faith fully…..If you do, my bet is you will be surprised…..Jesus did not form a global movement that has lasted 2000 years by happenstance…....The Truth is imprinted on every human heart….And when it is spoken and lived boldly, trust me, it resonates deeply both on the individual level as well as the societal level….....Its our job as Catholics to have the courage to simply “let the Truth loose”………Luke-warm Catholicism does not attract others nor does it bear fruit that lasts - The “real deal” however turns heads and leaves a deep mark……..Maybe it’s time to reach for the “top shelf”? - Its 100 proof and it’s the “Real McCoy”………………JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

To think we don’t need God is a HUGE mistake - History screams of this reality - Its time to write a new chapter - Don’t you think?

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Matthew Jesus asks the crowd why they went into the desert to see John the Baptist…..Was it to see a “circus side show”?…..Why were they interested?…..John the Baptist had one driving purpose - To save souls….Nothing else mattered to him….”Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.”…….So here is the question for today - Why do we go to Mass?……Do we go because we have too?…..Do we go because it’s apart of the culture we were raised with?……Or………Do we go to witness the greatest sacrifice ever to have been made - The son of God giving his life for the world…..Do we go because without Sacramental grace, we are both poor and lost?……These are questions we must ask ourself and this is why Jesus today asked the crowd - Why did you go to see John the Baptist?………Were you interested in what he had to say?…….Were you open to change your life as John suggested?……The same questions apply today.

“Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.”

Do we believe Jesus is fully present in the Blessed Sacrament? - This is the game changer people!…..Anytime you hear a Catholic say - I am bored at Mass - You know right away there is a problem…Why? - Because you can’t be bored when you KNOW that Jesus is fully present in the Blessed Sacrament on the altar……So this is the goal - If you do not believe this reality - Make it a point to seek it out………If the world only understood the power given to us freely by and through Sacramental grace - The line outside of Churches would be 100 miles long……….How does a priest live a celibate life?…How does a married couple remain happily married for 50 years?….How do people live selfless lives for others day in day out?………All because of Sacramental grace!……This is why Jesus established a Church…..Twenty centuries have passed since Jesus ascended to heaven and our world, with all its innovation has not “figured out” one of the most important aspects of the human condition - That without God’s grace - The human race destroys itself!…....And if you don’t believe me, frankly you are not a student of history…..Mankind is plagued with a fallen nature, which is prone to make us live selfishly…Each of us has this condition - And the sooner you “admit it” the better off you will be…..And without God’s grace, our fallen nature gets the best of us…This is why marriages fail…This is why we see scandals in the Church itself…This is why we see crimes of all kinds on the news…..When a person lives a Sacramental life, this will not make such a person perfect, however, grace elevates human nature and that enables one to “see” the world as it is and live a fruitful and productive life…Let me stop right there - Why? - Because most people do not believe this……This my friends is “the big secret”…….Living a Sacramental life enables one to live a good life….That does not necessarily mean you will be rich as the world defines wealth but it does mean you will thrive!…….Why?….Because without grace we become “our own worst enemy”……..Don’t believe me? - Look around - How is the world doing?......This is why we go to Mass….This is why we go to Monthly Confessions with a priest…This is why we fast weekly….This is why we pray the Rosary everyday…..We do it to open our soul to God’s grace and in going those things - We Thrive!

“Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You too must be patient.”

Today at Mass Jesus in the Gospel questions the crowd…..He knew some people went to see John the Baptist in the desert with the wrong intentions…..Were they going to receive the message of John with an open heart?……….or……..Were they going to see a “circus side show”?…….John the Baptist was boldly telling the people of his day something for their own benefit….As we say in New Jersey - John the Baptist was not talking to “hear himself speak”…….The same goes for what we are told at Mass today, in both the Scripture readings and from the pulpit….The words of Christ are given to us for our own good!…But how do we carry those instructions out? - That is the “trick” right? - That is where Sacramental grace comes in……….Without it - We fall………Grace elevates human nature….This is how we live the life we all want….And sadly, the world does not believe this, even some Catholics don’t “get it”…..….Jesus gave us everything we need - God cannot help you unless you are willing to help yourself - Without the consent of our will, grace can not penetrate our soul and without grace - We fall……That is why we go to Mass - Jesus did not give us a Church for his sake - He gave it to us for our sake……………To think we don’t need God is a HUGE mistake - History screams of this reality - Its time to write a new chapter - Don’t you think?……………JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

So keep an eye out and don’t be surprised to be surprised!

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Matthew Jesus’ friends ask him if a sign will come from heaven….Jesus tells them that the sign did come - And no one paid any attention to it……”As they were coming down from the mountain, the disciples asked Jesus, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" He said in reply, "Elijah will indeed come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased”……Our world does not want to hear it…..But the mistake of many who are trying their best to be “that sign” - Is they only us words…The sign our world needs will not come in the form of words……The great Vietnamese Cardinal Nguyen Van Than, who was imprisoned for thirteen years for his witness to the faith put it this way……

”If I am not different in some way or am afraid to be, I will not transmit any recognizable sign……A sign is a witness….But most of the times, a sign is silent. Often it is sufficient to be present - constantly, obstinately, courageously present - and never leave one’s post…..In every epoch, the Lord establishes signs to guide humanity. These signs are the lives of the saints….They may be severe guides, audacious and unwavering….a sign for their particular age but all of them proclaimed to humanity: “There is a God. God is love. The Gospel is the way to the Kingdom. Repent! Change your life"

To this day mankind looks for signs - The sign, which was just explained to us by Cardinal Nguyen Van Than - Is this what you think when you look for a sign?…..Jesus goes on in the Gospel today addressing his friends about signs………..”So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.”…….Our world today says it needs a sign in order to believe in God - In order to change - And when that sign comes - The sign is crushed or outright ignored……..But God has not given up on mankind - Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more!

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: All flesh shall see the salvation of God”

When one reads about the lives of the saints, patterns are quickly established. All the saints were different, but the message was the same…They however communicated that same message uniquely……Saints do not come in the “nice neat box” society or even the Church wants them too….Saints are radical men and women….They shock us most times….They “jar” us out of complacency - Not by words but by their witness………..In the 18th century Benedict Joseph Labre came from a well to do family in France…..He was a prayerful young man and as a result looked to enter religious life…He tried a number of times and was rejected each time…..Finally, he wrote his parents and told them he decided to become a pilgrim and basically never contacted them again…From that point forward Benedict Joseph wandered from shrine to shrine in Europe - To put it in modern terms - He was homeless and remained homeless….He eventually landed in Rome and that is where he stayed….Homeless and prayerful……Witnesses said he lived on divine providence…At times he would eat out of the garbage - His cloths were rags…..And during Holy Week he collapsed and died of malnutrition…When he died, the city of Rome went into an uproar - “The saint is dead”!…..Once again, God gave the world a saint - Not in a “nice neat box”…........It is very human to want to be comfortable - But that is not how we enter the Kingdom of God.

“Blessed is he who shall have seen you and who falls asleep in your friendship”

Today Jesus in St Matthew's gospel echoes a pattern, which has repeated itself throughout the centuries….Mankind says he wants a sign - Man says he wants to hear and live the Truth - And when the Truth appears - Man ignores it or outright crushes it….And now here is the ironic part - Each time this happens, after mankind destroys the every thing he says it wants - He then places that “sign” on a pedestal - As if he cared about it when it was staring him in the face…………..Rinse - Wash - Repeat! - The cycle continues…………..So the question is - How do we recognize the “signs of the times”?…......In a word - Grace…….Grace is not “magic dust”….....We must avail our soul to it - And if we do not - We will miss out on it and miss the "sign"…….And if we are fortunate enough to “see” such a sign - Do we then respond to it?…..Its in the response that we too become a “sign”, in a unique way ordained by God from the beginning of time…….God has not given up on the human race and while we continue along the same patterns and embrace the same nonsense of the past, God continues to send us signs…..And if you are sincerely looking for one - Don’t think for a moment that the “sign” will come in a “nice neat box”…..Because it does not work that way……….”The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” - So keep an eye out and don’t be surprised to be surprised!……………JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

So simple!…..Don’t make it complicated - Its simple

Today is a VERY special day…..Its is the Feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe…..In 1531 Our Lady appeared to a peasant (Juan Diego) in what is known today as Mexico City…She asked him to build a Church….So Juan Diego went to the Bishop, who thought he was crazy…..So Juan Diego went home and thought the request would never happen…Think again!….Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego again and said go back to the Bishop - Which he did - When he went this time he took off his cloak and roses fell from it when they were not in season…In addition, a miraculous image appeared of Our Lady on the cloak…That cloak and the image can be seen to this very day in Mexico City…Guess what happened next? - The Church was built….And within seven years, eight million native people were converted to the Catholic faith…….Miracles happen…..Our Lady is like an atomic bomb!…….When we look at our world today….The conflicts - The blind leading the blind….No politician can “fix this” - Get it out of your head right now!…..This is why we appeal to Our Lady…..This is what Mary said to Juan Diego when he doubted her………”Am I not here, I, who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Do you need anything more? Let nothing else worry you”………..In our modern world, we no longer believe in miracles…Maybe YOU are the miracle the world is waiting for……Go to Mary, she will magnify all our works and intentions.

“A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars”

The life our Our Lady was hidden…No one even blinked at her and St Joseph as they traveled to Bethlehem…And while the world ignored them, Jesus was born…This is how God works…He works right under the eyes of the sophisticated and the powerful of this world…….He is working right now as we speak!………For seven years I was the driver on Saturdays for the Missionaries of Charity in New York City…During that time, I would stand in awe how when the sisters walked into crowds, it was almost like the “sea would part”…..I have watched with my own two eyes perfect strangers hand hundreds of dollars to the sisters in stores and on streets, all unsolicited and the sisters would not even blink when such things would happen…..I have watched the sisters walk the halls of very violent housing projects and nothing would happen to them…Again, people in the halls of those buildings would just simply step aside……This is the power of God - A visible sign that God is very real…..When the world “sees” authentic Catholicism, the world stands in awe…..Now, think about the 16th century appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe to a simple peasant man Juan Diego…As a result of that appearance of Mary, not only was a Cathedral built - The Cathedral in Mexico City that houses the cloak of Juan Diego is the second most visited Cathedral in the world next to St Peter’s in Rome….Not only that but in seven years, eight million people were convert…I mention all this because this is REAL! - IT HAPPENED!…..Our world today needs Our Lady more then ever……An army of men and women who pray the Rosary daily can change this world……I am fully convinced that if every baptized Catholic in the world took 20 minutes a day to pray the Rosary, the entire world would change - Just like that!…..This starts with YOU…..Pray the Rosary daily…..Miracles happen - We can not “fix” what God can only fix.

“The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.”

Today at Holy Mass the Universal Church honors Mary…..The miraculous happened through Our Lady of Guadalupe and this miracle is brought to the attention of the world once again…Notice how God used the simple of the world to bring about this great miracle…..When you get right down to it, our shared Catholic faith is so simple - Its us who make it complicated!!!!!….Strive to simply your faith…Focus on first principles…Do not trouble yourself with “the things” that are out of our control - Leave them to God….What is in our control? - Pray the Rosary daily - Go to a Sacramental Confession monthly - Go to Mass each Sunday and receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in the state of grace…So simple!…..Don’t make it complicated - Its simple………………JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

Commit - “Burn the Boats”…..Its all or nothing - Be that voice

Today at Holy Mass we hear Jesus talk about John the Baptist…….In his description of John to the people…Jesus says something I believe to be interesting……”From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”……..John was not having it as we say in New Jersey!…..He was a radical man who spoke plain truth…….Notice what Jesus said about John today……”if you are willing to accept it”………So that is the question for us today……Are we “willing to accept” the Truth?….Jesus is the Truth - Do we “water his words down”?….John the Baptist did not…..He was a plain spoken man……He did not care about “being invited to the party”……Do we?…..What holds us back from speaking and living the Truth?……..What do you think would happen if a John the Baptist figure came amongst the Catholic Church today? - Would he be banished?……If you believe he would be - Then we all must ponder deeply in our own hearts our own personal commitment to God and his Church - Do we really believe what we say we believe?……Jesus was not a man of half-measure, nor was John the Baptist….And frankly, neither should we as Catholics today in the pews….To me, its all or nothing……I am not interested in “half-hearted watered down" Catholicism….I did not give my life to worldly church…….When the Church operates the way it was ordained too, it is like a thunderbolt crashing upon the earth…. Be that thunderbolt! - Remember - Its all or nothing!

“Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior”

Jesus calls each of us by name - Its up to us to slow down and listen…..I remember many years ago on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a group of Missionaries of Charity sisters were making their final vows as fully professed sisters in the city of Kolkata…..The Mass was in the late afternoon and as the sisters, two by two walked up to the altar to complete their formation and enter for life a new and radical chapter, the Church bells were ringing against the noise of the city…..As I sat in that Church I thought to myself……What a commitment these women were making and the bells ringing against the madness of the city was very symbolic of what their new life as fully professed sisters would be like…..The Missionaries of Charity, the order founded by Mother Teresa are a radical sign in many ways - They are a contradiction to the world - Something that makes the world stop and ponder how it operates and what it considers as “normal”…The Missionaries of Charity renounce just about everything for the Kingdom of God - They live on Divine Providence - They are a living witness to the world of what is to come….All this came to my mind as I watched these young women make this life long commitment in that Church many years ago……Now for some reality - Our world today does not “blink” at lukewarm Catholicism…..In fact, it is outright mocked and ignored…However, what the Missionaries of Charity bring forth is something all together different…..Such a witness of what it means to be Catholic can not be ignored….Just as John the Baptist could not be ignored…..We as Catholics in the pews must make a decision…Our world today desperately needs to be “convinced” that Jesus is real and that a Sacramental life is not "an option" but the way forward - Why” - Because Christ is the only solution and the Sacraments are the “medicine” for a broken world, which “thirsts” for answers and a cure for its ills…….But how will the world be convinced of this reality?…….This will only happen when the faithful fully commit…….Jesus addresses the importance of this type of witness for us in the pages of Scripture……..“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. For you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,’ and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked”…….Its time to realize that our world today is as Jesus says it is….”wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked”….And a “lukewarm” Catholic response to this reality is not going to cut it!

“I will open up rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the broad valleys; I will turn the desert into a marshland, and the dry ground into springs of water. I will plant in the desert the cedar, acacia, myrtle, and olive; I will set in the wasteland the cypress, together with the plane tree and the pine, That all may see and know, observe and understand, That the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.”

We are told today at Mass in the Gospel by Jesus that….“Among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”…......Now for a few questions - Are we interested in what John the Baptist had to say?…....If John the Baptist showed up in your parish - Would we ask him to leave?………If we as Catholics are to be the “salt and light” we were called to be, maybe its time to model our life more upon the life of John the Baptist, minus the camel haired shirt and the locust and honey diet!……Catholic tradition refers to John and James, two of the first twelve apostle as “The Sons of Thunder”…….Maybe it’s time for a little thunder of our own?………..John the Baptist was a "voice that cried out in the desert”…..Our world today needs such a voice…..If such a voice does not come from the Catholic Church - Who then will do it?…….Commit - “Burn the Boats”…..Its all or nothing - Be that voice………………….JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

If you really want to impress God - Tell him your sins - Outside of that - He is not impressed!

Today at Holy Mass we are told something from the Gospel of St Matthew that probably 95% of the world does not believe…….”For my yoke is easy, and my burden light”….Let’s be honest - We do not believe this!……Our world thinks God is a slave driver - That he gives us his laws to make us miserable - He tells us things that cannot be done……..So here is the deal…I am from New Jersey, so I am going to tell it to ya straight…We have two choices in life.....…Either we choose the “yoke” of Christ” or we chose the “yoke” of sin…....There is not a third choice and not making a conscience choice is a choice!….When we choose the yoke of Christ, this choice comes with deep peace, lasting joy and grace, which allows us to do EVERYTHING the Natural Law and the commandments of God requires of us in our state of life - We do these things imperfectly with God's grace, but we "get the job done"!….However, when we choose the yoke of sin, we have no peace, we stare up at the ceiling at night unable to sleep, all the things we have only give us pleasure for limited periods of time only to leave us empty and wanting more, our joy is fleeting and when death comes “knocking at our door" - we are terrified……Again, these are the ONLY two choices that mankind has - Door number one or Door number two - And the devil has convinced the world to make the wrong choice…..Jesus came to give us life and give it to us abundantly….God only gives, He never takes - But we do not believe this…..All you have to do is surround yourself with Catholics who are in the state of grace….Notice how they live - Look with your own eyes and “see” for your self…Then you tell me - Jesus goes on today in St Matthew's Gospel…….........”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”………..Either we don’t believe what Jesus tells us or we do and are afraid……Is there anything in this world that is worth taking your peace?……We all must answer that question for ourself - And again, no answer is an answer.

“Behold, the Lord comes to save his people; blessed are those prepared to meet him”

What holds us back?….Jesus addressed the people of his day with this message…..”I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you”….Why do we tell ourself we do not have to confess our sins to a Catholic priest?…Do you realize the peace that waits for you!……This is one of the driving problems our world faces today - Our reluctance to confess our sins…..Sin is an impediment to God’s grace…..If we want to benefit from that grace, which is necessary for us to live the life we ALL want…We must remove the impediment - Only a Sacramental Confession can do that…………….For years I served with Mother Teresa’s sisters at an AIDS Hospice in New York City…..During that time I have seen men, who led terrible lives request to be baptized……To witness a person like that go to confession is truly humbling…..I know a priest who is a good friend of my family. He told me that when he hears confessions at St Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, he is almost brought to tears and marvels at the humility of the people who come to see him and unload YEARS of sins, which burdened them…..Many Catholics tell themselves that this is “not needed”….In the meantime, they carry such a “load” on their shoulders…..Our world today needs this Sacrament more than ever!…This is how the “flood gates” of grace are opened!……Here is the deal - Without God’s grace, we CANNOT do what we are required to do…....Get that through your head…...Reading the bible is good but not enough!…....We NEED Sacramental grace......During this Advent Season, give yourself a gift - Go to confession - Trust me - It will be the best gift you received in years - The gift of peace.

“Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes”

Today at Mass Jesus invites us to “come to him”…...But many are afraid…...We think we are “too bad”…Or we have done “things” that could never be forgiven….Or we simply are afraid to admit what we have done……..Allow me to let you in on a little secret…Do you want to “impress" God? - Tell him your sins in all humility….We CANNOT impress God any other way!!!!!………..Remember the very words of Christ when he saw the proud man in Church and he also saw the sinful man there as well……”Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”…..If you really want to impress God - Tell him your sins - Outside of that - He is not impressed!……….JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

A father loves all his children - Even the ones that make bad choices - Once again - Do we?

Today at Holy Mass we are told in the Gospel of St Matthew that Jesus gives value to the lost - He sees value where the world sees no value…He goes to great lengths to seek out what people think cannot be found….This is the heart of God……Do we aspire to be like this? - To see value in what the world dismisses?……”If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”………Looking back on the pontificate of Pope Francis, whenever I read this passage from St Matthew, I always think of Francis…..His pontificate was very misunderstood and the media being the media manipulated many of the statements he made…While Pope Francis was a flawed man, as we all are….In my opinion, he lived out this Gospel passage read to us at Mass…Like Pope Francis or not - Agree with his methods or his approach or not - He was willing to leave the 99 for the one who was lost…….Once again, we can disagree with the way he did this but I believe in my heart of hearts that Pope Francis was sincere….His only motive was to bring the “one who was lost” back to “the fold”……..There is something about Francis’s willingness to be misunderstood that I admire…..Many in the Catholic world did not understand him……And as they were at times hypercritical of his pontificate…He continued to seek out “the one” that was lost……Many “conservative Catholics” may read this reflection and have a huge issue with it….Now I will speak personally, Pope Francis at times was very unclear, I also thought he surrounded himself with clerics that embraced what is commonly referred to as “the spirit of Vatican II” - Which if you ask me was a disaster for the past sixty years...…However, Pope Francis had a deep love for the lost - And for that, I admired him for it….If we aspire to love as God loves, we can not seek to be “comfortable”…To just build a community with “perfect people”…We must invite the lost as well - How else will they learn?…..How else will the lost be found?

“The day of the Lord is near; Behold, he comes to save us”

I am the father of five children….Each one of my children are different…..Each unique…Each with different gifts…..A father loves all this children equally….With that said, the world does not value gifts equally….Our world measures “output” - Its not about “who you are”…Its about “what you can do”, particularly in the market place…….God could careless about this evaluation process…….Mother Teresa put it best……”At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.”……………….Our world today when they see priests and nuns, they somehow think these people had nothing better to do - They were “losers”, so they “settled” for religious life…..When you take the time to get to know some of the priests, nuns and even bishops…You soon find out that many of these men and women, had many options and are by every account the most gifted of people - Not all of them, but many….…But these men and women were “called” by God to live a consecrated life - This is something the secular mind can not understand…..I mention this because when I was actively serving with Mother Teresa’s sisters in New York City before I was married…I always marveled at how some of the nuns, who were highly intelligent always found themselves living amongst and serving a group of people that clearly “did not have their act together”……The Missionaries of Charity serve mostly the lost of the world - They “see” value where the world sees no value……When I would travel to Kolkata in India. In the morning I would work with handicapped children…Some of these children were literally abandoned in garbage dumps…And the sisters took them in…And cared for them…..Notice again, how the world saw no value in “such a child” but those who “see” as God does have a completely different value system………As Catholics we too must learn to “see” as God sees…….And to love as God loves……One can not manufacture this kind of “sight”…..It all comes down to grace, which we must allow God to give to us by our unconditional YES……If we can “see” Jesus in the Eucharist, a mere piece of “bread”consecrated by the hands of a Priest, we will surely see him in others, most especially the lost, the unwanted and the poor…When we “see” like that - Through no efforts of our own making - We too will seek out the “one lost sheep” out of the flock of the 99.

“Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, Carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care”

Today Jesus in the Gospel gives us a small glimpse as to how the Father loves…He does not “evaluate” others as we do - And when someone “leaves the flock” - God is deeply troubled - Are we?….Do we “point fingers” at the lost?…..Or…..Do we do everything we can to bring them back?…….To love as Christ loves - We as Catholics must develop a heart for those who make bad choices in life - To do everything we can to give a good example - To educate them…….A father loves all his children - Even the ones that make bad choices - Once again - Do we?…………….JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

Mary only knows “one way” and if we take her hand - She will take us to “the front of the line” - So take her hand

Today is a very special day….Today is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary……Why is Our Lady so important?…Why? - Because from her Immaculate womb came the Savior of the world…..Mary is the new Eve…..God chose her to be the vessel by which Christ would come to us……There are some who have a “problem” with Mary…..At the root of this “problem” really is just a simple misunderstanding…..Mary is not the “answer” - Jesus is…However - No one knows the son better then the Mother…And Mary ALWAYS brings what we give to her to her son….Some many say - “I go directly to Jesus”…….To address this statement I would simply say - You are imperfect - Mary is not…Therefore, what you give to Mary - She “cleans up" for you - And then delivers it to Jesus her son….Mary is perfect because she had to be…Something perfect (i.e. Jesus) could not come from something imperfect - So God spared Mary the stain of sin….Do not sell your self short - The most direct way to Christ is through his Mother…Again - why?…..Because she is perfect and you and I are not.

“Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women”

Throughout the history of the Church, there have been many Vatican approved Marian apparitions…..Fatima, Lourdes, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City….To name just three…..In these apparitions, certain patterns have emerged…Mary usually appears to the very humble and simple of the world…..To my limited knowledge on this topic, I can not recall any time that Mary ever appeared to the powerful of this world….This should tell us all something…Today for the purposes of this reflection, I would like to share with you a story about an unapproved apparition….One the Church has not officially approved but one I believe…….Years ago I worked with a lawyer from Long Island…His name was James Kiely…James came from a Catholic family of seven but sadly James fell away from the Church - So pray for him!….With that said, James retained many of the virtues of his Catholic upbringing and parents…..To put it bluntly - James was a great guy!…Honest, forth-right, trustworthy and kind hearted - A wonderful person to work with…..James was however always a little unsure of himself - For a guy as smart as he was, he came off as a nervous person to others….Anyway, James and I spoke about Catholicism a lot at work and while he did not practice his Catholic faith, he was fully aware of how I lived my life…Because of this he told me the story I am about to tell you…James told me when he was a young lawyer, he was working at a law firm in Florida…He told me he was so overwhelmed with work - And James being James, the pressure was getting to him….He told me he spent night after night twisting and turning - His anxiety was off the charts…He said one given night he was so overwhelmed with worry he thought he was going to break….Then he told me, he heard a voice and it was the voice of a woman - The voice was as clear as a bell…..And this is what the woman said….”Jimmy, we love you”……James told me the minute he heard this voice, a deep peace came over him and he fell asleep, which was something he could not do as a result of all the anxiety he was experiencing….Now while this is not an approved Marian Apparition, I think about what my colleague at work told me often….How Mary “reached a hand” out to one of her children in need…Notice, James was not even a practicing Catholic, yet Mary still “reached a hand” to him…I also love the message - So personal in nature - “Jimmy, we love you”….Notice the word “we”……Mary is our mother and like all mothers, she loves all her children…..Go to Mary - She will never let you down - She will always bring your prayers directly to her son….She will also magnify all your efforts to bringing forth the Kingdom of God here on earth....That is “her job” - Now let’s go do ours with her at our side!

“Do not fear any illness or vexation, anguish or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need?”

Today is a very special day indeed…..I have heard it said that mankind’s only boast can be found in the Immaculate Birth of Mary…Why? - Because Mary is perfectly pure…Her heart is the mirror image of her son’s heart….Mary gives us hope…Why? - Because one day, if we persevere in our Catholic faith, we too will be made perfect…Clearly, our path to heaven is not as straight as Our Lady, due to the fact that we were not born immaculately….And because of that reality - God gave the Blessed Virgin Mary to the world…Our Lady is full of grace…And if we have recourse to her, she will give us what we need to become a holy people……”To Jesus through Mary”…..This is the winning “ticket” as we say in New Jersey….Mary only knows “one way” and if we take her hand - She will take us to “the front of the line” - So take her hand………………..JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

How do you think that statement would “fly” today at your average Sunday Mass in America?…….Hmmmmmm

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Matthew, John the Baptist is brought to our attention…..John was not playing games!…He lived outside the “walls” of society….He lived an austere life and clearly had no concerns over social status…To put it in today’s terms - John was not politically correct in the slightest bit….Today in the Gospel, John addresses the powerful of his world……He calls them to repentance…. “When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire”……..Strong words indeed!……So here is the question - When was the last time we as Catholics heard such a call to repentance in America?…….Our nation murders children in the womb up until birth! - 63 million the last number I heard…..Do you think God is blind and deaf to this atrocity?…..Our nation has legalized same sex marriage - Homosexuality is completely mainstreamed…..Our nation has legalized the mutilation of minors in an attempt to “change their gender”, which not only defies reason but also defies science……Our nation legalized no fault divorce…Contraception is pervasive even among Catholics…The list goes on and on…....So - I will ask the question again - When was the last time where these atrocities were “called out”?……….How would John the Baptist be viewed by our Church today?…..Would we as Catholics, clergy and lay Catholics alike welcome his message?……Before you answer, remember what Jesus said about John the Baptist….........”Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”………Seems to me what the world values, God places no value what-so-ever.....Maybe we need to reevaluate some things - Ya think?

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all flesh shall see the salvation of God”

Today at most Catholic Churches in across America, the Holy Communion line is very long - On the surface that is a good thing....…But what about the Confession line?…..Our Church VERY CLEARLY has declared that one cannot receive Holy Communion outside the state of grace…….…”Anyone who desires to receive Christ in Eucharistic communion must be in the state of grace. Anyone aware of having sinned mortally must not receive communion without having received absolution in the sacrament of penance.” (CCC 1415) - That line comes directly from the 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church……..Yet lay Catholics and clergy alike seem to ignore / take for granted this reality…..Do you think God ignores it?……Presently in the Catholic Church in America there are great debates about the Latin Mass vs the Novus Ordo Mass….Being in the Catholic Social media world and having a radio show in the New York Metropolitan Area - I do not get into this debate - Why you may ask?…Because the Church states that both of those Masses are valid…..That is not my “beef” as we say in New Jersey….My "line in the sand” and how I evaluate which parishes to attend Mass and which priests and bishops to stay far away from is this - One must be in the state of grace to receive Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament…When this is ignored - Count me out! - I am going somewhere else!……In the eyes of some - It is “believed” or “positioned” or frankly outright ignored - I will let the Lord make that judgment call as to which one it is - Some claim its “pastoral” to give Holy Communion to those who persist in grave objective mortal sin…Hmmmmm - While I can not control other people - I can read, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says other wise and when that sacrilege takes place, I stay far away!………….Such a practice is CLEARLY contrary to perennial Catholic teaching……For purposes of this reflection, I believe John the Baptist put it best - And while I do not wear clothing made of camel's hair and eat locusts and wild honey as John did….I am going to borrow his words……………..”Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord”……..Get the hint?

“I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

Today in the Gospel, John the Baptist tells it like it is….How about us? - Are we CLEAR when passing on our Catholic faith?…Do we “tip-toe” around the tough teachings? - And as we do, rationalize to ourselves the reason why we maintain such a position?……In my humble opinion - It’s not charitable to “leave parts of the Gospel out” and not address them publically - Sorry!………….It’s not charitable to “conveniently” not teach certain aspects of what the Catholic Church has taught for centuries - Sorry!……..Speaking personally again - I will have no part of it!……The great saint Oscar Romero, who gave his life in El Salvador in 1980 during a time of civil war put it best………..”A church that doesn't provoke any crises, a gospel that doesn't unsettle, a word of God that doesn't get under anyone’s skin, a word of God that doesn't touch the real sin of the society in which it is being proclaimed — What gospel is that?”…………Hmmm - Just think for a moment - Pope Francis declared Oscar Romero to be a saint and Romero was on record making controversial statements like the one I just noted…..How do you think that statement would “fly” today at your average Sunday Mass in America?…….Hmmmmmm……….JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html

Don’t you realize - Its through our wounds that the light enters

Today at Holy Mass as Advent moves forward……We hear once again from the Prophet Isaiah…..There are many voices clamoring for attention in our society today….Some of those voices are worth listening too - Others are not….To this very day - The voice of Isaiah shakes the foundation of the world - Speaking personally, whenever there is a reading at Mass taken from the Book of Isaiah, I am all ears….We are told today…..”On the day the LORD binds up the wounds of his people, he will heal the bruises left by his blows”……..God is not an ogre!…..Jesus came among us to heal us - Heal us from what you may say? - From our sins!…..Does our world today even believe in sin any more?……This is why Christ came - He is the Divine Physician!…..Isaiah continues…..”He will be gracious to you when you cry out, as soon as he hears he will answer you. The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst”…….Before this all happens, we must acknowledge our need for God - That we are sinners in need of a savior…That our “flesh is weak”……..That we are in need of grace…..In order to receive that grace, we must open our hearts to it…..Grace like rain is constantly falling from the sky, we need to “put down our umbrella” and allow that grace to cover us from head to toe…..This is how we are healed….This is how our wounds will be “bound up”…..Outside of that grace, we walk around wounded......….”At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd”………..A father sees the struggle of his children and he “does something about it”…......This is the job of every baptized Catholic…....This is why Jesus founded a Church….."The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest."

“The LORD is our Judge, our Lawgiver, our King; he it is who will save us”

Many years ago during Advent I traveled to Kolkata, India with a group of Americans from New York. On this particular trip, a Franciscan Priest, Fr Leo Fischer CFR, came along…..Fr Leo was a Texan, who almost made it to the major leagues as a second basemen…He never told me how he heard his call to the priesthood, but I am sure it was a no small occurrence for such a big change in one’s life….Fr Leo was a great guy to travel with…….Super low key and we shared many good laughs……After each day of serving the people of Kolkata with Mother Teresa’s sisters, all the sisters and volunteers from around the world would head to the main chapel for Eucharistic Adoration…..Unannounced, Fr Leo would sit in the corner of the chapel and make himself available for confession….I would always marvel at who would get up and go to give their confession…..Nuns and volunteers alike…One particular person caught my eye this one evening…..She was a volunteer, I believe from Australia, a young woman with dreadlocks and all kinds of tattoos……By the looks of this young girl, one would think she would have been the last person to go to Confession…..I always will remember this sight because it brought me a tremendous amount of joy - It was the strangest of sights too - A priest with a robe and long beard talking to this girl who looked like she just got out of a Grateful Dead Concert…..Jesus tells us in St Matthew’s Gospel……“Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him”…......How quick we are to assume certain people are “hopeless”….....How quick we are also to assume that we will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven - Convinced of our own rightnesses!!!…..People sometimes surprise us - Allow them to surprise you!…..And in the meantime - Our Lord waits patiently……As we saw in this reflection - God turned a Texas baseball star into a holy priest and a crazy tattooed hippie back to the state of grace…....What does God have in store for you this Advent?…Miracles happen - Be one!

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He tells the number of the stars, he calls each by name”

Today at Holy Mass we are reminded of Jesus’s primary role - To heal mankind…To forgive our sins…To restore us back to the purity of our Baptism…..This does not happen “magically”…….We must cooperate with God and if we do, then and only then will we be transformed……..Once again, the Prophet Isiah reassures us…......”Come now, let us set things right, says the LORD: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, they may become white as wool. If you are willing, and obey, you shall eat the good things of the land”…….Why are we so afraid to admit we are sinners? - Don’t you realize - Its through our wounds that the light enters…………….JMJ

https://www.holywaterbooks.com/catholic-men-will-save-america.html