That is why we are called “Practicing Catholics”…That implies we not perfect therefore we need to “practice”

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the first reading from a Letter to the Hebrews…..We are reminded of what Jesus had to endure and that we too will have to endure…..”Let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood”……….There is no such thing as “cheap grace”…..We must be active participates in our journey back to God….You do not just float into heaven…This is why we must fortify ourselves with Sacramental grace and daily prayer

“We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses”

Years ago a good friend of mine left the Catholic Church and began attending a non-denominational church…He asked me if I wanted to go to their Bible Study…I agreed but for a very different reason....... I wanted to “clear the air” of the many misconceptions that are believed about what the Catholic Church teaches and what Catholics actually believed…And I did just that…..One day at the Bible Study we got into a conversation about salvation…Most Protestants believe in this idea, “Once Saved - Always Saved”….Meaning all you have to do is “believe in Jesus” and no matter what - You go to heaven….....Well, the Bible does not say that…And most Protestants say…”I believe in everything in the Bible”….....Oh really?!?….....So this one day I had this discussion with a man who was once a Catholic and left the Church…I told him this “Once Saved - Always Saved” idea is not only a false teaching but it is not Biblical and I can fill a sheet of paper with verses from the Bible that would support what I am saying…So the next week I did just that…I filled a sheet of paper front and back with verses from the Bible that contradict the “Once Saved - Always Saved” belief, which is embraced by most American Protestants…When I went to give him the piece of paper, he pushed it away from himself on the table we were both siting on like I was giving him a plate of poison to ingest…..He would not even read it….All verses from the Bible I might add…..What is the lesson here to be learned?…..”We hear what our itchy ears want to hear"…..There is no such thing as cheap grace….As St Paul tells us…..”So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling”…..Just so we are clear - Without Jesus dying on the cross, no one would be in heaven…However, we have to cooperate with the will of God if we too want to arrive at our heavenly home - Its not an "automatic"......…We all have a part to play….....Now, that does not mean we “earn” heaven like many Protestants “think” Catholics believe…....But it does mean we must strive actively each and every day allowing God to purify us in prayer and through the Sacraments

“I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him. The lowly shall eat their fill; they who seek the LORD shall praise him: “May your hearts be ever merry!”

We are told today in the first reading from Mass that Jesus is the “perfecter or faith”….This however requires our participation in the process…Like anything in life, whether playing a sport, working on a university degree, or simply playing checkers with your son…..Practice makes perfect!…….We need to take the advice of St Paul…”work out your salvation”…….And “in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart”…..We need the assistance of Sacramental grace and daily prayer……..That is why we are called “Practicing Catholics”…That implies we not perfect therefore we need to “practice”