Exodus and Return…..Exodus and Return…….Exodus and Return…The “Hound of Heaven” never gives up…Until our last breath…Until we “figure out” that God’s way works and that he loves us

Today at Holy Mass both readings address a “bad word” no one likes to to hear - Rules….From the time we are young, we do not want to be told what to do….Even if what is told to us is good for us….Moses addresses this aspect of our human nature in the first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy today…”Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decrees as the LORD, my God, has commanded me, that you may observe them in the land you are entering to occupy. Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, 'This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people”….History, if we study it, gives us an indication of how the future will play out - Why? - Because history repeats itself!…People sadly do not learn - And human beings are fundamentally the same….Each generation “thinks” they “figured it out” for themselves only to have all their schemes and plans turn to dust…..When we read the Old Testament, many themes repeat themselves over and over again for the people of Israel…One of those themes is every time the people fall away from God and his laws, their nation falls apart…Then a central figure appears…King David, Moses, Abraham…And they organize the people, “lift them” from the ashes and the process starts all over again….Does this theme sound familiar?….If it does its because it is “playing out" once again today…..Mankind still has not learned!…God’s way works!….People and nations thrive when we follow the Natural Law, which is placed in each of our hearts…..The late and great Cardinal Francis George from Chicago made this statement about what he saw in the United States before he went on to his eternal reward in 2015….This is what he famously said…..“I expect to die in bed, my successor will die in prison and his successor will die a martyr in the public square. His successor will pick up the shards of a ruined society and slowly help rebuild civilization, as the church has done so often in human history”…….When will we ever learn?…..Exodus and Return…..Exodus and Return…….Exodus and Return

"However, take care and be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children's children."

People do not listen…I say that simply because its true - It was true for me and most likely, its true for you….We have to “test the water” for ourself….The key is, when we do and “things do not go as planned”…Do we learn?…..Doing the same thing over and over expecting a different outcome will result in a very hard life…..God gives us his law for our benefit…But words will never convince most people of that reality…We continue to “test the water”……Over the years I have met many people, myself being one of them, who strayed from their Catholic faith only to "figure out" that the Catholic Church has 2000 years of a proven track record…It provides a winning “blue-print” for life…..I have seen people destroy their marriage “trying it their way”…Fall into all kinds of vices “trying it their way”…Chase after empty promises and idols “trying it their way”…And some of those people, who are very close friends of mine did “figure it out”…And now live wonderful lives, have strong marriages, and thrive…..Once again, the theme of the Old Testament plays out…..Exodus and Return…..Exodus and Return…….Exodus and Return……My friend Alex got married young and had two daughters…He continued to drink and go out all the time…As a result, his marriage fell apart and he lost his family….At his lowest point, he returned to his Catholic faith and spent years living as a single man..During that time, God formed him through his daily prayer and Sacramental living…And after a period of time, he met a faithful Catholic woman…His first marriage was not Sacramental so he was given an annulment by the Church…He waited for the annulment before he married Jackie, whom he met in the Church…And now they live a healthy and wonderful life…Both Alex and Jackie are now thriving!….The interesting thing is both of them allowed God to form them when they were single…They did not “settle”…Alex and Jackie trusted the Lord…And their trust payed off….To this day they are good friends of my family and are Godparents to one of my five children….Exodus and Return…..Exodus and Return…….Exodus and Return……We need to face reality…God’s way works…And God’s way does not change…We need to change!….And don’t worry - God will “get your attention” when you ignore him…A good father never gives up on his children…..Most especially when his chidlren “stray”….A good father never gives up

“He sends forth his command to the earth; swiftly runs his word! He spreads snow like wool; frost he strews like ashes.”

People hate rules…..However, the sooner we “figure out” that God’s way works, the better our life will be…All of us are “hardwired” the same believe it or not…God made us all…We were made for God, to love God and be with God for all eternity…However, God will never force our hand…Love cannot be forced upon a person…So when we stray and many of us do…God, who is the “Hound of Heaven” chases after us…..The famous poet Francis Thompson wrote these words…”I fled Him, down the nights and down the days; I fled Him, down the arches of the years; I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways. Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears I hid from Him, and under running laughter”……Exodus and Return…..Exodus and Return…….Exodus and Return…The “Hound of Heaven” never gives up…Until our last breath…Until we "figure out" that God’s way works and that he loves us