Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Mark Jesus tells us something very important….He does not give importance to empty words….” I believe in God”……”I am Catholic”….”I go to Mass on Sunday”….When you get right down to it - These things are easy to say and do….This is what is important to Jesus….....….”For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother”……………….Jesus is not looking for “believers” - He is looking for followers…We are also told this message in the Gospel of St John….“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me”….Actions speak and words are very easy to say……The best way we as Catholics transmit the Gospel to others is by the witness of our sacrificial love poured out to the world….This begins with our family…..Children many times will not listen to what you say…But trust me - I am a father of five children under eleven years old - Children watch what you do!……This is how the faith is passed on to them - Our children must “see” our Catholic faith prioritized in our home….The same goes for the world around us….As Catholic, the very way we live our live should scream of sacrificial love…….The way we are open to life in the womb - The way we live modestly and simply - The way we are kind and generous to our neighbor - The way we share of our time and resources with the poor…..When the world “sees” this - No words are necessary…..Jesus tells us today in St Mark’s Gospel that “ticking off boxes” as a Catholic does not “cut it” - We must do the “heavy lifting” of putting our words into action…….“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it”………So to answer the question put forth today by Jesus to the crowd….."Who are my mother and my brothers?" - Its the people who bend their will - Its the people who are obedient - Its the people who live sacrificially for others…Those “people” are God’s people…Make sure you strive to be one of them!
“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom”
My Catholic faith was passed on to me by my parents…While my Mom and Dad sent me to Catholic school and we went to Mass on Sunday - My parents did not do a lot of “preaching” in the house…They lived their faith by sacrificing deeply for both me and my brother…….And I took notice!….My parents never took fancy vacations - They never drove fancy cars - We lived in a modest home - They never shopped for fancy cloths for themself…And while all that was going on - They paid for my private education at Catholic schools…..They were always there for me when I needed them…..They provided and environment that I could succeed…..They witnessed a strong and faithful marriage that lasted up and until the death of my father at the age of 84 years old - And when my father was sick and bedridden, my mother cared for him in our home…..All these things spoke more then words ever could - This is how I am Catholic today…Not because of “words” but because of my parent’s witness….As Catholics today who want to see a societal change - If we are not willing to live sacrificially for others - Do not expect our culture to change….The world needs to “see” Christ within us….And that kind of witness is only found when we “give ourselves” away to others…And here is the paradox when one lives this way - Lasting joy and peace is found….….”Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid”……….Our world today does not need another “sermon” - It needs to see the Gospel radically lived out sacrificially - This is how many hearts will open and lives will be transformed - "Who are my mother and my brothers?" - Its those who love in this manner - Sacrificially - That’s who!
“When he finished making these offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. He then distributed among all the people, to each man and each woman in the entire multitude of Israel, a loaf of bread, a cut of roast meat, and a raisin cake. With this, all the people left for their homes”
Today in at Mass Jesus tells us what the definition of a disciple is - A person who follows him….This is what we as Catholics must strive to become - Disciples…..There is a very big difference between a “believer” and a disciple……And when you encounter an authentic disciple of Christ - That person leaves a deep impression - These are the “people” we must become….It simply is not enough to “tick off boxes” as Catholics….We must give witness to our love for the Lord - We do that by pouring our life out for others…..This “message” lived out in real time is antithetical to the message of the world and because of that, the world has no response - “You” can’t argue with a saint and that is what we must strive to become - Saints - So don’t miss the opportunity!……..Catholics will never argue anyone into the doors of the Church - However if we are consistent in living out the Gospel, the world will take notice and question choices made and maybe just maybe be transformed.....…..”Pick up your cross and follow me” - This is how we get it done……….JMJ
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