Speak with your life and “the many” will become one

Today at Holy Mass St Matthew tells us - “The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen”……Why is Jesus this light?…….There are many things that make us “happy” today? - Right?!?…So how can St Matthew make such a bold statement like that? - Implying without this “light”, which is Christ, there is only darkness - A bold statement indeed!……Because mankind shares a common Father, who is God, we are incomplete when we choose to separate from him….In fact, when mankind, through our free will knowingly turns from God the Father, something breaks within us….This reality was true 2000 years ago when Jesus walked the earth and its true today……This is why our Catholic faith is the answer to so many problems in the post-christian world we live in…..But how can we convince others of this reality?…..Jesus addresses this directly in St Matthew’s gospel as well…..“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”…….Before we can proclaim the gospel, we must repent of our sins…..We do that by confessing our sins to a Catholic Priest…And if we want to grow in virtue and keep open the channels of grace, we will go to Confession frequently (once a month as recommend by the saints)…..The over arching theme of today’s readings at Mass is unity…How can Catholics not be of one mind and of one heart?…..Everything we need to know is written down! - Yet to this day, as it was in the days of Jesus, there is division……St Paul speaks us this in the second reading about this problem…..”I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose”…..The Church has tried to address this problem of internal division for centuries - I would suggest approaching diversity within the Church in the following manner…..”In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity”……Each of us individually speaking are different, but again, we have one Father in heaven……We have one common belief……Far too many people within the Church are at each others throat - This must stop!…..A house divided can not stand……Focus on First Principals……Pray the Rosary every day - Go to Mass once a week and receive the Blessed Sacrament in the state of grace - Go to Confession with a Priest once a month…You worry about you!…..That is what I tell my children when they fight with each other…And God will take care of the rest!

“Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom and cured every disease among the people”

There are many voices on Catholic Social Media today who are trying to renew the Church….All I am going to say is - Are we going about this process of renewal correctly?……Renewal begins from within the person - Only saints renew the Church….”Loud Voices” on a podcast do not renew anything!……..Just as St Francis in the 13th century heard a voice from the Cross of St San Damiano - “Rebuild my Church”….We too must “play our part” in renewing what in some segments of the Church have become lukewarm…..How did St Francis do it?….He lived the gospel radically - He allowed God to totally transform him…And because the saints show us the way - This is what we must do today...…There was a time when I would get completely crazy when I saw various abuses committed within he Church….I would rant and rave on social media and to my wife…I have changed by approach…Every Wednesday, my wife and I fast for the Church…..We channel our frustrations into the fast…This process has worked and brought me peace - It has also brought me me closer to God….And I am sure God uses our Wednesday fast to renew his Church…..In the process, fasting contributes to making my wife and I holy - And only holy people impact others….Instead of “ranting and raving”, maybe its time to “double down” on our Catholic faith - Maybe its time to live our faith more radically - Pray more, Fast more - Live more sacrificially for others - In doing so, the Holy Spirit will animate our life …This is how we effectively renew the Church, as St Francis did….The Spirit of God is not divided and therefore nor should we be divided…We find unity in living a holy life defined by God, not ourselves…And if others can not appreciate that or rebel against such a life - As I tell my children and will now tell you - “You worry about you”……Remember this - The witness of a holy life speaks very loudly - No words are necessary!.....And the witness of a holy life brings people together - Why? - Because holy people reflect Christ and the “light of Christ” is attractive….Speak with your life and others will “hear” you loud and clear

“I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD”

One of the last things that Jesus said before he ascended to the Father in heaven was this - “I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.”……Division within the Christian world is a great scandal - Even more so within the Catholic world….While each of us are different, we can and must strive to be of one mind, one heart and one body…..And when lets call them “differences of opinion” arise - And when individuals seemly refuse to bend their will……Be patient - We can not “fix” others nor can we “fix” the Church….What we can do is “double down” on our commitment to become a saint…Why is that important? - Because only saints change the world and renew the Church….One holy life can impact many - Saints bring people together - So you worry about you!……..Diversity melts away into unity by and through the lives of the saints…..Speak with your life and “the many” will become one…..JMJ