”Am I not here who am your Mother?…Is there anything else you need?”

Today in the Gospel of St Matthew we hear about the betrayal of Jesus by Judas…..How could a man who saw the many miracles of Jesus betray him? - How!!!!!…..That is the question we have to ask ourself….If I was to bet, Judas while he clearly understood that Jesus was “special” did not agree with the method in which Jesus was establishing his Kingdom…My bet is, Judas “figured it out” before the other eleven apostles did and convinced himself that there was a “better way”….So he sold Jesus out…..Are we any different than Judas?…How many in the Catholic church disagree with perennial Church teachings?…On contraception - On marriage - On decisions of the Pope….Every time we “think” our way is better than God’s way - We fall into the same trap as Judas did…..This is why obedience is so important - We must learn to be obedient - And through that process, we will learn to trust and never waver……No one has a “better plan” than God!…The problem is - God’s ways are not our ways and because of that, we must learn to accept God’s way of doing things even if God’s ways go against our “better judgment” - And Judas refused to do this - And many to this day refuse as well……The Catholic Church, while it is made up of men is also a Divine institution, which means God’s hand guides it…..Many people today, both inside and outside the Church seem to forget that……Circling back to Judas…..Jesus was expected to deliver the Jewish people from Roman occupation….Instead of coming into Jerusalem like a powerful military General, Jesus came in on a humble donkey….Judas was not having it! - And many people today feel the same way….If you don’t believe me - Just look at Catholic Social Media….Look at how political ideologies are “blended” into our Catholic faith by so called “influencers”…..Look and see how secular ideologies are self rationalized to comport with Catholic teaching…..Is this any different than the sin of Judas?  - Is this not a lack of trust - Is this not a betrayal?…..The story of salvation history is still being written….God steers the ship, not any one man and especially not me!…Its for us to stand firm - To Trust….Our Lady is the perfect model of this trust….Mary had the most “skin in the game” - It was her son that was killed and I am sure that was not a pleasant thing to accept - But she did accept it…And she stood at the foot of the Cross - Why? - Because she completely trusted in God’s plan - Not her own…We must do the same - Even if we do not understand - Even if we find God’s plan difficult - Even if we “personally disagree” and think we “know better”…Again why? - Because God sees what we do not see and his plan is perfect

Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”

In the 20th century, Pope Paul VI issued the famous encyclical Humanae Vitae, which prohibited the use of contraception by Catholics…This encyclical was published in 1968,  during the time period commonly known in America as the Sexual Revolution…And when Humanae Vitae was published, the world went berserk! - Including many senior members of the clergy in America and around the world…But Pope Paul VI stood firm - In fact he “doubled down” - This is what he predicted about the pervasive use of contraception….….

”In section 17 of his encyclical Pope Paul VI wrote that contraception would have the following consequences: 1. Open wide the way for marital infidelity and a general lowering of moral standards 2. The government might force contraceptives upon married couples 3. Loss of respect for women 4. A loss of humility regarding humanity’s role, we would begin to see ourselves as the ultimate masters of our nature”

Let’s fast forward 50 years later - Who was right? - Seems to me Pope Paul VI “nailed it”…….I have been married for almost 13 years…..My wife in that time has given birth to five children, we also lost three children as a result of miscarriages…..As a married couple we have never used contraception…..And do you know what? - Everything worked out!….We have a strong marriage - We have five beautiful children - And my wife and I live our marriage vows Sacramentally, which gives us the needed grace to meet all the daily challenges that having five children brings - In summary - God’s plan works!…..”Probe me, God, know my heart; try me, know my thoughts. See if there is a wicked path in me; lead me along an ancient path”…….Catholics need to “stick to the program”…God is the “master builder” and if we let him - He will build something very beautiful - But only if we let him

“He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed”

Today we hear at Mass about Judas, who “got lost” in the “noise” of his day - How about us? - Do we listen to the “noise” or to God?…One of the beautiful things about being Catholic is - Everything is written down - All we have to do is read what the Church teaches - But that is the easy part - Because once we read what the Church teaches - Then we have to do it - But God has made that easy for us - Do you believe that? - How does God make it easy for us to carry out his will? - The answer - He gave us the Sacraments - He gave us Divine Grace - He gave us Our Lady…..In the 16th century St Juan Diego was given an impossible task - Our Lady told him to go to the Bishop (in what became Mexico City) and I have a church built…Juan Diego was a peasant, uneducated and poor - How could he ask the Bishop to do this and clearly the Bishop would not listen to him - Right?….So when Juan Diego expressed his doubts to Our Lady…This is what she said to him……”Know for certain that I am the perfect and ever Virgin Mary, Mother of the True God. … Here I will show and offer all my love, my compassion, my help and protection. I am your merciful Mother, the Mother of all who love me, of those who cry to me, of those who have confidence in me. I will hear their weeping and their sorrows … their necessities and misfortunes. ... Listen, and let it penetrate your heart. ... 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?”…So Juan Diego went forward and indeed a Church was built - God can do the impossible and God can also use the “small” of the world to do great things - And He will continue to do so……So trust the plan - Never waver - Straight Ahead!.............”Am I not here who am your Mother?…Is there anything else you need?”…………..JMJ