Be Bold - Be Catholic - And Be Not Afraid

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the first reading from the Book of Acts how Phillip educates an Ethiopian eunuch in the faith…….”Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, ”Do you understand what you are reading? "He replied, "How can I, unless someone instructs me?" So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him”……..As Catholics we believe the Church contains the fullness of Truth - But do our people know this?…..Are our people catechized properly?…..Notice what the Ethiopian eunuch says to Phillip - “How can I, unless someone instructs me?”……..So many in the Church today do not know their faith….And if they do not know their faith - How can they live it!……Not to mention, how easily they fall prey to the lies of the world, the flesh and the devil, who is quick to deceive…….Not proclaiming the fullness of Truth is not “pastoral” and people do not “magically” know what the Church teaches - Someone has to instruct them…..Is this happening in our homes? - Is this happening in our Catholic Schools? - Is this happening from our pulpits?……As Catholics we have been given everything! - The question is - Do we know it?

“It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me”

At the age of twenty-two years old I committed myself to my Catholic faith….And it was the best decision of my life!…..I have been raised Catholic and went to Catholic schools but sadly was not fully versed in what the Church taught and why it believed what it believed - Now think about the person who was not raised Catholic and did not have the benefit of going to Catholic Schools…This is a significant challenge the Church faces today - And this must be addressed head on!…Pretending or worse ignoring the fact that our people are not fully catechized does not address the issue at hand…..A Catholic life that is fully committed to Church teaching and open to God’s grace sets the world on fire!…..How can we expect to set the world on fire when many of our people do not know the faith they have been baptized into?…….Bold leadership is required - Catholics must stop trying to be “politically correct” and start being Catholic!…..The Truth must be presented clearly - Clarity with Charity - And not saying the Truth in the name of being “pastoral” is not an act of mercy  - Love and Truth go hand-in-hand……..The Church has to start being the Church once again - Our job is not to “blend in” to the world but “raise up” the world…..God does not stoop down to man’s standards but extends a hand to raise mankind up…This is our mission! - We are to raise mankind up!…But in order to do that, we must be fully Catholic…We must know the Truth - Speak the Truth - Live the Truth - And when necessary - Be willing to suffer for the Truth….Is this happening today?….If it’s not - It needs to start happening!

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world."

Today at Mass Phillip instructs a man eager to learn about the faith…..Our world today “thirsts” for Truth but sadly is looking for it in all the wrong places - Its our job as Catholics to proclaim that Truth boldly and clearly - Without fear or hesitation…But we can not give what we do not have…..First and for most, Catholics must live in a state of grace….We must also develop a deep interior life rooted in daily prayer, the Sacraments and fasting - This will strengthen our will and open our eyes!…..From that point forward, we must educate ourselves in Catholic teaching so we can educate others - One person at a time, beginning with our families….The Catholic Church has been around for two thousand years - We have the answer to many, if not all of the worlds problems! - Its about time the world realizes that reality once again……..A well-formed Catholic, living a Sacramental life will set the world on fire…....”Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give”........Be Bold - Be Catholic - And Be Not Afraid…….JMJ