We will learn the hard way!

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the first readings from the Book of Chronicles how the kings of Judah forgot about God - And because of that - Their society began to break done…Sound familiar? - If it does not - Just look out your window!…..”After the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and paid homage to King Joash, and the king then listened to them. They forsook the temple of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and began to serve the sacred poles and the idols; and because of this crime of theirs, wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem. Although prophets were sent to them to convert them to the LORD, the people would not listen to their warnings. Then the Spirit of God possessed Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest. He took his stand above the people and said to them: "God says, 'Why are you transgressing the LORD's commands, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have abandoned the LORD, he has abandoned you’”…………Being on the “side of God”, or phrasing it in Catholic terms, living in a state of grace is not some “magical” pill that makes you (or a nation for that matter) prosper - However, when we “turn our back to God”, no matter who we are from the President of the United States to the person who sweeps the street - When we deliberately turn from God - Something within us “breaks”….And then life begins to unwind and fall apart - Why is what I just noted reality? - Because each of us comes from God and God’s “DNA” is in each and every cell of our body….The human person is not complete without God….Many secular people today will deny this reality but the outcome and consequences of that denial “speak volumes” - Again, I invite the reader of this reflection to simply “look out their window” - How are we doing as a nation?…..America makes a bold claim - “One Nation Under God”…..But is America really a Christian nation? - We abort our children up and until the moment of birth - We promote same sex marriage - We have participated in and have financially support unjust wars around the globe for decades that have killed millions…How can we as a nation possible say we are - “One Nation Under God”?…Now, that does not mean America does not have many devout Christians in it - But clearly our ruling class, based upon the policies they govern us by is not “on the side of God” - That claim in my view cannot be disputed…..And if God is just, which he is, how can he not “deal” with America on our own terms! - The very thought frankly is terrifying!!!!

"I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: Forever will I confirm your posterity and establish your throne for all generations."

There is something about living in the state of grace that makes a person come alive!!!…Jesus very clearly in the Gospel of St John tells us…..“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you”…That is a very clear statement with no ambiguity!….If we are not consuming Christ in the Blessed Sacrament in the state of grace - WE HAVE NO LIFE WITHIN US - Did you catch that!!!!!…That implies that the entire world is meant to be grafted into the Catholic Church…Again, why? - Because we NEED to live Sacramentally….Why? - Because we are ALL sinners and if we do not reconcile our sins through confession with a priest and if we do not consume the Body and Blood of Christ to sustain us as we journey back to God - The likelihood that we will live as Jesus commands us - Did you catch that? - COMMANDS US! - Is slim to none - In other words - Don’t bet on it!…..Many Christian believe all we have to do, to get to heaven, is “Believe in Jesus”…That is flawed understanding of the Gospel…Jesus is not looking for “believers” - He is looking for followers!…And if you “think” you are going to follow Jesus Christ without Sacramental grace - I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn!….Human beings, no matter how gifted, cannot self manufacture grace and what Jesus asks of ALL of us is frankly very difficult - Let’s be honest!….That is why he established a Church and that is why he gave us his very Body and Blood to consume at Mass….Those who have ears - Let them hear!……”For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever”……It does not get any clearer than that!

"Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him, and my covenant with him stands firm. I will make his posterity endure forever and his throne as the days of heaven"

Today at Mass in the first reading we hear a story about the Israelites…Its a story that is repeated throughout the Old Testament….Exodus & Return - Exodus & Return - Exodus & Return!…..Every time the Jewish people turned their back on God, their society fell apart…This trend of Exodus & Return is also common throughout history…..When God is the priority of a society, everything else in life seems to fall into its proper place and when God is discarded, everything falls apart…In the Gospel today from Mass, St Matthew also calls us to face this reality……”Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides”……The mistakes of history will ALWAYS repeat themselves unless we learn from those mistakes…For as “smart” and “advanced” of a nation America is - Ask yourself this - Have we learned from the many examples of history what happens when a nation abandons God?…..Now let’s be clear - There are two ways to learn - The “easy way” or the “hard way”…It looks like America has made its choice - And like nations, empires and kingdoms before us - We will learn the hard way!………JMJ