”Many who are first will be last, and the last will be first”

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Matthew we are told something that as Americans Christians many cannot and will not comprehend….“Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God” - ”Americanism” cannot accept this idea…The Catholic Church teaches that money is not sinful, its what you do with money that can make it sinful…How can we say we love others when we have money and do nothing about helping those in need?…While we cannot “feed the world”…As Mother Teresa once said….”If you cannot feed one hundred people - Feed one”……As Catholics, through honest and hard work, we are to meet the needs our family….What is “left over” must be shared with others…Now don’t shoot the messenger!…Read the Social Compendium of the Catholic Church - The teaching is pretty clear…..As Catholic parents, we must provide for our children, educate them and keep them safe…This all requires money - Let’s be honest…But there is a big difference between providing for our families needs and living extravagantly while so many live and die in poverty in this world….Now I “get it” - No one is perfect - That includes me - But this is the standard on how we will be judged…”I was hungry and you fed me - I was thirsty and you gave me to drink - I was naked and you clothed me”…..Jesus doubles down on this idea in the Gospel today by telling us…”And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first”….Do we take Jesus’ words seriously? - How do we strive to provide for the poor?…..These are very important questions to consider - And a lot “rides” on our answer to those questions…..Being too comfortable can blind us and make us forget God - This idea is brought to our attention in the first read from Mass today by the Prophet Ezekiel……”By your great wisdom applied to your trading you have heaped up your riches; your heart has grown haughty from your riches – therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have thought yourself to have the mind of a god, Therefore I will bring against you foreigners, the most barbarous of nations”….As a Catholic, one cannot love both God and money…..”For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be”

“Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich - So that by his poverty you might become rich”

What “kingdom” do you live for?…That is the question…Are you looking to “retire” in heaven or are you looking to build a mansion here on earth?…..One of the driving problems in America today is - We are WAY too comfortable…And over the decades, Americans have drifted from God…Our culture has embraced abortion upon demand, no fault divorce, same sex marriage, usury….All these things are abominations to God!!!…And they have all become apart of the American mainstream…Do we think God is blind to this?….Do we think these behaviors will not have very real consequences…Sadly, America is currently living with the consequences of the culture of death….And the only way to “turn things around” is for us to turn back to God……In the world at present, Catholicism on the continent of Africa is thriving…Churches and seminaries are packed….One of the reasons I believe that is the case is for the most part Africa is very poor….And poor people “cling” to God…..We see this trend throughout the Old Testament…The Jewish people when they are in bondage cling to God - And God delivers them from their oppressors time and time again - But then they get “too comfortable” and forget all that they went through…And their society falls apart - AGAIN!…This is what is going to happen to America - Our society is collapsing under its own weight - And once AGAIN, when our people “feel the burn” of “going without” - Then many will turn back to God….History repeats itself because humanity does not change…”I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end”…..Man continues to “plan” - And God laughs…..Time to face reality - God is reality!

“How could one man rout a thousand, or two men put ten thousand to flight, Unless it was because their Rock sold them and the LORD delivered them up?”

Today both readings at Mass addresses a topic most people do not want to hear - The topic of MONEY….Life comes down to choices and how we choose determines where we spend eternity….I have made this claim before….Show me your “check book” and I will tell you what is important to you…How do you spend your money?….Is it spent on your family? - Do you give to the poor (if you can)?….Do you live above your financial means by living in excessive debt?….Do you buy “things” that you and your family do not need?….Do you live to maintain a level of social status that others define you by?….These are all question we must answer for ourself…..Once again, having money is not sinful - Its what we do with it that can make it sinful…..”Many who are first will be last, and the last will be first”…..JMJ