Because he said so!

Today at Holy Mass we are told in the Gospel of St Matthew about a King who prepared a Feast for his people…And believe it or not…His people did not want to attend…How could that be! - Why would people not want to attend this feast prepared by such a gracious King? - It makes non sense - Right?…..But knowing human nature as I do - It does make sense…To enter this “feast” one must enter on the King’s terms….Not our own…How do I know that?…Well, Jesus tells us this in the Gospel….”But when the king came in to meet the guests, he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. The king said to him, 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?' But he was reduced to silence.”………This is why the people did not want to enter…They were “not on board” with the King’s terms……Interesting - How things have not changed….In American Christianity - This includes many Catholics too - There is a misconception that we can live our life on “our terms” and still enter the Kingdom of God - That my friends is nothing more then a self-manufacture delusion…How do I know that - Parable after Parable taught by Jesus tells us so - As does this parable tell us today….To enter into the Kingdom of God - We must live as the Church tells us to live…Not the “church” we created in our mind that suits what we like - But “THE Church” as it is laid out in Catechism…..Some (Protestants) try to separate Jesus from the Church - As if that is possible…And then there are others (SSPX) who ignore the Pope, the magisterium and Vatican II…creating a “church” which has no authority and is not in line with apostolic succession…In both cases (The Protestants & the SSPX) both are wrong!!!!……To enter the Kingdom of God, we need to enter on “the King’s terms”…Sadly, when we refuse to do so, (like we hear today at Mass) - The only people we are fooling is ourself….Our human pride prevents us from “seeing” reality…..Like a child standing in the corner holding his breath because he did not get what he wanted….To ignore the invitation of God - Is simply foolish - Why? - Because we die!….And we will NOT enter the Kingdom of God on our terms - This reality must taught and preached…Why? - Because it is reality…Does that mean only “perfect people” enter heaven - Actually its the opposite - Humble people enter heaven, who acknowledge that they are sinners and ask God through a Sacramental Confession to forgive their sins - And forgiveness, grace and mercy is given to those people - They enter heaven…Its the people who do not think they have to ask God for mercy…or…Take God’s mercy for granted…or….Delude themselves into thinking they enter heaven on “their terms”…… That "crowd" (and it is vast) may find themselves in trouble!….Again - How do I know this? - Because Jesus said so today in the Gospel - Are we listening!

“Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.' Many are invited, but few are chosen."

I have taught the Catholic faith for almost thirty years in many different capacities…I have always said…Being Catholic is easy…Why?…Because everything is written down!!!!!!….All we have to do is “paint by the numbers” - Read what is on the paper and then do it!!!!…Easy right? - Apparently not…..I listen to very smart people on social media…MUCH smarter than me!!!….Invent concepts that not only conflict with what is in the Catechism of the Church, as well as the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church - And blatantly - And  BOLDLY conflict with Papal statements and Papal encyclicals…They have forgotten something that is fundamental - WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY!! - and - THE POPE HAS AUTHORITY…The Pope, while a man and subject to sin as we all are is given a special grace by God when he becomes the Pope - Does that mean he is perfect - NO - But it does mean God’s hand is on him in a VERY SPECIAL WAY…The Church is a divine institution, founded by Christ himself - Have we forgotten that in our hubris!!!!…These people I am referring too will swear up and down that they acknowledge all the things I just stated…But still “invent” their own Church, whether its the Protestants, the SSPX, or “TRAD” Catholics who vehemently ignore or do not acknowledge the Pope or Vatican II…..How can this happen?…..The answer comes to us in one word - PRIDE…..”I WILL NOT SERVE - unless its on my terms”……For those who see problems with members of the clergy anf the laity….And there are problems - Let’s be honest…Trust that God will resolve them…Also trust that God will purify his Church…..In the mean time…Live Sacramentally - Fast for the Church weekly - And pray daily - Develop a DEEP interior life…By doing so, you will save your soul…Leave the “heavy lifting” to God….Bend your knee fully to authority - The only legitimate authority there is - The Catholic Church…..And trust that God will do the rest…Because he will - Because he said so!…..JMJ

And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”