So lets make sure we are READY

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Luke, Jesus makes a reference to his disciples about his return in Glory…Words are important - Do we take Jesus words serious?…Notice - Jesus uses the word “prepared” in this text….What do you think that means?…..”And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants”…As catholics we should always have our “spiritual bags” packed - Meaning - We are living in the state of grace and all our mortal sins are confessed to a priest Sacramentally….There is a great misconception in American Christianity - That includes many Catholics…That we enter heaven on what I call the “I’m a good guy standard”…..Society deems me a “good guy” - So I must be! - So right into heaven I go!…By the way - The Catholic Church NEVER taught that….Do we know our faith?….Its a valid question - Across America you see advertised in parishes, at least where I live, priests holding adult formation classes - This is a good sign…Because if we are honest, we have not done the best of jobs forming our people over the last several decades….That is very clear too…..Ultimately, people only know what they know and God will judge them accordingly - That is not the purpose of this reflection…However, not knowing something that is VERY important has consequences in real time - What I mean by that is - To live a Catholic life is a good life! - To live our marriage as the Church prescribes makes for a good and healthy marriage and family life…Just think about how many Catholic people, who simply do not know what their faith teaches or why it teaches what we profess to believe - They are getting ”swallowed up” in this “culture of death” in which we live in…Jesus is telling us POINT BLANK today…BE READY…..Have we created a “religion” of our own choosing? - That claim is not just for Protestants you know - Catholics can be just as guilty of this kind of behavior….Reality is what it is and we do not determine it - The same goes for consequences….In addition, the same goes for what the Church teaches and always has taught - So I will ask it again - Do we know our faith? - Do we even care? - Why is it important? - Because eternity is forever and Jesus is coming back…Whether we are READY or NOT!

“Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Have you ever read Saint Faustina Kowalska’s Diary?….Its a classic and a “must read” - In it she writes about Divine Mercy and as we all know, God is merciful because if he was not - Only two people would be in heaven - Jesus & Mary - The rest of us would be in BIG TROUBLE……With that said - Do we take God’s mercy for granted?…In order to receive mercy - First off - We need to give it to others….Second - Do you think Jesus just forgives us without us asking for that forgiveness?….If you do - I got some bad news - The Church is pretty clear about the NEED to confession our sins, at the minimum once a year sacramentally - In fact its a requirement…And if we have a mortal sin that is not not confessed - Well - Make sure you have some “sun block” and a big bottle of it - Because you will need it for all eternity - Just saying - So don’t shoot the messenger! - This is just what the Church teaches…So here is the question - Now that YOU know - If you did not know already - What are you going to do about it?……..If I were honest, which I always try to be - Making a Sacramental Confession is so easy….Priests do not scold you and rarely if ever do they seem even remotely shocked at “whatever sin” you may have committed and confess to them…Its really such an easy process - To confess your sins…And when you do it regularly, you will find you have so much joy and peace deep within your soul….How much is that worth to you? - And Guess what? - Its free!….One of the many messages documented in Saint Faustina Kowalska Diary that we should always remember is the idea that God’s mercy is like that of an ocean and all our sins are equivalent to a grain of sand…What would happen if you throw one grain of sand off a boat into the Pacific Ocean? - Do you think you would be able to find it? - And that is the idea - Its gone! - All we have to do is confess our sins - And they are gone!…..Today in the Gospel of St Luke…Jesus warns us and rightful so…We need to be ready for his return - Because we never know when that day will come….But preparing for his return is a lot easier then we think….One good Sacramental Confession wipes away a lifetime of sins….What do you have to lose? - Maybe better put - Think about what you have to gain?……READY or NOT Jesus is coming - So lets make sure we are READY…JMJ

“Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks”