Why? - Because the Rosary is the weapon!

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Luke Jesus addresses us - Don’t “pat yourself on the back” for doing what is required of you!…Have we forgotten that we live under authority?….People today do not want to hear that - Even within the walls of the Catholic Church - Our life is not our own……..We see this all over social media - Do we “pat ourselves on the back” for simply living as a Catholic? - Because even in the best of actions and in the “best” of people, there are “cracks” and flaws….How can I say such a thing? - Because we are all flawed!!!!…This is why we must do all things through Our Lady….She takes all our good actions - And magnifies them…She then presents them to her son…This is a good way to view your “Catholic walk” each day - To Jesus through Mary…No matter what I do - Even when I try my very best…There are imperfections in my actions - But Mary who is perfect and my Mother, sees my intentions and purifies my actions - She in essence “cleans them up” and presents them to her son…This is why devotion to Our Lady is so important…She is the most direct way to Jesus….How do we develop this devotion?…Start with saying one “Hall Mary” each day….Then pray one decade of the Rosary each day….Then pray the entire Rosary each day…Then pray one Hail Mary with your spouse each day…Then pray one decade of the Rosary with your spouse each day…Then pray the entire Rosary with your spouse each day…Then slowly invite the children to join you….Step by Step - Our Lady will guide you to her son…..As Catholics, if we read the Gospels carefully, we will notice that many things are asked of us and how we live is what God is concerned about - Not what we say we “believe” - Never forget that…Our Lady is a true Mother and all Mother’s guide their children…Without her, we can never accomplish what we are ALL called to accomplish - To be a holy people….We learn this at the feet of our Mother…..No one understood Jesus like Mary - This is why its vital we cling to her and "the cord" that we “attach” ourselves to her is the Rosary

“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him”

Padre Pio famously said - “The Rosary is the Weapon”…What did he mean by that?…..Scriptures tell us that the devil prowls the world seeking the ruin of souls…That means the devil is very real and that he is in a sense “hunting” us…The devil is highly intelligent - He knows all our weaknesses and we all have weakness….He plays “the long game” and all the devil needs is a “crack” to get into our lives and before we know it, that “crack” becomes a chasm…..What does this all have to do with the Rosary?….Well - As Padre Pio said - The Rosary is the weapon…Even if we live in the state of grace, we are still only human and will be faced with temptation after temptations each day….And trust me - The devil knows YOU better then you know your self….So what do we do when we face temptation? - Or experience doubt? - Or experience a lack of trust in God? - Or are afraid of what the future holds?…..I will tell you what I do - I hold my Rosary in my hand…Just by merely holding my Rosary, the temptations that plague me flee….Try it….When I walk to my office building each day in New York City - As I am about to do - The Rosary is ALWAYS in my hand the entire journey to my office…If I see a beautiful woman, who is not dressed appropriately, I grasp my Rosary…If an impure thought comes into my head, I reach into my pocket and grab my Rosary….Before I put on my wrist watch each day, my Rosary goes into my pocket…..I carry it with me EVERYWHERE I go………Why is the devil afraid of Mary?…Because Mary was humble….The mistake many people make when confronted with temptation (i.e. the devil) - They try to stand against him solely on our own - We “puff” up our chest and tell ourself I am “strong”….When we do this - The devil laughs….But as for Our Lady…She was perfectly obedient to the Father - Sinless in every way - And perfectly humble….The devil FEARS humility - He has no defense against it….And this is why when I am tempted, or afraid, or have doubts…I reach for my Rosary…Why? - Because the Rosary is the weapon!……JMJ

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant”

Why settle for a “shack” when you are a “temple”?

Today at Holy Mass the Universal Church commemorates the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome…This Church was at one time the Palace for a wealthy Roman family who gifted it to the Pope…Today this Church is know as the Pope’s Cathedral….The readings today at Mass all make reference to a “temple”….What is a temple? - What comes to your mind when you hear the word?…On a very elementary level, a temple is a place of worship, a place that people consider to be sacred…..I think we can all agree on that, on a very basic level…St Paul in the second reading today tells us that our bodies are temples to God….Do you think in these terms?…......”Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”….As children most Catholics are baptized and at that moment, an “indelible mark” was placed upon us…..We become grafted into the very body of Christ - Do you ever think about that!!!!…..What is within each of us is HOLY!!!….And if we cooperate with God - We will become what were were ALL born to be - HOLY…But here is the “catch” - Without cooperation with God - That is not going to happen…..St Paul also tells us something else that is rather interesting…..”You are God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ”…Notice what St Paul says…..”each one must be careful how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there”……There is only one real authority on this earth - That authority is the Catholic Church - I realize I just made many people get very angry after they read this last sentence - But it is true!!!….Jesus Christ was God and he founded only one Church - He gave it authority - His authority!….When we “break” from the Church - Something “breaks” within us……Why? - Because without Sacramental grace - The likelihood that we will be able to live as Christ requires us to live is slim to none!…..And how we live is the only thing that matter - Not what we say we believe….What else does that one sentence imply?…It should tell us that NO ONE can “build” upon the foundation that Jesus built upon outside of the Catholic Church - How do I know that to be true? - Because the Catholic Church has lasted for 2000 years and will be the last institution standing when EVERYTHING we see around us falls to pieces…Notice how businesses, “churches” of all kinds, governments, empires - They all come and go - And the Catholic Church is still here…Does that make you think? - If it does not - It should…Think long and hard before you “break” with the Catholic Church! - The people in it (myself included) are all flawed - I “get it” - But what the Church teaches and has taught for centuries is PERFECT and will NEVER change….Denying reality does not do you any good….So “stay in the boat” - The "seas" may get rough but "the boat" will NEVER sink - That means YOU will NEVER sink - But only if you STAY IN THE BOAT

“I have chosen and consecrated this house, says the Lord, that my name may be there forever”

There is an old saying…”The seeds of Baptism are always being sown”…..Many Catholics get Baptized and then never go into a Church again….However, that does not mean God is not still working within them….As long as a person has breath in their body - There is hope for them - Because God is always “reaching out his hand”……St Paul reminds us today at Mass that our bodies are God’s temple - Sadly the world does not view things this way - I can say that by the way the world lives - What people put into their bodies - What people do sexually with each other….Clearly this concept is not in the forefront of the minds of people across the world - But that does not mean it is not a reality……Before I was married I served with Mother Teresa’s sisters for seven years at an AIDS hospice in New York City…I have watched harden men - Some outright criminals fresh out of jail - Who lived HORRIBLE lives…..Come to Christ as their life was coming to an end…Many of these men were not Baptized and requested to be Baptized before they died - Some were Baptized as children and they never lived as Catholics - Until they saw that life was soon to end for them due to their medical condition….The point I am making is - Each of us is a “Temple of the Holy Spirit”…That is the way God sees us - No matter who we are or what we have done….And if we choose to cooperate with God - We “set the world of fire”…But sadly, we “think” our “plan” is better than God’s plan…And as a result we settle for mediocre lives - Some even live criminal lives!….With that being said - ”The seeds” of our Baptism are always being sown…If only we cooperated - If we did - The “temple”, within each of us would THRIVE - You would stand out for all the world to see as a beacon of LIGHT…..Why settle for a “shack” when you are a “temple”?…..JMJ

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy”

Wisdom gives us this required “sight”

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the first reading about the importance of wisdom….Wisdom is something that is misunderstood by many - It has very little to do with raw analytical intelligence as most people think it does - It also does not necessarily come to us through life experience…..Wisdom is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and to give a definition to it - “Wisdom: The ability to see things from God's perspective and to value spiritual and eternal things over material ones”….How does one acquire this? - Simple….Live in the state of Sacramental grace…An illiterate farmer in the middle of South America can possess true wisdom and a Harvard educated Banker in New York City can be devoid of it…..Having wisdom helps one see the world as it truly is….Through God’s eyes - Because that is reality…Sadly, the smarter we are and the more we have - The more we distort reality - We see this all around us today…..Just because we can for a very brief period of time distort reality - Does not mean it is reality…Because God is reality - He created the world and no matter what mankind does - We can not alter God’s plan - So we either “join the team” or we “get trampled under foot”….There is no way mankind can “fight against God”…Its like trying to hold back the ocean with a table spoon in your hand!…But back to wisdom - When we “see” the world though God’s len and value what God values - As the definition of wisdom describes - We “see” many of the “potholes” in life that most people fall into…And by “seeing” them - We avoid them…..For instance - Like marrying a superficial and materialistic woman - Like becoming addicted to pornography - Like chasing money and power - Like buying into materialism that is all around us…These are just a few of the “potholes” that even the smartest of people fall into and their lives are destroyed!…Authentic wisdom allows us to “see” these things for what they are as they are!…And when you live Sacramentally - Our human will is fortified to resist the temptations that far too many people fall prey too (i.e. Fortitude is another of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit)…..I have learned this by watching my own father, who lived a good and respectful life…..By watching my earthly father, the son of an Italian immigrant who worked in a one man barbershop, I learned that life has many “chapters” and also that life is NOT to be viewed in the “short term”, as many view it - Because life in many ways is a “marathon not a sprint” - And without wisdom, one will never see it that way….And if we are "blind", the likelihood of us falling into a pit is highly probable.

“Resplendent and unfading is wisdom, and she is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her. She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of their desire; Whoever watches for her at dawn shall not be disappointed, for he shall find her sitting by his gate. For taking thought of wisdom is the perfection of prudence, and whoever for her sake keeps vigil shall quickly be free from care; because she makes her own rounds, seeking those worthy of her, and graciously appears to them in the ways, and meets them with all solicitude”

In my life I have met many different people  - I have also lived “many different lives”…..I was once “the cool kid” in high school…Voted by my class of 282 people “the class clown” - Everyone loved me and I had all kinds of friends from every “group”…I went on to college to become the “party guy” - Lived a wild life like one sees in the movies about college life - Maybe even more wild than the movies - If you can believe it…..Then I came home lost and broken because of my sins - Only to find Christ in my Catholic faith….Following my “new life with Christ” - I found that many of the “cool friends” I had wanted nothing to do with me - So a “new life” and a new chapter began………Then I worked on Wall Street and traveled for 13 years all over the United States and South America - Working with and next to wealthy bankers and brokers - These people took me to the best restaurants and when I traveled and I stayed in the best hotels….During this period of my life, I worked and served with the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa’s sisters) both in America and abroad and have walked among some of the poorest people on this earth!…….Now I am married to a Haitian-American Catholic woman and have five children under 12 years old - To say life is a journey is an understatement - And my life is not done!…….I say all this because I have “lived many lives”…..And my experiences have given me prospective - But not necessary wisdom, which was a theme today in the readings from Sunday Mass….As I have stated earlier in this reflection…“Wisdom is the ability to see things from God's perspective and to value spiritual and eternal things over material ones”…….Seeing the world “through God’s prospective” has NOTHING to do with our experiences - It has EVERYTHING to do with Sacramental grace…And to obtain this grace is rather easy - It also is FREE…Yet most people refuse it…What is the obstacle that prevents us from having this grace?….By the way, this includes many Catholics - We REFUSE to confess our sins to a Catholic Priest…By refusing to confess our sins - We create a barrier between us and Jesus - That means if we are not formed (as I was not at one time in my life) and we receive the Blessed Sacrament, while living in objective mortal sin - We are limiting the grace of God that COULD BE penetrating our soul….Its like putting up an umbrella in the rain - The rain is falling from the sky in buckets but we are not “feeling” the rain on our face because of the umbrella….Sacramental grace is what “opens us up” to wisdom (a gift of the Holy Spirit) and in order to have a “good” and healthy life - We need wisdom!!!….The number of people who destroy themselves, who do not possess wisdom is to numerous to count….And again - Just because we have “lived” a long time and experienced many different things does not mean we have true wisdom…Wisdom is like all good things, it is a gift from God…And when we have it - We are equip to “tackle the world”….And if we do not have wisdom - Watch out……The “traps” of life are many and in order to “see” them we need to see as God sees - Wisdom gives us this required “sight”…….JMJ

“Stay awake and be ready! For you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

”What is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God”

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Luke…Jesus gives us some “financial advice”…..“I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings”….Notice the words Jesus uses. - Not “if” but “WHEN” it fails you!…….Mankind continues to ignore its own mortality and “chases after its own tail”….We see it in our small towns across the nation - Grifters “selling” nonsense services on Main Street to our Politicians on the National level enriching themselves at the taxpayers expense…….Now - People do “a lot of talking” - I am one of them for the “record” - I Co-Host a Radio show in the New York Metropolitan Area - And trust me because I do “a lot of talking” - I am FULLY aware that people are watching me…As Catholics, do we realize that people watch us VERY carefully….Looking for us to “misstep”……Now that does not mean we have to be perfect because no one is - But how we live and how we spend our money tells the world a lot!……Once again, as a Catholic - I am going to give you the “litmus test” when it comes “watching” those who do “a lot of talking”…This goes for clergy and lay Catholics alike……Number one - Look at how they spend their money - Not other people’s money THEIR MONEY……Our checkbook tells us a lot about what we value…Do we spend our money on ourself or on others?…….Number Two - And this applies to married Catholics specifically, which is the “lion share” of the world’s Catholic population - Do they use contraception?…..Married couples that do not use contraception more times then not have numerous children, which means their money is not spent on themselves - No fancy cars - No grand vacations - No impressive homes…These two “benchmarks” I just noted should tell you everything you need to know…Now once again, if a person meets this standard are they perfect - Absolutely not!…But such a person clearly is doing their best to follow the First and Second Commandments - Love God above all things & Love you neighbor as yourself - By the way - The First and Second Commandments “sum up” the entire Gospel - And guess who said that? - “Hmmmmm” - Here is a “hint -  It was Jesus Christ!…..A Catholic, whether a Bishop, Priest or Lay person - Is a person who lives for others!….And when you put people above money - The world knows because the witness is visible - And this is the witness the world needs to see - Not more “empty talk”….....”The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon”………Jesus is very clear on the subject of money, addressing the topic in numerous passages in Scripture…Do we “hear” him?…..Because we cannot “buy” our way into heaven - Just so you know….Our money is "no good there”….So think long and hard - No one is “fooling” anyone!

“No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon”

Jesus was a simple man…He lived a simple life…He came from a simple family….And here is the craziness part of all…Jesus lived as I just explained…And he was GOD!…And we human beings, we are not God and we “pretend” like we are….If we have been gifted with material wealth or a great intellect - We do not share it? - Instead of telling ourselves - (Better put) - Convincing ourselves that what we have is ALL OURS….FOOLS!….Everything we have can be taken in one second!…Don’t believe me!?!….Watch footage when the World Trade Centers came crashing down in New York City on September 11 - When that happened I was six city blocks away watching it happen in real time….Many of the people who died that day were the MOST gifted in America…Went to the best schools….Made TONS of money…Married beautiful women….They had it ALL!!!…And in a matter of one hour, they went from drinking their coffee at their deck to plunging thousands of feet to the sidewalk to their deaths…Just like that!……Say for example I can throw a baseball 110 miles an hour and play for the New York Yankees…Clearly, if I can throw a ball that fast, its a gift from God…The average person can practice throwing a baseball all day everyday for years and years - They will NEVER be able to throw a ball 110 miles an hour and make the ball “dance” at will…So if God gave such a person that gift - Do you think he intended for that individual to hoard the gift and not share it with others?……How about a person who becomes a brain surgeon - Such a person has a tremendous intellect…..And consequently will make TONS of money in this world….Now I can study all day long for years and years - I am not smart enough to become a brain surgeon - So clearly that person who is has been gifted by God…What does that imply?….Don’t you think God expects something from that person?…….Mankind does not “see” things properly!…..And only when we purify our hearts do we see…How do we do that?….Frequent Sacramental Confession - Frequent reception of the Blessed Sacrament - Daily Prayer and Weekly Fasting…That’s how! - That is how we “see”…Why is that important? - Because what we “see” is usually how we live and how we live determines where we end up for all eternity - Death - Judgement - Heaven or Hell…The Four Last Things…Do we think about them? - Not enough people do......”What is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God”……JMJ

“No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

.Because there are no “dual passports” in heaven

Today at Holy Mass, in the first readings St Paul encourages us……”Our citizenship is in heaven”……And this is truly a reassuring thought…But if that is the case, how we conduct ourself and our affairs here on earth matter….We cannot call ourselves citizens of heaven and still embrace "the world, the flesh and the devil"…..On the surface, I think we all would say…That is something we do not do - But the devil is crafty - And the “spirit of the world” can creep into our life if we are not careful….What we as followers of Jesus Christ must understand is….The “Spirit of the World” and the Kingdom of Heaven can and NEVER will mix…..The one and only prayer that Jesus Christ gave to us is very clear - The Lord’s Prayer - We all know it….”On earth as it is in Heaven”….There is no separating the two - So the question becomes - Is this how we live?…Have we created a “Domestic Church” in our home?…Do people know we are Catholic in our work place just by the way we behave?…..How do we spend our money?…..Do we live for others?…Are we open to life in our marriages “giving our life away” to our spouse and children?…This is how we show the world - “Who we are”…And in behaving in this manner - Our lives are not compartmentalized - God on Sunday (maybe) and worldly pursuits the rest of the week…….In the Gospel today, St Luke tells us - “For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light”…In my experiences at work and with the many people I have encountered in my life - That statement is so very true…..Many times very religious people lack savvy when it comes to “maneuvering” in this world…They get taken advantage of - They can be too naive and trusting of others…..”Worldly” people know how “things work” - How to utilize leverage and “manage people”….We as Catholics clearly have to live in this world - Raise our children - Feed our families, etc…..But we also have to make a choice….What kind of person do you want to be?….Now if we are as St Paul tells us are truly - “Citizens of heaven” - That would imply we live as Jesus commanded us - Right? - And that would also imply we may not have the most “comfortable lives” here on earth - That many people may “pass us by”……How does that sit with you?……Choices matter! - And we all have to make a choice…..Because there are no “dual passports” in heaven......JMJ

”Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple”

The question becomes - Are you “ALL IN”?

Today at Holy Mass in the first readings we hear St Paul tell us that he gave up everything to follow Christ…Keep in mind, unlike the other 12 apostles - St Paul had a lot!…..He was an educated man, who held a high position in society….He had a lot to lose!!!…And he gave it all away!…..His life as a follower of Christ was not easy either…As he tells us…..”I am still more, with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, far worse beatings, and numerous brushes with death. Five times at the hands of the Jews I received forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I passed a night and a day on the deep; on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own race, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many sleepless nights, through hunger and thirst, through frequent fastings, through cold and exposure. And apart from these things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches”……St Paul was not playing games!!!!…..How about us? - What have we “given up" for Christ?….I ask that because there is no way one can live as a follower of Jesus Christ and not “give up” the "ways of the world" - We can not have it “both ways”!…..To think otherwise is a self delusion…..The walk of a Catholic is a challenging one in this world - If you do not “feel” the “Cross of Christ”, according to your station in life - Dare I say - You are not living as a Catholic!……To live as a Catholic in this world is to live counter-culturally…..Even as a bishop or a priest….More times then not, Holy Bishops and Holy Priests will suffer as a result of their obedience and fidelity to the Pope, the Church, and Christ - From within the Church and outside the Church…..This is part of the “narrow road” we ALL must walk!….If we “think” we are going to be celebrated as authentic Catholics amidst a culture of death - “Think” again!….."He was spurned and avoided by people, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, one of those from whom people hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem”……As Catholics today, we must not be afraid of what other people think of us…..The only opinion that matters, is the opinion of God….And as a Catholic, everything we need to know is in the Bible and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church - Two books that’s basically it! - Simple RIGHT?!?….And to know and live what is in those two books brings with it suffering and persecution - Accept it….“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me”…Today at Mass, St Paul is just another example of a person who has “shouldered” his cross in the name of Jesus Christ - Do not doubt for one moment that YOU will not “taste” of the same “cup” - Because if you are not or you will not - Then you are not “walking the walk”…….JMJ

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord”

St John Vianney is the patron saint of all priest - The model for every priest today and moving forward….How quickly we forget that before he was well known and celebrated, he was sent 200 miles away from Paris to the town of Ars-sur-Fromans to minister to peasants….He was considered to be not a “learned man” so he was sent far away from the culture and wealth of Paris to lead a bunch of illiterate poor farmers…And how fortunate those “poor farmers” turned out to be!!!….Because St John Vianney was a holy Priest!……Years ago, I was teaching an adult formation class at what many people would call a “progressive” Parish in New Jersey….I was preparing adults to enter the Church and receive the Sacrament of Baptism…I taught the RCIA class right from the 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church, which was produced by Pope John Paul II (who is now a saint)…..I was asked to leave that role and my role was terminated….Why?…What were my two big sins?….I taught that one had to be in the state of grace when one receives the Blessed Sacrament, which is clearly noted in the Catechism….My second sin? - I taught that the use of contraception in marriage is a sin - Why? - Because it violates our wedding vows as Catholics to be “open to life” as well as it violates the great encyclical of Pope Paul VI entitled Humanae Vitae….Upon reading what I just wrote - One may think - How could that be possible?!?…Everything I was teaching is clearly "WRITTEN DOWN” by the Church….I did not write it - So why “shoot” the messenger?…..Jesus gives us the answer to that question - “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division”…..Sometimes even within the “walls of the Church” the spirit of the world creeps in…Now the story I just told you is not the norm across the Catholic Church - So don’t get the wrong idea - Most Bishops and Priest do not reject Church teaching…But are we boldly proclaiming it clearly for all to understand?…Do we “let the cards fall where they may”, as the old saying goes, and trust the Lord when we speak Truth to power in the Public Square?…..Are we afraid of the opinions of men?…..Jesus was very clear about what we WILL have to endure as authentic disciples of Christ (i.e. Catholics)….The question becomes - Are you “ALL IN”?

“But whatever gains I had, these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ. More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”

God is reality - “Deal with him”

Today at Holy Mass we hear some radical words in the Gospel of St Luke……Do we know who Jesus really is?….Because if we listen to his words - The man was not playing games!….But are we playing “games”?…..Jesus Christ BY FAR was the MOST radical historical figure EVER to walk the earth..BY FAR and by the way - That is why he was killed!…..Did you hear what he said today?…….”Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish”…My entire life I have been an observer of human behavior….If we ever “step back” and listen to the “hard words” of Jesus Christ - And there are plenty of Gospel passages like this one read to us today at Mass….Watch how Christians of all denominations, that includes Catholic - that includes some Bishops and Priests - Watch how so many of them “gloss over” Jesus’ words…..”Not my Jesus” - “I don’t see Jesus that way”….I have heard it all before…Jesus Christ was a REVOLUTIONARY!….Now - You can dismiss me all you want - Because I am a "nobody” - But what about the words of Christ?….Did you hear what he said to us today at Mass? - For many - Probably not!…..We are NOT willing to change! - This is “our” problem!!!…And everything about Jesus Christ's message is about “change”…..Did you “hear” what I just said? - Probably not sadly……The essence of the entire Gospel message to the world was summed up by John the Baptist - Who by the way, it was said by guess who? - Here is a “hint” - Jesus - “Among those born of women, no one is greater than John”….So what did John say that was so important?…….”REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL”………Did you hear that? - My guess is - Most probably did not!

“If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of God rests upon you”

Why is it that many saints are rejected during their life time?…..How many historic figures told society “things” that were outright TRUE and were not only rejected during their life time but driven out of “polite society”?……Human nature is as funny thing…….”Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you were unwilling!”…….A childhood friend of mine, who I played baseball and basketball with circled back into my life when I was an adult - We would take the train together to work for years…Peter was not a religious person - He was a Baptized Catholic and went to Catholic High School with me, but Peter did not go to Church…I know his family very well…His father was a hard man - One could even say, and may did, a “bad man”……Peter’s mother dropped dead of a heart attack suddenly at an early age…And Peter’s brother, Greg who I also knew very well, died young of a brain aneurysm in his thirties…Why bring this all up?…..I just wanted to make a point - Peter was no “stranger” to hardship and suffering……But getting back to Peter and I commuting to work together…Peter, who again was not a religious man said this to me…Something I reflect on often….”Joe - Life is our greatest teacher”……How true that is!….For so many of us who are Catholic - We are told over and over again what the Church teaches - What Jesus said - What our parents told and lived out before us…And we IGNORE IT ALL……Until, as my friend Peter put it so well………”Life is our greatest teacher”…God works through our life and if we discern the events in the news, as well as the events we face each day personally….We can learn a lot…But again  - Most IGNORE it ALL…Why?…Because we do not want to change…Jesus was not some “great philosopher” - or - Some “guru”…Jesus was God!…And he created one Church - The Catholic Church….And Jesus told us a lot of very important things - So has the Catholic Church by the way……Do we take any of them seriously?…Before you answer that question - Know this……”Life is our greatest teacher”…And when we IGNORE God and the eternal Truths of the Catholic Church - We learn - or - Maybe we do not learn…..But either way - That does not change reality…God is reality - “Deal with him”…..JMJ

“Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life, so that my boast for the day of Christ may be that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. But, even if I am poured out as a libation upon the sacrificial service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with all of you. In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me”

Because without the proper “wedding garments” - You are not getting in

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Luke, Jesus tells us a story about a party that is prepared and how all the people who were invited make excuses why they cannot come….The party had all the “things” people like…good food, choice wine, etc…But for some reason, people did not attend…Why? - Does that make any sense?….Let’s explore that “reason” why people refused to come…Because its the same reason people refuse to live as a Catholic today…..In order to “attend” this party, we are required to live a certain way - To live under the authority of another - To live a life of personal sacrifice to God and neighbor….This is the “ticket” to admittance to “this party” - And people during Jesus time and today - ARE NOT HAVING IT as we say in New Jersey…….Then people rationalize their decision, convincing themself that they can attend “the party” on their terms - We are told in another parable that this is nothing more then a self deception…..”But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. 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”….No matter “how smart” we think we are - The human mind has a way to deceive itself as a means of self preservation - The “collective we” all want the good things of life - A good marriage - Lasting Peace - Deep Joy and in the end go to heaven…Then comes a man who tells you how to get all those things - Even invites you to “the party” - The “door is wide open”…And the “collective we” balk at the invitation……”But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, ‘I have purchased a field and must go to examine it; I ask you, consider me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them; I ask you, consider me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have just married a woman, and therefore I cannot come”…….In the end, who loses out in this story?……Humanity “trades in” heaven for a "hand full of dust" here on earth - And then convinces himself that it does not matter and when he dies, he still will be allowed into the Kingdom of God - Today’s Gospel addresses that misconception - Maybe better put, this self rationalization………IT DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY!……The “ticket” into “the party” needs to be "stamped" - “No stamp” means you do not enter

“As he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes”

The doors of the Catholic Church are OPEN to all….You do not even have to believe in God to attend Mass - Did you know that?….You can be a thief and attend Mass - You can have an extramarital affair on your wife of twenty years and attend Mass - You can be involved in a same sex marriage and attend Mass…ALL ARE WELCOME!!!!…Did you know that?…..But here is the “line in the sand”….Only if you are in state of grace can you receive the Blessed Sacrament at Holy Mass…This is a perennial teaching of the Church - NO ONE can change that - Not the even the Pope…But if you have a “keen eye and ear” you will notice how people, Catholics no less of all walks of life, “dance around” this perennial and unchangeable teaching…….”Anyone who desires to receive Christ in Eucharistic communion must be in the state of grace. Anyone aware of having sinned mortally must not receive communion without having received absolution in the sacrament of penance  - Catechism (CCC #1415)”………Is there a police officer with a gun who enforces this requirement at Mass?…No - But here is “the deal” - God sees everything - God also knows everything…..”For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light”…As we all know - Jesus subjected himself to torture and death because of the sins of humanity….So there is NOTHING humans can do that really shocks Christ - “He has seen it all”…..And Jesus is a “big boy” - Meaning - He can “take it”….We as human beings cannot “throw at Jesus anything he cannot handle”….All that being said - No one is “fooling” anyone!…The Church teaches what it teaches and if we want to receive the  Blessed Sacrament, which is NEEDED to provide grace to live out our life as a Catholic and ultimately enter into eternal life - We need to have the proper “wedding garments” on in order to enter “the wedding feast”…No garment - No entrance!…The only “fool” is us if we “think” other wise  - Because without the proper “wedding garments” - You are not getting in…….JMJ

‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ The servant reported, ‘Sir, your orders have been carried out and still there is room.’ The master then ordered the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled. For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.’”

”Where were you?”……JMJ

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St John, we are told that Jesus was only interested in the Will of God….Have we ever stepped back and contemplated that mindset, as we live in a world that clearly is ONLY concerned with selfish interests…Jesus was God - And he completely handed his life over…He “could” have simply said - NO! - Let those poor hopeless sinners bask in their own misery!…..Now think about what the Church asks of us - It clearly is a fraction of what God the Father asked of Jesus….No one I have seen lately has been literally nailed to a cross!…Yet far too many balk at what is asked of us - As Bishops - As Priests - As Lay Catholics…One can say (as an excuse), we are sinners and born imperfect - And that would be true…But what are we doing to “correct” our sinful nature?…Do we put our trust in Sacramental living? - Do we pray everyday? - Do we fast to break the bonds of sinful habits?…..These are things ALL of us can do - Are we doing them?….Again, clearly what is asked of us is not anywhere near what God the Father asked of Jesus - And his YES was total…And our yes is partial……The obedience of Jesus Christ is nothing short of mind blowing!!!!!……“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me”……..One day each of us will stand before God…..And some “think” when they do - Jesus will “understand” about all the bad choices we make…..I would agree - Jesus surely will “understand” - But will he “look past” those selfish choices if we do not acknowledge we made them and then repent of them, trying to then improve?……What is asked of us is NOTHING compared to what Jesus was asked to do for us by God the Father…..And when we do what is asked from us - Whether a Bishop, a Priest, or Lay Catholic…..Be it not using contraception in marriage - Preaching the Fullness of the Catholic Faith from the pulpit at Mass……Living a chaste life as a single Catholic…Whatever our station of life calls for….These sacrifices are NOTHING compared to what Jesus was called to do….”Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light”…..Instead of complaining - Instead of ignoring - Instead of outright refusing - Maybe it’s time to start rejoicing…Because our burden is truly light!

“Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”

What is the issue with the virtue of obedience?….Well, if we are honest, the “issue” is related to the root of all of our sins - PRIDE - “I will not serve” - Remember those words from the “guy who lives downstairs”?……Ultimately, when the Church asks us to live a certain way and we refuse - What we are saying, whether we realize it or not…”I know better then you God”….Because Jesus Christ cannot be separated from the teachings of the Church - And everything the Church teaches is WRITTEN DOWN in the Catechism of the Catholic Church…..”I know better than you God”…That statement if we “step back” from it is utterly RIDICULOUS….God shows us just how ridiculous that mindset is in the Book of Job, when Job complains to God about the hardships of his life……..

"Where were you when I founded the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its size? Surely you know? Who stretched out the measuring line for it? Into what were its pedestals sunk, and who laid its cornerstone,While the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God* shouted for joy. Who shut within doors the sea, when it burst forth from the womb, When I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling bands. When I set limits for it and fastened the bar of its door, And said: Thus far shall you come but no farther, and here shall your proud waves stop? Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning and shown the dawn its place For taking hold of the ends of the earth, till the wicked are shaken from it? The earth is changed as clay by the seal, and dyed like a garment; But from the wicked their light is withheld, and the arm of pride is shattered. Have you entered into the sources of the sea, or walked about on the bottom of the deep? Have the gates of death been shown to you, or have you seen the gates of darkness? Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell me, if you know it all. What is the way to the dwelling of light, and darkness—where is its place? That you may take it to its territory and know the paths to its home? You know, because you were born then, and the number of your days is great! Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, and seen the storehouses of the hail Which I have reserved for times of distress, for a day of war and battle? What is the way to the parting of the winds, where the east wind spreads over the earth? Who has laid out a channel for the downpour and a path for the thunderstorm To bring rain to uninhabited land, the unpeopled wilderness; To drench the desolate wasteland till the desert blooms with verdure? Has the rain a father? Who has begotten the drops of dew? Out of whose womb comes the ice, and who gives the hoarfrost its birth in the skies, When the waters lie covered as though with stone that holds captive the surface of the deep? Have you tied cords to the Pleiades, or loosened the bonds of Orion? Can you bring forth the Mazzaroth in their season, or guide the Bear with her children? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens; can you put into effect their plan on the earth? Can you raise your voice to the clouds, for them to cover you with a deluge of waters? Can you send forth the lightnings on their way, so that they say to you, “Here we are”? Who gives wisdom to the ibis, and gives the rooster* understanding? Who counts the clouds with wisdom? Who tilts the water jars of heaven So that the dust of earth is fused into a mass and its clods stick together? Do you hunt the prey for the lion or appease the hunger of young lions, While they crouch in their dens, or lie in ambush in the thicket? Who provides nourishment for the raven when its young cry out to God, wandering about without food?"

I love how God’s litany begins when addressing Job….”Where were you?”……In other words - “Job, YOU do NOT have a clue!”…..And today we see the same attitude from humanity…We “tell” God we know better then him…On topics like Abortion - Same Sex Marriage - Assisting the Poor - Chastity before Marriage - The use of Contraception in marriage…..By REFUSING to listen to God, through the one Church he established through his son Jesus Christ…We are telling God we know better than him!…In a word once again - RIDICULOUS!!!!…..Now I do not know the mind of God, but if I were to “bet” how God would respond to this behavior we see all around us today…I bet his response would be similar to what he told Job centuries ago……..”Where were you?”……JMJ

“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me”

"It is what it is”

Today at Holy Mass the Universal Church commemorates the Solemnity of All Saints…What is a saint?…To put is simply…Its a person who is in heaven….Most people think of a saint from the lens of those select few who are canonized by Rome…And those few clearly are saints…But what about the rest of us?….If a person enters into eternal life (i.e. Heaven) - They are just as much a saint as say St Francis or St Padre Pio….Are you aware of this?…..So what does that mean for us in the here and now?….It means we do not just “float” into heaven when we die….This is arguably one of the biggest misconception throughout the enter Christian world - That includes many Catholic circles as well….The Church has NEVER taught this…Before we enter heaven and stand before the Beatific Vision - We must be made pure….And if we cooperate with God - By living a Sacramental life, as we are ALL called to at our Baptism, along with the trials and tribulations we endure in this life that will “mold” us - Whether we like it or not - In the “furnace” of that “process” - We will become the person were born to be! - And be “ready” to stand before the Lord….If we look at life here on earth through that lens - The lens of God - Then we will be ready to face God when our time on this earth comes to an end…And if we have any small “rough edges” left - God in his goodness and mercy will take care of them in Purgatory…Some may read this - Some may even be Catholic and say…”That is not MY Jesus” who says things like that!!!!….Sorry to “burst your bubble” - But what I just noted is a perennial teaching of the Church - Not even the Pope can change it…..”After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb”……Having a mature Catholic faith means we actually know what the Church teaches - The next step after we know what the Church teaches - Is to live it….Is the “god” most Americans “created” in their head really who God is?…..Not to mention their “ideas” about heaven?…….All well-formed and functioning adults know full well - WE do NOT get to define reality…There is a saying where I come from in New Jersey - “It is what it is”…..God is God and we do not get to define him…And Heaven is God’s house - Right! - That means its God’s rules - And that means we get into God’s house according to “those rules”….Once again and its worth repeating……“It is what it is”

“Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me,"Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?"I said to him, "My lord, you are the one who knows."He said to me,"These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb."

For the readers of my blog who are not from America, particularly from New York City, you may not know who Fr Andrew Apostoli is….Fr Andrew before his death was a rather famous priest…..And one time I went to confession with him - It was a face to face confession too - Not in the confession booth….He was giving a talk that I attended and after his presentation he made himself available for confession in the seats in the back of the auditorium….So as I sat before Fr Andrew, I was nervous - He was a famous man and a holy man for that matter…He did not know me either but the only thing he told me after my confession was that I should not want to go to Purgatory - That I should want to go “straight to heaven”….I found that rather odd - My confession was not “so bad” - I did not confess “killing anyone” - But for some reason - The idea of Purgatory was the ONLY thing Fr Andrew spoke to me about - And he was emphatic, so much so he gave me a special Fatima prayer…..In the life of a Catholic, there are some confessions that we always remember - There are many reason for that and I will not explore those reasons in this reflection…But for me - This was “one of those confessions” - I have never forgotten it to this day…..And it’s been well over twenty years that the confession took place….Father Andrew Apostoli has since gone on to his eternal reward….In my humble opinion, I believe he could very easily be canonized as a saint by the Church one day, would not shock me in the least - Fr Andrew was a very special person and a VERY holy man….Since the age of twenty-two, its been over the thirty years since I committed my life to Christ as a faithful Roman Catholic, and during that time I have been blessed to have met many VERY holy men and women - Some even world famous…..And when one meets an authentically holy person - YOU NEVER FORGET the encounter - Trust me about that!…Holy people “leave a mark” on you….And when a holy man, like Fr Andrew Apostoli tells me, without even knowing me, that I DO NOT want to go to Purgatory - That I should strive to go “straight into heaven” - Well - I cannot speak for YOU  - But as for me - I am going to take his words seriously……Do we take the teachings of the Church seriously? - When it comes to Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell?….Do we have a well-formed and mature Catholic faith?…..Either way - WE do not get to define reality…..So I will say it again - I hope you are listening - “It is what it is”…..JMJ

"Beloved: See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure"

Then give up your seat! - Prove it

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the Gospel of St Matthew that Jesus once again was invited to eat at the home of the Pharisees…If these men hated Jesus so much - Why did they invite him to their home?…..In addition, when Jesus arrived at this dinner party, we are told - “The people there were observing him carefully”….Why do they care if Jesus was so wrong!?!…..This tells us something about human nature….People you are deeply dissatisfied with themselves are hyper-critical of others….They are fully aware of their shortcomings and as the old saying goes “misery loves company”….So they “look” to find faults with others - Why? - It makes them “feel good” about themselves…Conversely - A person who is at peace with themself, does not “point fingers at others”….There is no need to “tear others down”…..Many times the people who are hyper-critical of others, project verbally their personal wrong doings and sins (without realizing it)…In doing that “they show their cards” and do not even realize it….Today in the Gospel, human nature is on display…Jesus is at peace with himself and the Pharisees at not, so they have to find fault, to make themselves “feel good” by attempting to “tear down” Christ…..Do we do this to others?…..What is the solution to this very human problem? - Because there is ONLY ONE solution….A Sacramental Confession!….Only God can forgive our sins and only God can give us peace….The world longs for this peace and when it does not have it - It needs to find alternatives…Many times that alternative is found in tearing others down….I can always tell a person who goes to confession frequently - You see deep peace in their eyes and they usually have a gentle smile……Such a person knows who they are - A sinner in need of God’s mercy - And when they find authentic mercy in the Sacrament - They are able to “bear with others” who also are flawed, just as they are…They are also quick to offer forgiveness and are much more patient with the faults of others…..There is only one “medicine” for our sins…Its confessing them to a Catholic priest…We are only fooling ourselves when we do not “take our medicine”…..And if I were honest, its such an easy thing to do - To admit that we have failed - That we were wrong - That we are sinners…..But that requires humility and take note - Only the humble will enter heaven.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart”

Humility is the foundational virtue of all the virtues…So how do we acquire it?….Can we read about it and someone grow in humility?…The answer is - NO…Humility must be learned through living….St Paul gives us some insight into the humility of Christ….”Though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross”……If our life is “too comfortable” we will never learn what it means to be humble…Whether we are are a Bishop - Priest or Lay Catholic….Humility to be learned MUST be FELT…And when it is a lived experience, we not only become humble but we acquire authentic empathy for those who suffer….If you have never been hungry - You will most likely never go out of you way to feed others….Sadly, humanity has a far too elevated idea of itself - Especially those who possess many nature gifts…We easily forget where the gifts come from and that our life ends in death…This is why many famous and rich people ruin their lives - They begin to “think” they are God…Only to “find out” in time that they are not!…..A Catholic should live differently….Our goal should not be comfort - It should be holiness….And comfort is the enemy of holiness…..Does this mean we are all called to live in poverty - NO - But it does mean we should live simply….Take care of the basic needs of our family…Share with others where and when we can…And in doing so - We will learn what it means to be humble - It will come naturally as a result of how we live….Not from reading a book - But from living!…..Far too many reject this idea - This is why far too many have no idea about what true humility is all about….Look at the example of the Holy Family…Jesus, Mary & Joseph…….They lived a simple life and for thirty years Jesus lived with them and lived in obedience to Mary and Joseph - And Jesus was GOD!!!!!!!….My bet is, their life was not easy - But I would also bet, their home was a place of great joy and deep peace…Is this something we want? - Many say they want joy and peace - But when it comes to doing the things that make for joy and peace - We quickly turn away and settle for a second rate life….Is it because of how true humility looks to the world? - Are we concerned with how our life is “projected to others”? - We can’t “post pictures” on social media the way we want!?!….“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted”….Only those who truly understand who they are can do what Jesus tells us in St Matthew Gospel today - To give up the best seat for others……Patience obtains all things and those who give up the best seat for others will one day be given a better seat…If you say you believe that - Then give up your seat! - Prove it……..JMJ

“My eager expectation and hope is that I shall not be put to shame in any way, but that with all boldness, now as always, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death”

Do you believe that? - I not only do - I KNOW IT - Because “without me you can do nothing”

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the Gospel of St Luke how Jesus cures a man on the Sabbath in front of the Pharisees….He was trying to teach the Pharisees something - And us too!…And if one is an objective reader of this passage, one can safely claim that the point Jesus made was irrefutable….And if the Pharisees were objective and open, they would have seen just how correct Jesus was in is interpretation of the Law…But sadly, the Pharisees were not objective…Their hearts were closed….And because of that - They “missed” it! - God was literally standing right in front of them - And they missed him!…….”Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?” But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then he said to them “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?” But they were unable to answer his question”……Notice how St Luke addresses the hardness of heart of the Pharisees…He says they - “Were unable to answer his question” - Is it that they were “unable” to answer the question or they WOULD NOT answer the question? - Because they were convicted in their error…So they REFUSED to answer the question…Before we condemn the Pharisees, which is very easy to do, how about we examine our own hearts….Do we have a teachable spirit?…..Sadly, when you look on social media, it does not appear like many people do….What happens when someone presents rock solid Church teaching from the Catechism of the Catholic Church to you? - Do you dismiss it? - Ignore it? - Rationalize it away?…..Many on Catholic Social Media do this….As Catholics, we must allow the Church to form our conscience….Like a good mother, who forms her children…If we “do not agree” with something the Church teaches - Say its the teaching on being open to life in marriage or abortion or the need to be in the state of grace before we receive the Blessed Sacrament at Mass, these are just a few examples, that are VERY CLEARLY addressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church - If we do not believe what the Church teaches on these topic - We need to pray…I will also take it a step further…Because we are not in “communion” with the Church, when we disagree with fundamental Church teachings - We should still attend Sunday Mass, but should not receive the Blessed Sacrament…Again, because we are not in “communion” with the Church…By the way, that is why we recite the Nicene Creed before we receive the Blessed Sacrament at Mass…In doing so, we are professing that “WE BELIEVE” everything the Church teaches BEFORE we receive the Eucharist…If we do not believe EVERYTHING - Its time to pray, fast and discern…And if we do that with an honest and objective heart - The Holy Spirit will guide us to the Truth….The Pharisees in St Luke Gospel read to us today at Mass in essence “created” a God of their own choosing - How about us?….Have we “created a Church” of our own choosing?….One of the beautiful things about being Catholic is - EVERYTHING we need to KNOW and BELIEVE is written down in the Catechism!…. St Paul instructs us on this point perfectly - "Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect." ……The minute you realize that God is smarter then you - And the Church has been around for 2000 years for a reason - Is the minute you advance in your relationship with Christ…..So the question then remains - Do you have a teachable spirit? - Its “kind of required” that you do!

“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me”

How is it that there are so many people who are Catholic that disagree? - Everything the Church professes to be true is written down!!!!! - Yet here we are…Have you ever thought the problem is not the Church - But the “problem” is YOU!…..One of the pivotal moments in my personal walk as a committed Catholic, which by the way as spanned over 30 years - Is this - I came to realize that - “My way does not work!!!”…I learned that very young - At the age of 22 years old - I came to know deep within my heart - “My way does not work”…How did I receive that grace? - Well, I tried it “MY WAY” - And that led to DISASTER…I went away to college and “bought in” to everything the American culture was “selling” - And I was left broken, my joy was gone and I was empty!……When I returned home to my parents - I knew deep down I needed to start “listening” to God…I remember the day like it was yesterday…I went into the Catholic Church my parents raised me in on a Saturday afternoon and just sat in front of the Tabernacle - For those who do not know, the Tabernacle is where the Blessed Sacrament is kept…At the time I did not believe in the True Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, but as Divine Providence would have it - I sat in front of it that given day….As I sat there - A tidal wave a grief came over me…I can not explain it any other way - But it was a tidal wave!!!! - I have never felt that much grief in MY LIFE…And I wept bitterly, like I never have before or since….That was the beginning of my walk with God - From that point forward - And on that very day - I made my first “adult confession” - And life started over….To this day and I am now 56 years old - I KNOW - “My way does not work!” - And God’s way does work….In my humble opinion - This is one of the most important things Jesus ever taught mankind - “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing”….....Do you believe that? - I not only do - I KNOW IT - Because “without me you can do nothing”……JMJ

“He has given food to those who fear him; he will forever be mindful of his covenant. He has made known to his people the power of his works, giving them the inheritance of the nations”

”For I have conquered the world”

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the first reading St Paul, who is writing a letter to the Ephesians…In this letter Paul is declaring war!…….”Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the Devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the Gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”…..The Catechism of the catholic Church is very clear….Those of us who are “above ground” and Baptized are called the “Church Militant”…..What does that mean?…It means that God and “the world” are at odds!….They are like oil and water!…Being Catholic means you live differently and because you live differently - In the Truth - The world, the flesh and the devil will “throw everything” they have against you!…..To think other wise is frankly to “bury your head in the sand” and ignore reality…..America culture as it stands is vehemently anti-family, anti-Catholic and embraces what Pope John Paul II called the culture of death…The family unit is deeply fractured - So much so, people are not getting married and those who do, many do not even know what a “normal” family looks like any more…We abort our children in the womb and think nothing of it…We have normalized homosexuality….Materialism thrives……None of these things are of God…So St Paul today tells us - We are at war!…..To think otherwise is frankly foolish - Indifference to this “battle” simply means you are “going along to get along” - And that is not the path to heaven…St Paul also tells us today….”To put on the armor of God” - What does that mean?….To put it simply - To live in the state of grace….To live Sacramentally…If you “think” you are going to resist the culture and live as a Catholic without daily prayer, weekly fasting, frequent confession and frequent reception of the Blessed Sacrament - You are only kidding yourself…The “culture of death” in America will eat you alive!…The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that grace perfects human nature…It also tells us that grace elevates human nature…Sacramental Grace strengthens the human will to resist sin and opens our eyes to the many false promises of the devil and the world…….Make no mistake about it - YOU ARE IN A WAR!….And the world, the flesh and the devil are infinitely more powerful then you without God and his grace…..However, if we do what St Paul tells us today - We will overcome what seems to be an impossible fight…Jesus reminds us in the writings of St John…..”I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world”…Notice the words Jesus uses - Words are important! - He did not say - “YOU” will conquer the world - He said “I” have conquered the world…That should tell us something…Without God’s Sacramental grace - You will fail - Sorry to burst your bubble - YOU WILL FAIL…But with God’s grace….Failure is not an option…So take courage……”For I have conquered the world”…..JMJ

"With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones and also for me, that speech may be given me to open my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains, so that I may have the courage to speak as I must"

You don’t “plant dandelions” and expect an oak tree to grow!

Today at Holy Mass in the first reading, St Paul writes a letter to the Ephesians….He tells them something that many in America have forgotten….As well as Europe and Canada for that matter…And because this has been forgotten….We see what we see today all around us….CHAOS…..What has been forgotten? - God is the great unifier - “The glue”…And without the “The glue”…Society fractures and spirals into CHAOS…….”You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit”…..The word Catholic means universal….Think about it….As Catholics in America, we share the same world view as people all over the world….Africa, South America, China, Russia…..It’s our belief in God - The Father of us all - That unifies us....Look at the first apostles that Jesus chose…Amongst the twelve were two men who would NEVER have gotten along if it was not for Jesus…..St Matthew was a tax collector and considered a trader to the Jewish people…Remember, all of the original twelve apostles were Jewish…And one of the original twelve, as Scripture describes him today in the Gospel was “Simon who was called a Zealot”……The word “zealot” means Simon was a revolutionary…Remember again, the people of Israel at the time were under the yolk of Roman occupation…..Simon “called the Zealot” means he was actively fighting Rome, which means he would have HATED St Matthew because he was a tax collector and essentially “worked” for the Roman Empire, which was oppressing the Jewish people…..It was only Jesus who could have brought these two men together and unite them…..And because America, Europe, Canada - Formerly deeply religious nations, have turned their backs on God…Let’s not “fool” ourselves either…Countries that are kill children in the womb (in some cases up and until birth, in the third trimester of pregnancy), support same sex marriage, and legalize usury, which oppresses the working poor - These are NOT God centered nations!…That being the case…How can we expect our people to “get along”?…..Not going to happen! - Until once again - Christ Jesus is the “capstone”….And that reality is reflected in our laws - or - Its not reflected in our laws - And then YOU get what YOU get", which is what we have today - CHAOS……You don’t “plant dandelions” and expect an oak tree to grow!

“Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles”

Religion molds culture and culture molds politics….So many today get it wrong - Because we get it backwards!…People expect to “vote” our society into place - Without first building a foundation….Jesus tells us very clearly in Scripture…..“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined”…Before we “fix the politics” of America - We need to fix the culture, which is shaped by the family and our education system….The family unit in America is deeply fracture…Close to 55% of American marriages end in divorce, which leaves children broken, wounded and lost…..It also is a leading cause of poverty….How can we have a “healthy” nation when an overwhelming majority of our people are negatively effected by broken marriages…..How about the American Public Education system?….God has been “shown the door” and radical ideologies have been introduced….Homosexuality and Same Sex marriage has been normalized - Transgenderism has been introduced as a “life choice”….Our children are sexually active in their early teen years and our public education system normalized that behavior as well…How on earth are these children going to grow up and know what it means to have a lasting and stable family!?! - The answer is - They are NOT…..Families that have God at their center work!!!!…And families that don’t - well - The statistics speak for themselves - They do not work!…..So stop with all the talk about voting and politics - Just stop!!!!…We are putting the “horse before the cart”….You don’t “plant dandelions” and expect an oak tree to grow!…….JMJ

“Through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message”

All this and more…..Comes from a “small seed”

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the Gospel of St Luke the story of the mustard seed….The smallest of seeds when planted becomes a large bush…..At our Baptism, we were grafted into the life of Christ….A “small act” but a VERY significant one….When we were baptized, a “seed” was planted within our soul…But if we do NOTHING, that seed will remain just a seed…Its then for our parents to ensure we are educated and raised in the Catholic Faith…And then at some point, we must make the faith our own as an adult…Then the journey of a life time begins! - And God’s plan for us from the beginning of time starts to take shape…But we still must cooperate…How?…..Daily Prayer - Weekly Fasting - Monthly Sacramental Confession - Frequent reception of the Blessed Sacrament in the state of grace….If we do those things consistently and persevere in doing them - God will take care of the rest! - TRUST ME….Our “small seed” will grow….And bear fruit for the Kingdom of God….We do not even know how or what “our tree” from that “small seed” will look like - Only God knows…But that is not our concern…Our concern is to do “the basics” - YES - The spiritual practices I noted above are BASICS…..Being Catholic is not some esoteric belief system for the few - Its for EVERYONE…ANYONE can do what I just noted above and if we do - Christ will LIVE in us - And our life will be FAR from mediocre….The public ministry of Jesus was only three short years…And fast forward two thousand years later - The Catholic Church is all over the world…It has endured tyrants, scandal, and persecution…And here we are……What makes YOU think the same thing cannot happen in your life?…..What we lack is faith - What we lack is courage - And we “hold on too” mediocrity, which takes the form of “comfort”…..”Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened”…If we only take Jesus’s words seriously today - Then our “one seed” WILL shake the foundations of the world - If only we cultivate it - That one simple seed…That is all we have to do! - Cultivate it! - God does the rest!

Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”

In the Book of Revelation, we are told in the Kingdom of Heaven , we will be given new name…A name only God knows…..That name in many ways is symbolic of the person we were born to be - Or better put - To become if we cooperate with God’s Sacramental Grace here on earth…Each of us have God given talents and if we nurture those talents and give them over to God in service of the Kingdom - We will be transformed and in the process, we will transform others….This my friends is the meaning of life…Not to “get rich”…Not to achieve “this or that”…Its simply to become who we were born to be from the very beginning of time…To “live up” to that “new name” that God will give us when we stand before him………..As a young man, especially while I was in college, I lived a party lifestyle….All my friends were wild guys who were the “life of the party”…When I came home from college, I made a personal decision to live as a Catholic because before that decision, I clearly was not living as I should…Fast forward three decades….I am now a completely different person….I go to Mass just about every day….I go to confession every other week….I pray the Rosary daily with my wife and children…I have five children, all under the age of twelve years old….If you told me this is the person I would become, say at the age of twenty while in college - I would have laughed in your face - And so would my friends at the time…..Recently one of my college roommates passed away and I attended a memorial service for him…At the service I saw many of my old friends…Many of them I had not seen in awhile, but they had heard about my Catholic transformation…To say it was strange to see these people after all those years is an understatement….These were people I knew at one time in my life very well but now they looked at me as a complete stranger - And I looked at them the same…..Interestingly enough, if I were honest, I am still not where I need to be - I am far from being a saint!….Our conversion to God takes place everyday - God is STILL working on me….And I must cooperate…How?…I will say it again…..Daily Prayer - Weekly Fasting - Monthly Sacramental Confession - Frequent reception of the Blessed Sacrament in the state of grace…..The Basics!……And God will take care of the rest……“Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victor I shall give some of the hidden manna; I shall also give a white amulet upon which is inscribed a new name, which no one knows except the one who receives it”…….All this and more…..Comes from a “small seed”…..JMJ

“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; You have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom”

Oil and Water do not mix - Neither does God and the material world

Today at Holy Mass in the first reading in St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians - He tells them how a Catholic is to live….”Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God”…..Now - Think about those comments made by St Paul and ask yourself…How would they translate in the world of business today?….In the world of power?…..If we were honest - Not too well…So what does that tell us? - That this is not our “world” - “This world” and those who “thrive” in it play by a “different set of rules”…And because of that, they “thrive” in the here and now…And here is the part no one wants to hear - AND YOU MOST PROBABLY WILL NOT!!!!…..Its human nature to want to have “the best of both worlds” - To be a faithful Catholic and thrive in the here and now materially and have God as well…The reality of the matter is - If we follow Christ and do what St Paul tells us today - We most likely will not thrive in the here and now - Sorry to be the bearer of bad news….”The world” does not honor the things that St Paul talks about in this reading…Kindness - Compassion - Forgiving others….So that means we must make a choice…Are you willing to “walk the narrow road" that leads to heaven?…Think long and hard before you answer - Because if you do…Know this - That “narrow road” is full of “stones” and “thorns”….Are you still willing to walk it? - Is it worth it?….To answer those questions in one word - YES!….."So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God."

“Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth”

There is an old saying in America - “Nice guys finished last”….And if I were to be honest - There is “some” truth to that statement…..If you see the world purely from a secular and materialistic lens - As many do - That statement is very accurate…..This world does not reward virtue…Try being “virtuous” around the boardroom table of a Hedge Fund on Wall Street - See how far that gets you!…..But here is the part of that statement, which is not captured….When we live differently from the world - As we all know - Catholics are to be “in the world but not of the world”…We have a deep peace and joy - The likelihood of having a solid and strong family and living “according to the rules of the world” is slim to none…How can I make that statement? - Look at how many divorces “power brokers” go through - How their children want nothing to do with them - Now of course there are exceptions to that rule - But if we are honest - What I just stated happens a lot!…..Now, say we do as St Paul tells the Ephesians today at Mass…..”Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma”…You may not become rich…or….Marry a movie star…But you will have peace - You will find a good woman, who loves you for who your are - You will have stability in your home and family - Your children will love you - You will have deep and lasting joy that can overcome any hardship the world throws at you - Not a bad “trade off”!…So I guess we have to make a choice right?….When you think about it - Life is all about choices….And if you do not agree with what I just wrote….Let’s look to the words of Jesus Christ, who also addresses this matter…..…”The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’t If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me”……So we MUST make a choice - Choose well - There is no “sitting on the fence" either because no choice is a choice……Oil and Water do not mix - Neither does God and the material world……….JMJ

“Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. So do not be associated with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light”

WRONG - Not going to happen - Without Sacramental grace

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Matthew…Jesus “boils down” what it means to be a Catholic in two sentences……"You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments”….Simple right?!?…..Wrong!…..How many idols we create while giving “lip serve” to this commandment?…..How many times we treat our neighbors harshly, in word and deed, in one given day!?!…..So how do we do this?….The answer - YOU CANNOT - Unless you live a Sacrament life…This is what the Protestants get WRONG…..So many claim to be Christians in the world…But “believing” in Jesus is NOT the criteria…Its all about how we live - Its about DOING….And we CANNOT live out the first two Commandments without Sacramental grace…..This is what is missing for so many….Going to confession regularly, once a month as the saints recommend, and receiving the Eucharist as often as possible in the state of grace…So easy RIGHT?!?…If it is easy, why are we not doing it?……..When we can SEE Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament - We then will see him in our neighbor - Then we in turn will treat our neighbor as we should…Until that happens - NOT GOING TO HAPPEN - Not in our families - Not in our neighborhoods - Not in our politics - Not in our nation!...You disagree? - Before you do - Think long and hard…Still disagree? - Then I say to you - You do not understand human nature, particularly your own…….In the second reading today at Mass - St Paul reminds us of this reality…..”You know what sort of people we were among you for your sake.  And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the word in great affliction, with joy from the Holy Spirit, so that you became a model for all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia”…People believe what they SEE…You can have all the answers - Know the Catholic faith, reciting “chapter and verse” all day long - You can quote passages from the Bible all day!…But if people do not SEE goodness in you - Dare I say - SEE Christ in YOU….They will NOT become “imitators” of us, as St Paul tell us today….That witness requires Sacramental Grace - This is what the Protestants get wrong - And so do many Catholics…We are only human - A fallen race of people - And because of that Jesus established a Church and in that Church - He gave us the “medicine” for the fallen world….And “that medicine” is the Sacraments…Without “that medicine - We die!

“Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord, and my Father will love him and we will come to him”

Recently I was on a line after Mass in New York City to go to Confession - The line was rather long too - Praise God!….As I was waiting, the janitor, who worked for the Church we were in addressed us all on the Confession line…..”Why are you confessing your sins?” - This man was well intentioned but clearly was a fall away Catholic now “caught up” in some Protestant ideology…I can say that because I have encountered this before - I know their rhetoric very well….So I said to this man, as everyone on the line watched and listened - “How are you going to do what Jesus tells us in the Bible without Sacramental grace?”…..I went on - “St James tells us in Scripture - “Faith without works is dead”….You are going to love your enemies - without Sacramental grace?….You are going to forgive others - without Sacramental grace?…You are going to do all the “hard things” Jesus asks of us without grace?”….The man did not say a word - And looked rather stunned!….The reality of the matter is - When we confess our sins regularly, not only are they forgiven, but God gives us grace to overcome our sins….That is how we grow in virtue and become a holy people…And when we confess our sins regularly…We live in a state of grace…And when we live in this manner - When we receive the Blessed Sacrament at Mass - There are no obstacles (i.e. mortal sins) that prevent the efficacy of the Sacrament to penetrate our souls….When we live in the state of grace - Our human will is strengthen to resist sins, we would usually fall prey too…When we live in the state of grace - Our eyes are OPEN to the many “traps” set by the devil in everyday life and because we can SEE those traps, we do not fall into them…..That is what I told this janitor in the back of the Church who felt the need to “lecture” us about going to confession - In a Catholic Church no less!…And he did not say one word as I told him all that….Not one word!……Jesus tells us in Scripture…”Without me - You can do nothing”…Today we are given the two most important commandments - The mistake of far too many - Saying and thinking they can live according to the teachings of Christ - On their own, without the aide of the Sacraments…..As I told that janitor in the back of the Church - I will tell the readers of this reflection - WRONG - Not going to happen - Without Sacramental grace……JMJ

"You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

God draws straight lines from the crooked lines of life

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Luke, Jesus breaks it all down into one word…..REPENT….Have we forgotten this?…..or…Do we think salvation is just “a given”? - If I were honest, I think both situations have poisoned the American Christian mind - And the mind of the world…Jesus today tells us otherwise….That we must repent…And how do we tell if someone has repented?…..Their life bears fruit…and…What happens if their life does not bear fruit?…..They will die in their sins and guess what that means?….They will not enter into heaven…Some may read this reflection today and say…”You are so negative”…But read the words of the Gospel on the page!!!!!….Its not me saying these things - Its Jesus!!!!…Do we hear him? - Do his very words (not my words) even register in your mind and heart?….Ask yourself then if they do not - Why is that the case?

“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed  when the tower at Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty  than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree  but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also,  and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;  it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”

There really is one goal to human life - To get to heaven - But this is not our goal…We “say” it is…But under all our words - Our goal is to be comfortable here on earth…We seek comfort in “political solutions” - In material wealth - In good food - “Nice” things - You get the picture…All the while we give lip service to God….We take for granted that getting into heaven is a “given”….That all we have to do is “tick the Catholic boxes” and we “get in”….Jesus is very clear today….Our lives must “bear fruit” and he uses the analogy of a fig tree to tell us, that the “fruit” of our life is the evidence that we have indeed repented of our sins….The two ideas go together organically - Those who repent - Live for God - And their life bears fruit for the Kingdom…And those who do not - Live selfishly - And “bear fruit” for themself…..Something else is addressed in this Gospel today…The idea how God “cultivates” the soil around the fig tree that does not bear fruit…..To a larger degree - That message applies to all of us! - We are NOT who we were born to be - YET - So God has to “cultivate” the soil around us…How does he do that?….Through suffering! - And we reject it…And in turn - We turn from God and look to “false Gods” - Politics - Material goods - Ideologies…You get the picture…We have to learn - I HAVE TO LEARN…To say “OK God” - To everything!!!! - Even suffering!…To know that we are not perfectly in union with the Lord - YET - And that God, in his love is “cultivating the soil” around us - And in ME….And that process requires suffering!….We need to STOP looking to “false gods” that “preach” the idea that heaven can be achieved here on earth - NOT GOING TO HAPPEN - We are in “the valley” and it will always be the valley until Jesus returns in His Glory!!!….We have NOT arrived where we need to be - YET - And God is at work!!! - Even as the world suffers….Purifying us - Transforming us…So that we “bear fruit”

“I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion that he may live”

Do we realize that before we stand before God - The Beatific Vision - We must be made pure - Do we ever meditate on that reality? - Because it is reality…This is a perennial teaching of the Catholic Church…Not my “idea” by the way……So how does that happen?….The answer - “LIFE” happens - And God’s grace enters into LIFE…..That is how it happens!…..God uses everything that happens to us, even our sins to help us - As long as we cooperate with him….There is the “rub” - Mankind DOES NOT cooperate - He comes up with excuses - “IDEAS” - ideologies” - None of which can save him….Years ago, Mother Teresa’s sisters asked me to prepare a man they were caring for who was dying of AIDS to become Catholic…The man’s name (ironically enough) was Angel…..Angel lived a horrible life…Abandoned by his parents and raised by his grandmother…..Angel as a young man went to jail, was addicted to drugs and alcohol, and was violent……Angel also fathered many children, who he too abandoned…..Now Angel had AIDS and stated he wanted to be Catholic and get Baptized….So I was asked to teach Angel about the faith….So I did my best….I would meet with him during the week after work in the Missionaries of Charity Convent in lower Manhattan….And as I spoke to Angel, telling him about the teachings of the Church…I could tell - What I was saying was “going in one ear and out the other”….And while Angel lived in the AIDS Hospice the sisters ran - He would periodically get in trouble and the sisters would throw him out…He would always return, ask for forgiveness and the “cycle” would start over again….."Rinse - Wash - Repeat"......Fast forward - Finally Angel was baptized…And shortly there after, he left the AIDS Hospice to go and live in the Bronx on his own (upon his request)….Fast forward a few months…We heard that he was found dead in an apartment in the Bronx……Is Angel with God? - Who knows…..But what I can say is this - God allowed Angel to suffer - And his suffering “brought him to a place” in his life where he was open to get Baptized…And shortly thereafter - He died…God’s ways are not our ways...and….God draws straight lines from the crooked lines of life……JMJ

“And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood to the extent of the full stature of Christ, so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming”