Mt 23:23-26 From the Outside In

Mt 23:23-26  From the Outside In

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Jesus said:  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.  You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.” 

A few days ago, I wrote that “Atheists believe the world goes round and round; that is, it is what it is.  Christians as well believe the world goes round and round, but upside down; that is, it isn’t what it is.” 

Upside down and outside in.  Let us pray for all our moms and dads who continue to kill themselves for the insignificant and deny themselves of the significant.  Let our thoughts go out to all our dads who continue to bust their behind for a fancier car, a bigger boat, a larger paycheck and a better yard but do not lift a finger for their spouse and family.  Let us pray for all our moms who continue to kill themselves for greater glory, greater praise and greater independence but have neglected to care for their spouse and family. 

This is life lived upside down.  This is an exercise in Futility. 

Let us pray for our boys who continue to build their bodies, but not their souls.  For our girls who wish to perfect their bodies, but not their souls.  This is life lived outside in. 

The Sensationalist.  Those who deceive (who love to be bad) love to play God.  They love to turn the truth upside down, as if we were standing on our heads, until it hurts our heads.  In our upside down world we want to be able to tell God what He should do; to tell Him what marriage is, what family is, what love is, what life is all about.  We even want to tell Him what sex is! 

What does it take to be remembered forever?  What does it take to get noticed; to get your name in print?  Be a sensationalist.  Mix some good with a lot more bad.  For example:  If you want to be a big time singer, then it’s important to have a good voice.  But it’s even more important to lose your faith.  If you want to be a political activist, then you should know a little bit of history and take a lot of lessons in singing.  But it’s even more important that you know what to name your band.  It should be something more shocking and perverted than the bands before you. 

Want some to notice you?  Don’t step in Church, step on the Church! 

By the way...If you are starting up your own Church and need a large congregation, then you should know a little bit about the bible and a lot about lighting and music.  Make sure you know that Jesus said he would return, and make sure your people think it's NOW, and you will have a very large congregation! 

Now “flashists” and sensationalists have no place in Christianity.  St Paul asks the community of believers in Thessalonica not to be shaken out of their minds by a “spirit”, or by an oral statement, or by a letter allegedly from one of them to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.  “Let no one deceive you in any way” (cf. 2Thes 2:3a). 

The sensationalist is full of it; that is, full of sin.  He tends to crave more of that which is sensationally sinful than that which is sensationally true.  He tends to be drawn towards sensationalism, like temptation and to crave it like a drug. 

In reality, what is truly sensational is what we call “common”.  An apple falling from a tree is just as sensational as a rover landing on Mars.  Both were designed.  Both serve multiple purposes.  Both carry out functions that are truly remarkable.  But the apple falling from the tree far out functions, out performs and far exceeds (or far out-seeds) all rovers combined. 

Predicting the end times and preaching about it have always been a great source of revenue for many denominations.  We love what is sensational.  And we are always scanning the horizon for the next sensation to happen.  We live for it, and when we are through with it, we look again to satiate our appetite; looking for the next sensation, which is typically more daring, thrilling, appealing and appalling. 

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.  (cf. 2Thes 2:17)

Christian prayer is not sensational; it is very straightforward. 

Mt 19:13-15 Why the Kids?

Mt 19:13-15 Why the Kids?

Jesus said to his disciples:  “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 

God calls the children closer to Him because children have a stronger sense of wonder than most adults do.   Here are four wonders of the Lord that continue to shock me to this day. 

God is love.  Conservative Christians often complain that God is love.  They think it is too lenient.  Too many of them prefer the God of judgment and condemnation.  Liberal Christians rely way too much on the God of unconditional love.  They consider His love to be what they love and therefore abuse His love. Regardless of all this, we cannot blame St. John who wrote “God is love” (1Jn 4:8).  After all, he was inspired by the God of love, Jesus Christ. 

We think that all religions define God as love.  They do not.  It is quite unique.  It is not commonsense.  Our relationship with God could be something very much different.  God loves man means God gives man equal footing.  This is extraordinary.  It is something that we would never have known if it were not for the Son of God. 

God is Father.  Again, this is shocking.  After all, God could easily be the Master and we his pets.  Or God could easily be the Scientist and we his experiment.  Instead, God is our Creator who would love to be known as our Father.

Teenagers often complain to me about the amount of quality time they have with their mom and dad.  They would prefer a smaller home and fewer clothes if it meant spending more time with their father and mother.  How shocking!  How amazing!  In other words, our kids today are just like the kids from yesterday.  They don’t just want to live and breathe and have more things.  They want a sense of belonging; they want family.  They want their parents who attend their recitals, games, award ceremonies, etc…  They want to be able to snuggle up to their mom or dad in the evening and have someone to talk to during the day.  They want guidance.  They want discipline.  They may not ask for it, but are scared if they don’t have it.

Some scientists conclude that if there is a God, then he doesn’t do much of anything.  After all, the world spins by itself, the seasons come and go like clockwork, and the cycle of life continues to roll.  If God exists, then what does He do?

Like so many of us, scientists search for God in all the wrong places and in all the wrong ways.  With a very limited understanding of science, the Jews had no problem understanding that God was more a Creator than He was an Administrator.  Then the Lord came and shocked His disciples when He called God His Father and our Father!  In an era of scientific ignorance, the Jews and Christians never looked for God as a Manager; rather, they understood God as personable being.    

Kids may brag about their dad for being the better dad, the strongest dad and the smartest dad.  But they are most proud of their dad when he is the most loving dad; when he gets up close and personal with them.  God does not want to be known for his power, his knowledge, or his ‘presence’.  He wants to be known for his love; for being up close and personal.  He wants to be known for being a Father.

God became man.  The Incarnation is a Christian doctrine we take way too much for granted.  We celebrate Christmas as if it were to be expected.  It should not be. God becoming man is shocking, if not scandalous.  What can we compare it to?  Nothing.  It is a mystery.  Why on earth would God ever want to live on earth?  Especially after we messed things up so bad, and not just once or twice but all the time!  The answer is love.  Love does crazy things to a person, even to God… who is love.  Love makes people go bonkers.  The love that God has for us is the only imaginable explanation for the Incarnation.

But not only did God become a man, he became a poor child.  The Almighty-One became the little one.  The Unlimited One became the limited one.  The heavenly king became an earthly thing. 

In God becoming man, the Lord taught us that no matter what position you hold in life, no matter what titles you have on earth, you are nothing if you do not give and forgive.  God becoming man reminds us of how important one’s heart, one’s mind, one’s soul is in the grand scheme of things.

Eating God.  Take this all of you and eat it.  This is my body which will be given up for you.  Is this not shocking?  Do you understand what this means?  That Christ’s words were not enough to love us; He needed to die for us.  That His death was not enough to save us; He needed to transform us.  And to do so required that He give us His body, blood, soul and divinity.  “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you” (cf. Jn 6:53).    Is this not shocking?

When we receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist, we do not receive Him in order to change Him; we receive Him to let God change us!  The Lord wants us to become more like Him; that is, to be created in the image and likeness of God.

If this is not shocking, then I don’t know what is! 

Mk 4:26-34 Plant Seeds, Pull Weeds

Mk 4:26-34  Plant Seeds, Pull Weeds

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Jesus said to the crowds, “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and through it all the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how…The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.  But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants.”

The seed is Christ’s word. We know it does not fail. But like those that surround us, even Christ’s word is surrounded by the words of others.  His Word has competition. Who will I trust? Who will I listen to? Whose word will I follow? If I give the Lord (his Word) a chance to grow in my heart, then He will keep me as straight as an arrow and as confident as He. I will fear no evil for He is my rock and fortress.


I got the phone call very late at night.  She was having another panic attack.  She’s been getting those more and more lately and I know why.  It all has to do with her father. 

He’s been an absent figure for almost all her life. Yes, he lives with them (wife and two kids), but rarely ever speaks to any of them.  It's been the longest time now since he ate a meal with his daughter.  Actually, since he ate with the family.  He prefers watching sports in his “man-cave” while the family gathers together.  After years and years of neglect, she's having a hard time seeing and believing that she is a treasure.  She’s very intelligent, beautiful, sophisticated, faithful and moral.  I often have to repeat it to her.  It will take some time for her to believe what I say.  It will be something that she struggles with for a while.  Things would be so much better if only she could experience the love that only her father could give to her.

Immediately I asked her what she was worried about.   She listed them one by one.  I told her that all her worries had to do with her father.  She insisted I was wrong.  She kept tellimg me that her worries were real.  But I know better, especially when you are a father to hundreds of children.  I asked her to go down the list again.  She didn’t hesitate at all in telling me. 

“I’m afraid I will never be able to take care of my mother or sister.”  I told her, “That’s because your father never took care of your mother or sister.”

She continued.  “I’m afraid that I’ll never get a job.”  I said, “That’s because your father gave up on getting a real job.” 

“I’m afraid that no one will ever love me.”  I told her, “That’s because your father never knew how to love, period.”   

“I’m afraid that I won’t ever be happy.”  …”That’s because your dad was never happy.”


I'm never usually this hard on anyone.  But I know this family.  I know everyone involved.  I know the good and bad that a father can do.


A few years back, Hallmark organized a wonderful campaign for prison inmates.  They sent free Mother's Day cards to every prison.  Do you know what happened?  They ran out.  This campaign was so successful; they decided to do it for Father's Day as well.  Do you know what happened?  They were a ton of cards left over.  After this morning's Mass, a postal employee told me, "You're right, Father.  Every year I work over time when Mother's Day comes around.  But for Father's Day, no overtime is needed." 

The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed .  A Christian is another Christ.  But it doesn’t happen overnight.  A seed thrown in rich soil is like a seed of faith placed in my soul.   The smallest seed can become the largest plant just like the humblest soul can become the greatest man.  All that the seed of faith requires is a wholesome place to grow.  Faith requires the Father's love.  His love, like his name, is shared by all fathers.  A Father's love will turn his seed into a strong, vibrant, enthusiastic, holy and confident young person.      

God has given all men an opportunity to take the name of Father.  When a father is strong, then his children will be strong.  If he knows how to love, then his children will know how to love.  Let me ask you a couple of questions.  How does a son learn how to speak to a woman; how to treat a woman; how to love a woman?  How does a daughter know how a man should speak to her, treat her and love her?  The answer is clear:  from a father.  No movie, no books, no computer websites, no manuals will ever be able to replace the love that only a father can give.  Men:  Do not abdicate your role!  Do not run away from your vocation!  Be faithful to the name the Lord has taken for himself.  Be a Father!  We will be judged accordingly.

I love today’s first reading from the prophet Ezekiel.  It is so manly.  It is so fatherly.  “Bring low the high tree, lift high the low tree, wither up the green tree, and make the withered tree bloom.  As I, the Lord has spoken, so will I do.”    In other words, dads:  it’s okay to beat your son silly in tennis, ping-pong, golf, basketball or baseball while you still can (bring low the high).  Teach them to be humble.  But also encourage your children.  Let them know they can do great things (lift high the low tree).  Plants require time, patience, pruning, trimming, nourishing, raking, tilling, pulling in order for them to grow, and to grow well.  The same goes for your children.  Your children need you to plant seeds in their hearts and help pull weeds that surround them! 


As a father (a priest), it feels great when a teenager comes up to you and asks to speak to you.  Wow!  What an honor it is to be trusted.  What an honor it is for someone to consider your opinion worth listening to.  Dads:  Do not discourage your children from speaking to you.  Do not abdicate your role and send them off to their mother!

There’s nothing like the love of a Father because there’s nothing like the love of Our Father.  Do not fail.  St. Paul made it clear:  “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil” (2Cor 5:6-10).

Happy Father’s Day.