Luke 21:5-11 Between Terror and Trust

Luke 21:5-11 Between Terror and Trust

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Jesus said to some people, “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end…Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom… There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”

Why is it that the most beautiful (and most important) moments of our life must be accompanied by terror? Think about when you got married. Wasn’t that day the most beautiful and most terrifying? Or think back to the moment when you gave birth to your first child and how your heart was filled with terror and joy, and all at the same time! Why is it? What is it about life that makes it not only so remarkable, but also so terrifying?

Why is it that we must experience terror while taking the first steps in our life?

I believe there is a sublime law that governs each and every single living creature on earth. It is a law that goes way beyond the instinct to survive. It is the Law of Trust.

In order to survive, we must trust. In order to thrive and to grow we must trust. Without this “trust”, we could never move – forward or back. Without “Trust”, we could never make a point, a dent, a plan or a decision.

Just like our flesh and bones live between earth and sky, our hearts and minds live between terror and trust. But as the body favors the earth more than the sky, so too our hearts and minds must favor trust over terror!

The Lord invites us today to trust in Him, to “not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying ‘I am he’, and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them!”

How often do you hear a priest or nun or religious man or woman talk on a talk show regarding life and death, love and marriage, family and friends, right from wrong? Never! So, are we to assume that they know nothing about these issues? Are we to assume that for two thousand years, we have known nothing about anything human, personal and relational? Or maybe the reason why they never appear is because they are never invited! After all, how else will we keep our society secular?

Do we need to hear from priests? I think so! I simply have to laugh when I hear that we are better than ever in tune with ourselves today and that our godless freedoms have opened our hearts to “newer” and “better things”. Take a look for yourself. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out that our global economy and savings are falling, divorce rates are climbing and suicides keep rising! You have to wonder if we have not placed our trust in the wrong experts and have been blindsided by our enlightened minds!

There is, within our soul, a deep and calming sense of not only mystery but of familiarity. We are not haunted by daily thoughts of being a speck or a dot in the Universe. Instead, we can admire our neighbors and look forward to enjoying a quiet walk around the neighborhood. I do not have to feel terror that the day will never end. It’s actually nice to know that the sun will set, the rain will come and sleep will occur.

“Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever! You heavens, bless the Lord. All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord! All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord!” (Dn 3)

What must I do then? Trust in the Lord! Trust in His Ways! Trust Him in life and in death. Trust Him in sickness and in health. Trust Him for better or for worse. Trust Him now and forever. Trust Him until death, and he “will give you the crown of life.” Alleluia! Alleluia!

Christ is with us. He is physically and spiritually present among us in the Eucharist. The Father decided long ago, that between heaven and earth (between trust and terror) He would bring His Peace down to earth! We have nothing to fear for Christ’s peace is forever here!

Lk 19:45-48 Little Gifts Of Love

Lk 19:45-48 Little Gifts Of Love

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When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

Some of us live life on high while others live it at half mast. There are some who reach out while others just stretch. Again, there are some who cave in while others carve out; some who dig deep while others dig their own graves.

In today’s Gospel passage we see the theological axiom that it is not works that make us holy, but love. Yes, love and only love is the reason why this woman’s offering does not go unnoticed.

Is the Law of Love the Law of my Life? Have I come to the conclusion that the purpose of life is to give rather than to preserve? That life is best served when it is surrendered? Or that life is not to be restrained but rather delivered? “Lord, make me a generous man!”

Our relationship with Christ should grow every single day. The Lord’s resurrection occurs every morning in my life. I rise to a new day; I should not take it for granted. The day offers me an opportunity to do something great and small, heroic and tiny, temporal and eternal. Yes, I can do something tiny that is great! I can place two small coins and it will not go unnoticed. I can make a difference in the Universe when I make a difference in one person’s life! Mother Theresa wrote, “I do not agree with the big way of doing things. Love needs to start with an individual.” (Simple Path)

What is truly shocking about Love is that it goes beyond our everyday reality. Love promises infinity, eternity – this is a reality that is far greater than our everyday existence.

This morning I passed by many of our school children. I went unnoticed. I didn’t even think about it. Just another Monday morning…just another morning…just another morning routine….But then someone called out to me from the drop-off line. A mom, still in her car, called out to me and gave me a little care package. It was food. It was just what I needed. I hadn’t had breakfast yet. And then a little girl heard my footsteps. She was already down the hallway when she turned around, saw me, ran back to me and gave me a hug. I told her, “Good morning my little gift from God.”

Love, in fact, means leaving yourself behind; giving yourself; not wanting to hold on to yourself, but becoming free from yourself. Love means not getting preoccupied with oneself, asking over and over again, “What will become of me?” It means looking ahead, toward another, toward God and to the people who He sends. It is this principle of love that defines man’s journey… (Pope Benedict XVI)

Give a little love, as the Father did when He gave us His child.

Mt 25:31-46 Christ Our King!

Mt 25:31-46 Christ Our King!

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Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him.”

Today we celebrate the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe! The Church, in her infinite wisdom, decided that once a year, we, the people of this world, needed a little reminder of who truly governs (rules) our world. And the reminder always seems to come at the right moment!

In the last century, with the rise in modern thought and modern technology came the tidal wave of human pride, modern chaos and total confusion! Mother Church wants us to remember that there exists a Universal Law - unchangeable fact - that will never go away regardless of what planet you come from or what era you live in. It is the fact that Christ is not only the King of the Jews but also the King of the Universe!

Yes, Christ Jesus is more powerful than we are. This is such a hard saying, especially for those who hide their individual pride in the human race! Yes, I know…we have the technology and the intelligence to destroy our planet. But we do not have the technology to raise it from nothingness! The Lord is still King of the Greens! Yes, I know…we can make an artificial heart. But it will never be as dear to us as the original! It will always remain an imitation until we are as intelligent as the original’s Creator. Yes, I know…we can create a virtual world and find a good time by going on-line. But it will never replace the real thing. Yes, I know…we are so connected today like never before! But it will never compare to how the sea connects to the earth and the earth connects to the sky; or how plants connect to the planet and how people connect to pets. Nothing compares to the King of Innovation, the King of the World, the King of Life and the King of Harmony! I know…we can extend our lives, make them longer, more fruitful and more productive. But nothing compares to eternity, nothing compares to everlasting life. Nothing!!! Again, the Lord is King of Life and Death.

Yes, I know…we can be so giving and forgiving. We can build monuments to those who have done our nation good, have knocked down walls and overcome obstacles. But we will never ever come close to the Lord of love, forgiveness and mercy. We will never be able to forgive as He forgives in the confessional; give as He gives in the Eucharistic feast, or love as He loves by laying it all down. We can come close, I guess, but He will always be the King of Love!

It is not fair you say. It is not fair that he has so much power, so much might, so much authority. But I say to you, what is the Lord’s greatest power? What makes him so mighty? What is the secret to his power? Yes, it is true. He can flick us off like a fly and crush us like an ant. Yes, it is true. His presence is crushing. But what is the secret to his power? It is His humility! It is crushing! He crushes His opponents – His enemies – with mercy and love.

I know it is true. Here is an example. Yesterday, I was late for a Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe. I was driving a little too fast and by accident I cut someone off. Immediately, he turned on his high-beams. The driver drove like that, behind me, for at least two minutes. When I had had enough, I changed lanes and slowed down. This upset driver drove right by me. Immediately, I returned to my former lane and drove behind him. Twenty years ago I would have turned my high-beams on him. I did nothing. I am sure I surprised him. I was so proud of myself!!! Then the driver took the same exit I took. We both ended up waiting at a red light, side by side. Last year out of pride I would have shown him my collar and sounded out at him the words, “I forgive you!” This time, I did nothing. I never even looked at him. I know I made a difference. So can you. You can show the world you are a better man and it will make all of us better men!

Could the King not have made this world a better world, a perfect world, where there would be no hunger, no thirst, no war, no poverty, and no illness? I sometimes wonder why it is the way it is. I sometimes wonder why our planet, made in such a way that it attracts life, protects life and nourishes life would also be so harsh to life! I know the answer. The King, out of humility, wished for us to finish it for Him. Out of humility he wants us to do our part. Why? Because we can! We are in His image and likeness.

“Whatever you did for the least brothers of mine, you did for me…I was hunger you gave me food, I was thirty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.”

Today is the day to realize that the Lord is not only the King of the Universe but that He is also the King of my life!

Lk 20:27-40 Like Angels

Lk 20:27-40 Like Angels

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Jesus said, “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

We can be like angels, but not in this world. In this world we can only be saints, and saints do not live like angels, they live like soldiers. They live heroically. They fight through life, one battle at a time, and sometimes multiple battles on multiple fronts. They never give in to despair and they never give up. They know what to do when they just can’t do it: they fall to the ground and look up. They know how to keep things in perspective.

The Old Testament is a well documented record of a people's history.  It is written through the eyes of believers. Hence, whatever happened happened for a reason. There is no chance, no luck, no bad luck. All is for good. All is from God. All is for a reason.

And so it was for Antiochus (cf. Macc 6:1-13). He died in bitter grief. He saw his entire life efforts, his evil empire, crumbling at the hands of the Jews who had had enough of his abominations. He had captured and pillaged their cities, stolen their gold and silver, taken their wives, killed their elders and butchered their sons. He had set up “the Abomination” upon the altar in Jerusalem. The end was arriving for poor Antiochus and his armies. He would live just long enough to see it all collapse.

What is remarkable about the Jewish people is that they see not only the abominations that were carried out upon them, but their own abominations. When evil falls upon them, it is because they caved in to pressure. When grace falls upon them, it is because they stood steadfast with God. How true. How simple. How obvious.

There are so many abominations that go on in our families, in our Church and in our nation. Of course! Are we surprised? If society collapses it is because the Church has collapsed. And if the Church collapses, then it is because families have collapsed!

Do we expect to find a savior among the non-believers? Do we expect to find an anointed one among the pagans? The Saints followed the Lord even if it meant traveling blind folded! The Saints rise up to harsh conditions. They lead their flock. Saints are those who have had enough! We need more saints. We need more leaders. We need more men and women of courage and determination.

Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel. “I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord (Psalm 9:16a).” I will rejoice!

I just finished speaking at an annual pro-life gathering here in Richardson. It was amazing to see so many men and women (and not too few children) willing to be saints. It has never been so easy to be a saint today. All you have to do is save a life and your life will be saved. All you have to do is convince someone not to kill their baby and you shall not be harmed! How easy! How amazingly easy it is.

A priest told me he received an e-mail from a mom whose child just completed his first reconciliation. The boy got in the car and told his mother, “Well, I guess Satan isn’t really happy with me today.” He’s right. Satan is not happy.

Let’s make sure to keep Satan unhappy in this world. 

Lk 19:45-48 Cleaning House

Lk 19:45-48 Cleaning House

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Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.’”

The Lord drove out money exchangers and those who were selling things. He was cleaning His Father’s house. He did not destroy His Father’s house nor did He decide to abandon His Father’s house. What he did was to put His Father’s house back in order; to bring it back from the dead; to raise it up again and make it shine once again.

Over and over again, throughout its two thousand year history, the Lord has swept house and disinfected His home, The Church. He will not allow His Home, His Church to remain stained with sin. Purification is always required before renewal can take place. When bishops and priests began to live like kings and princes, St. Francis of Assisi came in and restored the glamour and beauty of Christ-like simplicity and poverty. He evangelized not by words but by action and the faithful listened and believed. When the bishops and priests began to live and act like politicians and merchants, St. Ignatius of Loyola came in and restored the glamour and beauty of discipline, the kind common to soldiers. He created an army of men dedicated to Christ and in pursuit of heavenly gold – souls. These Jesuits rejected all forms of comfort and their numbers quickly swelled to thousands. Today, millions of people credit their success to this band or society of brothers!

The Catholic Church is the “sacrament” of Christ’s body and the tabernacle is the “sacrament” of His divinity and soul. The Lord, in scourging his temple, was teaching us a lesson: we all need to clean our house - our interior castle - the temple of the Holy Spirit. Can I not say that the Church is a “sacrament” of my body and the tabernacle is a “sacrament” of my soul? Of course it is. It is not the “Church” that sins, it is I who sin and because of my sin I defile the Church! It is not an institution that sins; it is a group of individuals who sin and because of their collective sin, I cause scandal within the Church!

While the Lord was driving out those who were selling, the chief priests, the scribes and the leaders of the people were seeking to put him to death! Because of this unfortunate truth, all Jews have been labeled as the Lord’s murderers! Of course it is not true. It is not true not only because many Jews came to see The Way, The Truth and The Life in Christ Jesus, but because we are all guilty, by our sins, of Christ’s death.

When I sin I defile the body of Christ, the Church, and the Church is stained with filth. Only through Christ’s blood, his suffering, his pain and his death, is the Church cleansed. Only by the lives of the Saints, does Christ shine throughout the world.

Is atheism the way to go when Christians defy God? Is emptiness the solution to a lack of holiness? Hardly! How depressing would that be!

Is Occupy a proper response to the Tea Party? Is a left-wing a proper response to a right-wing? Yes, but only if the body governs both, for the one wing exists for the other only to help the body get home. The body is more than a wing and should never be reduced to one.

Saints are the proper response to sinners. Guards are not. Guards may be needed, but Saints are the necessary requirement to spin the world back to Paradise and away from Alcatraz!

Do I need to do some cleaning? Do I listen to his voice? Do I give glory to God in my words and actions? Am I living not as men live but as men of God live?

Lk 19:41-44 Making Friends With God Part II

Lk 19:41-44 Making Friends With God Part II

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As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, 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. For the days are coming when your enemies will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

So many of our kids are spiritual; but in the wrong way. They live the virtues; but in isolation! For example, I am amazed at what young people will do to keep a friend, to keep a boyfriend (or girlfriend), to feel loved and to get noticed. I know…I should not be amazed. After all, I was once young too. But I find it so bizarre that teenagers would willingly carry a useless cross of vice rather than a cross of redemption; or willing shoulder the insults of their “friends” rather than the advice of loved ones. Yes, they are willing to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol rather than get a high from God and service! It surprises me how they allow themselves to be used as garbage rather than to be buried as treasure?

Oh, how sickening it is! How quickly we are willing to make alliances with our foes! Are we so afraid of being left alone? Have we become so impatient with virtue?

How quick some are in abandoning their faith, their Church and our wholesome traditions! And all in the name of this self-professed ideal called progress! Let me be honest with you when I tell you that if I didn’t hear this so-called progress propaganda every single day, and that we, as a society, are making progress (or are progressive) then I wouldn’t believe it! Is it not funny that on a daily basis we must be told that we are making progress? What bull! Progress should not require promotional material and propaganda. Progress should be obvious - self-evident!

What hinders progress is when we stray from the Truth. Friends can either make or break us! They can either succeed in selling us fool’s gold or they can force the best out of us.

Mattathias was no fool. He did not buy into the fool’s gold; into the king’s seductive ways. He did not fall head over heels into the arms of the crowd. He was not charmed by gold or silver. He did not hold hands with lies! He was a man of God, a man of convictions, a man of virtue. For this reason he won his peoples praise. He recognized the times that he was living. He recognized the time of the Lord’s visitation!

Just yesterday a dad came to speak to me about his son’s text messages. This father of four secretly receives copies of all outgoing text messages from his son. How ingenious! How marvelous! A dad that cares! A dad that has not abdicated his role to the sweeping winds of modernity and stupidity!

Well, after a few months of this, he told me that he was disappointed that his teenage boy sends his girlfriend text messages that are full of filth and vulgarity. But what really shocked him was how his girlfriend accepted all this abuse! I asked the dad if his son wrote like this to all the girls. The father told me, “No. Not at all! He would never write these text messages to this Emily or Samantha or to Amy. Those girls wouldn’t take that!”

I knew it! This boy’s girlfriend writes filth to her because she accepts it. To the other girls he writes like a decent young man! The moral of the story is this my dear young ladies: If you want a young man to respect you, then you must respect yourself! Otherwise, you will be used and abused by every single guy you meet. This is something that all parents should be teaching their daughters and sons.

Oh, what the young will do for attention and affection! Oh, what they will endure to get noticed or to be liked! How fleeting. How excruciating. How painfully nauseating! We may have been made out of dirt, but we are not dirt!

Scripture teaches truths that are infallible and that go beyond time, place and people. Be familiar with it. Embrace it and uphold it. It is important that you can recognize the time of your visitation!

Lk 19:11-28 Making Friends With God

Lk 19:11-28 Making Friends With God

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Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.

In today’s first reading, from the second book of Maccabees, we witness the courage and bravery of a mother of seven sons executed for refusing to violate God’s law. This woman, endowed with a mother’s heart and manly courage, exhorted her children to be brave in the face of death. How many moms would have such courage today? How many moms would encourage their children not to give into temptation? How many moms today would prefer their children die (in a state of grace) rather than sin? And mind you, all of her tears and suffering were due to the fact that the pagan king demanded that her sons eat pork! How many of us would stand strong for a small portion of God’s law?

Across the world there are millions of moms shedding tears for their children. They cry due to their children’s addictions, decisions and misguided lifestyles; while others, for their children’s fidelity, honor and confrontation with evil! What a difference faith, hope and love can make in a child’s life! What a difference good friends can make! Parents should be reminding their children to pick their friends well or to pick friends that are better than them!

Antiochus, the king, appealed to the youngest son while he was still alive, not merely with words, but with promises on oath, to make him rich and happy if he would abandon his ancestral customs: he would make him “his Friend and entrust him with high office.” (Maccabees 7:20-31)

Am I willing to give up my friendship with God to make friends in "high" places? Do I have friends that make me a better man, a better woman? Do I have friends that lift up my heart?

Not too long ago, I spoke to a woman who loves to run in marathons. It is her passion! She participates in as many as she can and trains to win. She was very excited to tell me a personal story regarding her last marathon. I cannot remember if she ran in the Boston or New York City marathon, but there were plenty of people in the race. At the very start of the race, she was tripped by another runner and fell pretty hard to the ground. She had a hard time getting back up. Suddenly, from the front, a man turned around, ran back to her and helped her back up. Although marathons are long distance races, all serious competitors know that every second counts. She was surprised that a stranger would do that for her (because she would not have done it for him). Well, she thanked him and made a mental note of the competition number on his shirt. At the end of the race, she noticed that he had come in second place. She thought to herself, “If he had not helped me, this guy would have won the race.” She also thought, “He must have thought I was more important than winning.” In some mysterious way, this stranger helped this unknown woman come back to the faith; come back to Church.

This marathoner may have come in second place in the marathon, but he definitely came in first place in God’s race! He may not have known her, but he was definitely a friend to her. This woman learned that a friend is not necessarily someone who knows you; rather, it is someone who values you. And we all know that it is hard for someone to value you if they do not have values. Likewise, it is hard to be respected, if you do not respect yourself – if you do not demand respect!

Being a Christian is like a pearl of great value! The Lord invites us to be a gift to the world regardless of the consequences, pains and tortures - the Cross - we must carry.

Be that gift to the world! Multiply your talents! Where there are ten coins, transform them into ten cities. Where there are ten enemies, transform them into ten friends. Where there are ten friends, transform them into ten Christians!

The Lord said, “I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last.”

Be faithful to God’s Commandments. Be faithful to the Lord’s Laws so that one day you can hear these words, “Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in small matters; take charge!”