Mt 20:17-28 Giving God Some Credit

Mt 20:17-28 Giving God Some Credit

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Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her two sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus replied, “You do not know what you are asking….You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you.”

You don’t know what you have till it’s gone. How true. Some of the greatest lessons are learned the hard way. Yes, very true and very unfortunate. Some things you can never take back. Yep! I agree with that. First be kind to someone before asking for something. How convenient.

Prior to asking Jesus for a favor, the mother of James and John did him homage. How convenient. But if she only knew what she was asking for, she may never have asked for it.

Not too long ago, while I was unvesting after Mass, a woman in her late fifties asked me if she could speak to me. Although I could smell alcohol on her breath, I was more than delighted to do so. At first she was very kind to me, telling me wonderful things. And then she told me her sad story and how she had gradually lost everything. You see, she was a very popular girl in high school; the girl that all the boys went after (and got). She was fun to be with and was always invited to the parties. But gradually, she began to drink at the parties and eventually began to take drugs at the parties. She lost her low-income job. She lost all her boyfriends and now she had nowhere and no one to turn to. She asked me if I could help her. I asked her, “What do you need?” She said, “Four hundred dollars.” I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t a bit shocked at the request. “I can’t help you with four hundred dollars.” I replied. “Can you help me with one hundred?” I took out my wallet and showed her ten dollars. “This is all I have.” She looked at my ten dollar bill and was totally disgusted with me. “Phew! That’s all you have? Can you give me one hundred dollars?” At that, I came very close to her face and said, “I told you, I don’t have one hundred dollars to give to you.” She left and while she was leaving, I said to myself, “There goes the popular girl in high school.”

Whoever exalts themselves will be humbled; but whoever humbles themselves will be exalted (Mt 23:12). How true! How very true! The last shall be first and the first shall be last (Mt 20:16). Surprise! And how about this one, “If you wish to find yourself you must lose yourself first (cf. Mt 10:39). This one really drives logical people insane! I have said this before and I will say it again. I think logical people are very boring. Why? Because if they give someone a hug, it’s for a reason! If they give you a gift, then it must be your birthday or Christmas. Where is the surprise in that??? Christians do not give hugs for a reason; they give hugs for no reason! And maybe that’s the reason why the Lord could care less about people doing him homage and instead preferred authentic humility, fidelity and love.

Good boys and girls always seem to suffer a bit in high school. They are the last to be invited to parties. They may even be the last invited to the Prom. In fact, they may never even be asked on a date while in high school! But in reality, they couldn’t have it better. If they keep their head on straight and protect their heart for the best of the best, they will grow, blossom and bloom, while the quick bloomers fade and wither away.

Jeremiah suffered tremendously for being faithful to God. In today’s first reading, you can feel Jeremiah’s pain and see how he has been emotionally and physically drained by the people he serves. They are plotting against me, and it will mean absolutely nothing to them. They seek to destroy me and carefully note every single word I say or write!

Jeremiah begs the Lord to listen to what his opponents are saying. He cries out to the Lord, “Must good be repaid with evil?” The answer for now will be, “Yes.” Here’s another one of those sayings that are so true: Good is often repaid with evil.

But that will not be the end of Jeremiah’s story. The Lord will make sure of it. Although his life may be brief, his words will be recorded forever in Scripture. His words will never die; and neither will he.

Mt 23:1-12 Let’s Set Some Things Straight

Mt 23:1-12 Let’s Set Some Things Straight

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“Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach, but do not practice…Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

There is a local abortionist that drives a very nice car. On the back of it there is a bumper sticker that reads, “Did you hug your pet today?”

In the January 2012 issue of Columbia, a publication of the Knights of Columbus, there is a heartwarming article regarding Dr. Anthony Levantino’s conversion to the Pro-Life cause. The good doctor was not a very good doctor back in the 1980s. In just five years as an obstetrician-gynecologist, he performed well over 1,200 abortions. “Charges ranged from $600 to $700 for a second-trimester abortion,” he said. “In 15 minutes, I was making 50 percent of what I was making delivering a baby, which took 10 months, hours awake in the middle of the night and almost unlimited liability afterwards.”

His life radically changed when his 5-year-old daughter, Heather, ran into the street to protect her younger brother and was struck and killed by a car.

Levantino dealt with the death of his daughter the best he could, taking a few weeks off from work. But when he returned to work and saw the aborted remains of an unborn child, something finally came together. “All of a sudden, I didn’t see the patient’s wonderful right to choose,” he said, “All I saw was somebody’s son or daughter.”

“Hear the word of the Lord!” demands the prophet Isaiah to an overly confident Israel: “Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow. Come now, let us set things right…” (Is 1:16-20)

What would Isaiah say today; to an overly confident America? Maybe something like this:

“I am glad that you are so environmentally conscious and taking better care of God’s creation. I am so proud that you pick up your trash and throw it away in a recycling bin. I am so proud of how you weep when your pet dies and strive to give them a loving home. I am very much impressed how women have become more like men and men have become more like women. Wow! That’s awesome. I am even glad when the President of the United States publically apologizes on behalf of the entire nation for a few soldiers that burned a holy book and offended another people’s religion. That’s great. But come now, let us set some things straight…

Let’s not forget to hug and love all God’s human children, born or unborn. Cease to throw in the trash the crippled fetus or the Down syndrome child, or the girl that you had wished was a boy. Moms, while advancing your career, do not forget your children. Dads, while staying home do not forget to be a father, for you take your name from God the Father! Do not make a mockery of the Lord’s name!

I’m so impressed at how you quickly you can communicate from one end of the earth to the other. But let us not forget to talk to our mom and dad, wife or husband, sons and daughters! Let us not smother to death grandma or grandpa because the hospital bills are piling higher and higher each day. Let us not treat human life as if it were an expense but rather as a resource.

May the President of the United States apologize on behalf of his Administration for a few of his employees that shoved a mandate down Catholic throats, offending the religious beliefs of millions of citizens.”

Ah, one could only hope and pray for such humility!

Isaiah gently pleads God’s cause to his people. But at the very end of his discourse, he makes it very clear that there are consequences to every action:

“If you are willing, and obey, you shall eat the good things of the land; But if you refuse and resist, the sword shall consume you: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken!”

The word of the Lord.

Lk 6:36-38 Janitors and Cookies

Lk 6:36-38 Janitors and Cookies

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Jesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you.”

Back in 1997, I was a young, healthy, immature, obnoxious at times, and judgmental seminarian working in an all-boys academy in Wisconsin. As the Dean of Discipline, I learned a lot my first year, but not enough. It was my first “job” as a seminarian and working in a boarding school. It was my first time ever working with Mexican students. It was a tough assignment. I worked 24/7. But it was an amazing experience in which the Lord supplied ample opportunities for me to grow in faith, in wisdom and in love.

One of those “opportunities” arrived on the very last day of the school year. Enrique, a twelve year old, had successfully completed his first year at the Academy. In fact, he had won the highest award offered at the Academy, the Integer Award. This young man was truly an outstanding young man and a brilliant student. While he was waiting for his ride home, I sat with him and we talked. A few minutes into our conversation, Henry walked in. Henry was a man in his late fifties. He was a janitor and at that time had been working at the Academy for at least ten years. I was the new kid on the block and never really had a chance to introduce myself to him. He was a simple and humble man who never made his presence known. While I was talking to Enrique, Henry went about his business sweeping the floor and keeping a safe distance from us. At that, I seized the moment and began to lecture the young mind sitting next to me about success and failure. I told him, “You see that man? This man will work like a slave all his life. What a waste of a life. What a waste of time. He had the opportunity to study and he didn’t take advantage of it. He probably messed up in High School by getting drunk at too many parties and spending way too much time with his friends. He most likely never read a book in his life. God knows what he spends all his time doing now.” While I was speaking to Enrique, I could see that he got the message. This kid had a lot of respect for me. After all, I was the religious and moral figure at the school.

As we were getting up to leave, Henry looked up and came towards Enrique and me. He smiled and said, “Hello Father!” I smiled and said, “Oh Henry, I’m not a priest yet. I’m still a seminarian.” I thought to myself, “This guy doesn’t even know that I am not a priest yet.” Thinking about it later on, I realized that he didn’t know because I never took the time to speak to him. Henry continued, “Sorry Father, I didn’t know that. I was just hoping that maybe you could bless my family if you ever had a free moment. Have I ever shown you a picture of my kids?” I replied, “No. Never.” He began to fumble through his wallet, looking for a picture. In the meantime, I was rolling my eyes. I looked at my little protégé as if I was annoyed. Finally he found a picture. He handed it over to me and I was shocked at what I saw. Henry and his wife were white. His children were not. One little boy was African American, a little girl was Asian. And another child, Asian, was physically challenged. I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. I asked Henry, “Are these your children.” He said, “Yes, Father, aren’t they beautiful? My wife and I adopted all three of them. We are so blessed.”

At that moment, I felt a lump in my throat and I thought to myself: “What an idiot I am. Who are you to judge others? This man is a Saint! A simple, humble, Saint!

“I didn’t know?” was all I could say. He looked at me and smiled, “Well, maybe next year we can sit and talk once in a while. I would love to tell you my story.”

He walked away and continued sweeping the floor. He should have swept me up too!

That day, God had given me a great big kick in the behind that I would never forget. To this day, with a lot of embarrassment, I tell this story (his and mine) to all the students I meet. Henry will probably never know the impact he has had in my life and in the lives of all the kids that pray for him.

Today’s responsorial psalm is more like a plea: “Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.”

The problem with judging others is not so much what we say to them. The problem with judging others is that we never say anything to them! It’s not a sin to come up to someone and tell them what you honestly think. What is a sin is to never come up to them and continue to talk about them. It’s so easy to judge others because it’s so easy to keep a safe distance from them and continue to just think and imagine who and what they are.

Today, I handed a box of cookies to a young lady at school who I thought was not paying attention to my homily. She looked up and was shocked that I would give her cookies. I told her, “These are for you. Just make sure to share them with all your enemies!” Before she could think, she said, “Thank you, Father!” Sometimes it is better not to think at all when you are giving or receiving.

We are all used to receiving cookies from our friends. But maybe, just maybe, if I can get closer to my “enemies” with some cookies, then I may very well turn my cookies into friends.

Mk 9:2-10 The Punch Line

Mk 9:2-10 The Punch Line

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“Jesus took Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them…They kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.”

The older I get the less logical I become, and I am so proud of myself. I think logical people are very boring people. They always think they know the punch line.

We all love a surprise. I think it is because we were created in the image and likeness of God who is full of surprises: good and bad surprises. But in reality, I know I can honestly say that God is full of only good surprises – it’s just that sometimes we have to wait many years to hear the punch line or turn on the lights and say “Surprise!” or blow out the candles.

I was a bit surprised when my first assignment as a Diocesan priest was at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church out in Richardson. But I was even more surprised when a police officer pulled me over the very first time I drove out there. What surprised me even more was learning how low the speed limit was on Jupiter Rd! When the officer came over to my car, I immediately told him, “Officer, I am so sorry but I am running late for Mass. I need to get to the Church as quickly as possible.” He looked at me and said, “You’re running late sir?” I said, “Yes, Officer.” He told me, “Ok…then I will write your ticket quickly.” Right then and there I knew he was a Baptist.

A while back, while I was on a flight, I struck up a conversation with a young Jewish woman. We were talking and talking about superficial things when she suddenly changed subjects on me and told me that she no longer practices her faith or any religion. I asked her why. The answer is all related to today’s first reading from the Book of Genesis (Gen 22:1-18).

“God put Abraham to the test.” This young woman was furious with God! She said, “How can a loving God do what he did to poor Abraham? I mean, He told Abraham ‘Do you love me? Prove it. Kill your son so that I know you love me more!’ How disgusting is that! How could God joke around like that?”

She had a point. But I was just as blunt as she was. I told her, “For me, the story of Abraham and Isaac is the most beautiful story in the Old Testament. The problem is: you didn’t wait for the punch-line. It came and went, but it can still be found in the New Testament.

“Take your son, your only son, whom you love, and sacrifice him for me...” I am sure these words were like a dagger in Abraham’s heart. The amazing thing about all of this is the fact that Abraham did not rebel or curse God. In fact, he remained silent. Why? Because Abraham knew that his Father loved him.

“The next morning, Abraham took his son and they went up the mountain…” Going up the mountain was Abraham and Isaac, father and son. Abraham was carrying a lighted lantern. But in reality, going up the mountain was The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. Little Isaac carried chunks of wood for his own sacrifice like Christ carried his Cross for his own sacrifice. Isaac asked his father, “Daddy, where is the animal for the sacrifice?” Abraham’s reply was instinctive and very providential: “Don’t worry son, God will provide.” Little did he know how true his words would one day be.

“Do not lay a hand on your son.” Overwhelmed with joy, Abraham must not have noticed the Lord’s voice shaking. No, Abraham, you will never have to sacrifice your son, your only son, the son you love with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. You don’t have to do it. I will do it. I will sacrifice my beloved Son, my only Son, the Son I love with all my heart. I will sacrifice Him for you; for all of you.

That is the punch line! A punch right in The Father's heart.

Jesus took Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain. They were surprised at what they saw. Allow the Lord to surprise you too! You don't have to cheat, lie or steal to write your own ending! Things don't always have to go your way. You don't have to shove your storyline down God's throat, especially when it comes to boyfriends and girlfriends and your very own life! How boring! How insulting! Allow the Lord to surprise you! Allow Him to wash your feet, give you a cross and change your life. The Apostles didn’t know what rising from the dead meant. They would soon find out. SURPRISE!!!

I don’t have to drive 65 mph in a 40 mph zone. I don’t have to be so logical and boring. I don’t have to replace God’s punch line with my own! I don't have to run away or hide from God's surprise party for me. I don’t have to ruin all His surprises by being so sinful or so practical and logical.

Heavenly Father, your Son transfigured himself to reveal his true identity and radiance. Help transform us, we pray, into the image and likeness of your Son, surprising all who are around us.

The Lord has given us 40 days and 40 nights not to become more practical or logical but to be more loveable and faithful.

Mt 5:43-48 The Trouble With Logic

Mt 5:43-48 The Trouble With Logic

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Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly father.”

Love your enemies are just words. But when lived, they deliver a deadly blow to enemies!

Can we deny the early Christians their finest moment when they lived and died by these words and delivered their deadliest blow to all the pagan religions of the Roman Empire?

Can we forget the young Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries of the Americas who, while being cut to pieces and eaten alive, once and for all laid to rest the tribal religions of the Indians? Can anyone deny that by dying at the hands of their enemies these martyrs celebrated the most eloquent requiem Mass for man-eating religions?

May we never underestimate the power of love, especially while we are being tortured and killed out of love! Yes, tortured and killed out of love, for this is love’s finest moment! Who would ever have thought such a thing?

And here lies the trouble with logic.

I have learned the hard way that logic is simply the wrong tool to use to comprehend the impossible, the contradictions, the depths and fathoms of life and death. I am not saying that logic is useless. No, I’m not that naive. What I am saying is that love is better suited for the serious business of life and death.

The problem with logic is that it is too limited, way too limited, while love is unlimited. Logic can only move horizontally, from mind to mind, whereas love moves in all directions: horizontally (from man to man), diagonally (from heart, mind, body and soul) and vertically (from God to man).

Logic answers everyone and everything but not our life. On the other hand, love answers to no one, not to the brain, not to the heart, not to anyone or anything but only to life – our life to be specific - and for this reason alone it leaves us in awe, wonder and tears. This brings me to Confession.

Logically speaking, sinners should be held responsible for their negligence; be judged according to their deeds; and pay for their sins. But love answers to no one. Love says to the sinner, “You are free to go”. This is not what anyone in their right mind would expect, especially after having said what they have said and done what they have done; and especially after having confessed to the Lord-Of-All-That-Is Right, Good and Holy!

Only love can turn the sinner sinless. Rather than receiving a sponge full of vinegar, a slap in the face, a punch in the gut and a piercing in their hands and feet, the sinner is filled with awe, wonder and tears for having received a light sentence, a reduced sentence, a life sentence of grace and mercy!

I am still amazed at how amazed Catholics are of the beauty and romance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, especially if it has been ten, twenty, thirty, forty or fifty years since their last confession!

The trouble with Logic is that it is too logical and not very lovable. It denies us a good laugh at the end of a joke or a surprise ending at the end of a book. Logic demands an apparent reason for a hearty hug or a gentle kiss, love does not. Logic is very intuitive and deductive but not very creative. It has the power to poke an eye out, but not to heal and mend the hidden wound. Logic hates enemies, while love cures an enemy.

I can only experience life if I learn how to love, and to learn how to love requires the surprising virtues of faith, hope and trust. The Lord demands that I stay true to all his Commandments regardless of pain or fortune. Christ made it all a little easier for me, for he loved the unloveable man like me.

Heavenly Father, help us to love the unloveable just as you loved us.

Mt 5:20-26 God Loves the Loser!

Mt 5:20-26 God Loves the Loser!

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Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.”

We all know that God loves everyone. We all know that. But what we may not know is that God loves just a little bit more the sinner. After all, who did he dine with? Who did he go looking for? The Lord was known by all to love sinners. He was often found speaking to them and dining with them. In many of his parables, he speaks about ‘them’. He even once described a “Good Shepherd” as someone who leaves behind the ninety-nine pretty, popular, strong and buff sheep to look for the lost one. That’s a good Shepherd??? You bet!

Today I noticed something. The word loser may not be related to the word lost, but it definitely is similar to it!

“You say, ‘The Lord’s way is not fair!’ Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather; are not your ways unfair” (Ez 18:21-28)!

The Lord does not seek the death of the wicked. Indeed, the Lord derives no pleasure from the death of the wicked. Instead, he rejoices when a sinner turns from his evil ways. Thus says the Lord, “If [the sinner] keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him” (Ez 18:22).

That’s God’s way. What exactly are our ways? We all know the answer to that question. If someone virtuous turns away from virtue and commits a sin, we forget all the good that person ever did and mark and condemn them for life!

What exactly are our ways? It’s easy to see. Just look at the way we play sports. Our ways are not fair at all. Your team could be winning in Basketball the entire time and then, in the last three seconds of the game, you lose! Does the fact that you were winning the vast majority of the time mean anything? No. You could be in the lead for eight hours in the Boston Marathon and then trip, fall and lose. Would it be worth anything to anyone that you were in the lead eight hours? Nope. Not a bit.

This truth is even truer when we consider the serious mistakes we make in life. How many wonderful young men or ladies are labeled for the longest time because of one lousy mistake they made in their life? We as a society are either unforgiving of what others do or unashamed at what we do. This is not fair at all!

The truth is: the Lord has a special place in his heart for the lost, the loser, the shameful, the sinner. We experience life from our perspective only. But for God, he sees life from every single possible perspective and from every single person. No wonder why he keeps us wondering! What will be next? Who will be saved?

What exactly is God’s way (that some would consider being so unfair)? Well, let’s get back on the basketball court. This time, we could be losing, losing, losing, losing and losing for three straight quarters and end up throwing a three point shot from mid court in the last second and WINNING the whole thing! That’s how life is too. We could be stumbling and falling, crawling and sinning all our life and end up winning eternity for life! That is God’s way! He loves the underdog, the under-rated, the cripple, the leper, the prostitute, the sinner. He loves looking for them. Why? Because when they are finally found, they have a tendency to be even better than the popular, the strong, the mighty, the beautiful, and the sought after!

“I tell you…there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Lk 15:7).

WOW!

In today’s Magnificat, Pope Benedict wrote, “Too often our fidelity is to our anger, our resentments, our gripes. They become idols for us.” Solution. Do not seek vain glories. Popular people today become sick and forgotten tomorrow. The strong become weak. The idol worshipers get lost the quickest. Rest in the Lord. Trust in the Lord. Allow the Lord to stay close to you. The Lord is not competing against us. He is competing for us! I am not competing against you; I’m competing, like St. Paul, to cross the finish line and win big!

Mt 7:7-12 Eucatastrophe!

Mt 7:7-12 Eucatastrophe!

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Jesus said to his disciples, “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.”

When I was a child, I used to think that the best teachers in the world were the kind, gentle, easy and fluffy ones. Who wouldn’t? I loved the teachers that didn’t take my homework seriously; didn’t grade my exams harshly; and didn’t demand so much mentally.

But then I grew up. And I realized that I didn’t experience what I should have experienced. College and the world woke me up, brutally.

A lot of kids today wake up brutally. I recently went to a local rec. league soccer game for five year old kids. I was amazed at how things have changed. Not only could I not pronounce half of the children’s names, but I couldn’t find a score board. I then realized the problem wasn’t that the league couldn’t afford it; it was that the league didn’t want it. You see, they didn’t want the kids to win or lose; they just wanted them to have a good time playing. Out of their foolishness, the only thing this silly league accomplished was to help the kids learn mental math. I interviewed one player who appeared to be on the moon half of the time and asked him what the final score was. He said without any hesitation, “8-4! We won! And I was the best player!” That’s my boy.

Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Sounds like a cake walk, right? Wrong!

To ask, seek and knock can only mean one thing: Get moving!

"To ask” does not mean to tell God what you want but to ask Him what He wants. “To seek” can only mean it won't be placed in front of you. “To knock” means the door is closed! So, GET MOVING!

On Monday, I was asked by a teacher to give a class on “Finding God in The Hobbit.” The talk would be on Thursday. I can’t believe I said “Yes! Sure! No problem.” First of all, it has been a very long time since I read The Hobbit, and, as I was cramming information into my little brain, I was asking myself, “Why do I do this to myself! Thursday was going to be my day off!” Second, kids are no dummies. If I don’t give a good lesson, then the kids will know immediately that I don’t know what I am talking about!

So, last night I started reading and reading and reading. I began re-reading parts of this wonderful classic tale by J.R.R. Tolkien and trying to find some hidden meanings with regards to God. And then I realized the obvious…

What is the obvious connection between fairy tales and real life? Isn’t it the story and drama of our own life? What gets Bilbo Baggins into trouble? Answer: His asking, seeking and knocking! What makes Bilbo Baggins life so beautiful, amazing, wonderful, and inspiring? Answer: His asking, seeking and knocking! It is what professor Tolkien would call: “Eucatastrophe!”

I may have encountered this word while reading an essay Tolkien wrote (“On Fairy-Stories”), but I have experienced this word all my life, even today! Eucatastrophe refers to the sudden turn of events at the end of a story which ensure that the protagonist does not meet some terrible, impending, and very plausible doom. The word is formed by the Greek prefix eu, meaning good, to catastrophe, meaning unraveling. Tolkien calls the Incarnation the eucatastrophe of “human history” and the Resurrection the eucatastrophe of the Incarnation.

The beginning of The Hobbit starts like this, “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” Yep! That’s my life a few years ago…nice and comfortable, never ever imagining that there could be more to life than my very nice hole. The rest of the story is about how much a reluctant hero can achieve when forced out of his hole.

Who invites us (and maybe even pushes us) to get out of our hole? Christ. Who is the source of all our problems? Christ. Who is the solution to all our problems? Christ. Who makes life amazing, wonderful, thrilling, terrifying, exhilarating, and inebriating - even to the point of vomiting, causing dizziness, swelling, palpitations, exhaustion, frustration, death? Christ. Who makes death a gain? Christ.

Ask. Seek. Knock. Live.