Luke 13:22-30 Strive

Luke 13:22-30  Strive

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Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.  Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?”

How would you answer this question?  What would you say?  I still remember what a nun said one day in Faith Formation (CCD).  She said, “Everyone goes to heaven.”  Now that I look back at it, I think that was the moment I stopped believing in God.  Although I was a child, I could still think for myself.  And I kept thinking to myself, “If everyone goes to heaven, then why be good?”

Now, if you were taught (other than on Halloween night) about “fire and brimstone”, and that only a few souls go to heaven, then at least you were taught by someone who was a bit more knowledgeable of Scripture. 

Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching.  I do not teach or preach fire and brimstone (at least I don’t think I do).  What I try to teach or preach is what Christ taught and preached:  “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”

I have met a lot of people throughout my life.  Most of them are still my friends.  They come from different parts of the world; they speak in various languages; they are poor; they are rich; they are married; they are single; they are men; they are women.  Some are dead, most are alive.  But what unites us all together is what we share in common:  suffering.

Life is difficult.  It is really difficult!  It is difficult for me and for you.  Why try to fool yourself?  Actually, why are we trying to fool our children?  Why do we hide from them our failures, faults, weaknesses, difficulties, trials and tribulations?  Why are we stunting their maturity, their growth?

Yesterday, a young mother passed away, leaving her young kids behind.  A week ago, a child was playing a game outside and hit her head against the cement sidewalk.  Today, she still struggles with walking.  A few days ago, a man lost his job and his wife was diagnosed with a rare disease.  They have two grown children in college.  All these things have brought very strong men to their knees.  I know.  I have seen it for myself.

Many will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.  We are not as strong as we think we are.  We really aren’t.  We are not as secure as we think we are, and 9/11 should be a constant reminder for all of us.  We are not as powerful as we think we are, and Sandy is just one of many kinds of storms we will run away from or die from in our lives. 

The problem isn’t that we are not strong or secure or powerful enough.  The problem is…we think we are.

So, instead of living more modestly and relying more on family, we think we can live in debt and that our friends or government will always come to our rescue.  Instead of acknowledging the strength and power that comes from religion, we think we can ignore it and solve every single international conflict with high-tech weapons and consumer goods.  We will not.  Our enemies have proven their courage to fight, and their willingness to die.   

We can be much stronger.  We really can, but only if we begin to strengthen our foundations, our “unions”; that is, our marriages, children, families and faith.  If we do, then we will rebuild The Union.

Out of all the lies people have created, and actually believed in, the biggest and longest on-going lie has been this one: Security through possession. 

This security through possession is known by various names:  career, infrastructures, friends, money, savings, investments, eating-right, etc… These are the supposed “lifelines” or means to success, happiness, love and fulfillment. 

Now I know that those who believe it will deny it.  But they actually live by it.  They even say it:  My career is my life.  My friends are my real family.  My dogs are my children.  My money is my guarantee.  My soap opera is my religion.  My savings are my insurance.  Eating healthy and right will keep me healthy and alive.

I think the good news is that if someone can believe in all these lies, then it won’t be difficult for them to believe in the truth; that is, in God.  Reality is on our side.  Reality slaps us back to the truth. 

Strive through the narrow gate.  How about we try something different, something that works, something new but actually old?  Something that costs very little yet produces great results. 

It is not unheard of that a little lock opened the door to a great mansion.  It’s not uncommon to find cheap solutions to complex problems.  Not everything in life has to be expensive.  Instead of our schools investing in therapists and counselors, police officers and in metal detectors, why not create a little bit of time for prayer?  It doesn’t cost a thing!  It’s natural.

If we outlawed prayer in a school just because of one student, wouldn’t it be worth it if it helped just one student?

Faith is not a crutch.  It is a lifesaver!  It does not help us to fall asleep at night; it helps us to get through the day when our days are dark. 

Life is not easy…for anyone. 

Strive.  What?  Strive.  Do something?  Yes, the Lord invites us to strive to pass through the narrow gate.  We are supposed to work for it.  We are supposed to do something.  Strive sounds a lot like try, and the words may actually be related. 

How can we do it if we are not strong enough?  Through Him, with Him and in Him.

What is the narrow gate?  It is a person.  Jesus Christ.   Strive to live your life through Him, with Him and in Him.  And you will find yourself…on His side.

Luke 13:18-21 Young and Humble

Luke 13:18-21  Young and Humble

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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.”

Yesterday, I received a card from a couple who have been trying hard and praying hard to have a baby for some time now.  It finally happened.  The card read:  “It’s a baby!”  At first it struck me as odd that it didn’t read “It’s a girl” or “It’s a boy.”  But after a while, I finally got it.  They could care less what sex their child was.  They were just happy to have a baby.

Babies are cute.  People love to be around them.  It doesn’t matter what they do in front of us or to us.  They can burp in our face.  They can poop in our arms.  They can throw up all over our shirt.  It doesn’t matter what they do.  Nothing they say or do could ever wipe away the joy in our heart or the smile from our face. 

But when babies grow up, they’re not so cute.  Why is that?  Why do kids become so ugly?  It has nothing to do with their physical size or physical appearance.  it has everything to do with their selfishness. 

When the Lord describes the Kingdom of God as being the size of a mustard seed, what he is describing is not so much its physical dimensions but rather its spiritual conditions.  The reason why the Kingdom of God is so small and so great is because God makes himself small so as to be great.  It is the reason why the Lord said:  If you wish to be great, you must make yourself small. 

Babies get everything they need and want and even more.  Why?  Because they ask for nothing.   I keep telling our school kids that if they want to get more from their parents they need to stop asking for more.

I know some parents who are very "concerned" about their kids because they never ask for anything.  So what do they do?  They keep giving them more and more.  Their kids know the secret.  One student never asked for a car and got a car.  One student never demanded more freedom and got more freedom. 

Interested? 

The rule is simple:  If you want to be loved, then start loving.  If you want to be great, then start serving.   If you want to receive, then stop asking and start giving.

If you think about it, the Lord does not demand much from us, except to love Him and to love our neighbor.  Oh, I forgot.  He also asks us to give Him our sins so that He can give us His love.

Be subordinate.  In his letter to the Ephesians (Eph 5:21-33), St. Paul challenges Church leaders to be “subordinate to Christ”.  He goes one step further and challenges members of the Church to be “subordinate to one another”.  He then demands wives take a leap of faith by being “subordinate to their husbands in everything.”  But like everything St. Paul writes, he demands that we do what we do just like Christ did for us.  It is not enough to love.  We need to love as Christ loves us.

The Church is a “sacrament” of the Body of Christ.  Christians are a “sacrament” of Christ’s continual presence in the world.  Husbands are a sacrament of Christ’s unconditional love and sacrifice for His bride (the Church). 

There is no demanding in any of these relationships, only giving of oneself and dying to self.  These are the conditions that make all relationships possible, powerful, beautiful, amazing and ever young and new… like a new born baby.

Like a child, the Kingdom of God will grow from a small mustard seed to a burning bush, but only if it remains forever young and humble of heart.

Luke 12:39-48 Entrusted With So Much

Luke 12:39-48  Entrusted With So Much

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Jesus said to his disciples:  “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

The Lord is speaking to YOU!  He has entrusted so much to YOU!  He is counting on YOU!  He wants YOU!

St. Paul writes to his friends, “You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation” (Eph 3:2-12). 

What exactly was revealed and made known to St. Paul?  That Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior!  Why him?  For two simple reasons:  for his benefit and the benefit of others; for his salvation and for the salvation of others.  This revelation was entrusted to him so that he could share the Good News with others.   

And he did. 

He took it and ran with it.  In fact, he ran as fast as he could, as hard as he could and as far as he could.  Actually, he ran all over Europe and Asia Minor with it, even up to the steps of Rome’s White House:  Caesar’s palace. 

And Rome would never be the same again.

Has this mystery not been revealed to you?  If you are reading this, then it has!  And just to let you know:  much that has been entrusted to you will be demanded of you.  This is not a threat.  This is a timely reminder.

Make no mistake about it:  you don’t need to have money; you don’t need to have talents; you don’t even have to have a tongue!  What you do need to have is a heartbeat and faith in God. 

Every single day of your life, the Lord will give you the opportunity to share Him with others.  In one way or another, the Lord will ask you to make him known to another.  Are you up to the task?  If I am, then I can assure you that you are too.

Yesterday, someone sent me a text message with the following prayer request:  “Good morning Father, would you please pray for a woman I know.  She used to be a nun, became an atheist, and is now trying to come back.  She has asked me to walk with her through this journey as she returns to the Catholic Church.  Pray for me as well.  God bless you!”

I wrote back, “I will.  How exciting!”

“Easy for you to say”, she wrote, “I don’t even know anything about atheism, so I don’t know what to expect.  We will be meeting.  She will have many questions and many fears.”

I wrote back, “You don’t need to worry about anything.  Just be faithful.  That’s what she needs.”

Just be faithful. 

I know.  It’s the easiest thing to say but the toughest thing to do.  But I know it is the best way to live life to the full!

At the end of our life, the only thing that will matter will be what we did for God and what we did for others; that is, what we did with the blessings and love we received.

Where much is given, much is expected.  Elections are coming up; maybe the most important elections of our life time.  And when I vote, I will do so based on what is true; what is sacred; what is fundamental; what is important. 

It will not be rooted in me.  It will be rooted in Jesus Christ.

I sometimes imagine that at the end of my life I will be handed a few lists outlining all the things I complained about; all the time I wasted; all the excuses I made, and all the things I considered to be very important.  I fear that moment may be a bit embarrassing - not so much for what is on my lists - but when I compare it to God’s immense love and mercy I received throughout my life.

Luke 12:35-38 Stay Alert!

Luke 12:35-38  Stay Alert!

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Jesus said to his disciples:  “…Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.    Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.”

 

I have to admit that I no longer find it surprising when the academic world hides the truth from others; or better yet, when they decide to airbrush the truth away.  Even though the ultimate purpose of our schools is to teach the truth, more and more are caving into political correctness and religious intolerance. 

 

Yesterday, I read the following headline:  Holy Photoshop!  LSU erased Christian football fans’ crosses.

 

Now you may be thinking:  With all the important things going on in the world, why in the world waste a meditation on such a benign subject?  The answer should be obvious by to everyone:  Lying is never a benign issue.  It is a growing problem.  It is what the devil does best.  He is the prince of lies, remember? 

 

It turns out that Louisiana State University (LSU) officials published a photo of “The Painted Posse”, a student led organization that is very much devoted to LSU football and to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  At every home game, these students show their school spirit by painting their bare chests with their school colors and a small cross.  The school officials loved it and posted a picture of them for all the world to see.

 

But when these same kids saw it, they were horrified.  They couldn’t believe what they were seeing.  Actually, they couldn’t believe what they were not seeing:  the little cross.  It turns out it had been airbrushed out by school officials. 

 

It seems to me that these same school officials love the Painted Posse’s spirit …but not the Holy Spirit.  They love the fact that these kids love their school…but not their Savior. 

 

Why did they do it?  Officials responded by saying, “We don’t want to imply we are making any religious or political statements, so we air-brushed it out.”  So…instead of worrying about making a false statement, they worried more about making a political or religious statement.  What a bunch of cowards!  How sickening.  How pathetic.  What liars.  They prefer to distort the truth than to face reality.  These officials are still lying.  They did not have to make any political or religious statement when they published this picture.  All they had to do is describe the picture and state the facts below it.  That’s it.

 

Atheists would love for believers to believe that our nation is abandoning God.  But since that’s not true, they resort to sabotage.  They try to airbrush Christians away.  But in reality, they are airbrushing the truth away and painting for us a better portrait of whom they are and what they will resort to. 

 

Be aware!  Be attentive!  Stay alert!  History tends to repeat itself. 

 

No God = No Heaven, just Hell on earth.

 

Where is God?  Why doesn’t He come to our rescue?  A week ago, our seventh grade students at St. Monica finished reading “Night”, the memories of Elie Wiesel’s experience in a Nazi concentration camp.  I asked the kids if they believed (like Mr. Wiesel) that God had abandoned His people.  After all, the evidence seemed to point in that direction.  The kids didn’t know.  So I asked them some difficult questions:  Why did the Holocaust happen in the 1940’s?  Why not centuries before?  How in the world could the Nazis have gained so much power?  Why was it so easy for Hitler to convince the German people that they were superior to others?  Why did all of this happen in Germany?   

 

They did not know.

 

I continued:  What was going on in the 1900’s?  What were people reading back then?  What did they believe in? 

 

I then wrote on the board four names:  Darwin, Marx, Feuerbach, and Nietzsche.  [It’s amazing how science and philosophy translate into politics and life.]

 

Right before Hitler and the Nazis appeared, and the Holocaust and World War II began, certain theories and philosophies were receiving wide attention and acceptance in Germany.

 

People in Germany were beginning to place their faith in man, in science and atheism.  They were beginning to believe that man should return to the animal kingdom where he belongs; to rule where there are no rules and where only the strongest survive.  They believed in survival of the fittest and preying on the weakest (Darwin).  They believed that religion was the opium of people (Marx) and that there was no need to worry about right and wrong because there was no heaven or hell.  They believed they had finally succeeded in ridding the world of the greatest myth:  God; of killing Him (Nietzsche) and replacing him with His rightful owner:  man (Feuerbach). 

 

And it was all good; In fact, it was “very good”. 

 

Did God abandon man or did man abandon Him?  The kids knew the answer. 

 

God did not abandon man.  Man abandoned Him.  And even today, we continue to airbrush Him out of our lives…out of reality. 

 

"Brothers and sisters: You were at a time without Christ...without hope and without God in the world" (cf. Ephesians 2:12-22).

The Holocaust was not a test of faith.  It was a taste of atheism...and (I think) of things to come.

Luke 11:29-32 The Power of Faith

Luke 11:29-32  The Power of Faith

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While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah…”

Last night I had dinner with a wonderful family.  I was happy to see the oldest daughter who was home for fall break.  She’s a freshman in college and loves every minute of it.  I noticed immediately that she was happy, very happy.  So, I asked her if she had a boyfriend.  And with the biggest smile on her face she said “YES!!!!”

I still remember the conversation I had with her right before she left for college.  I told her that she would never have a problem finding a boyfriend.  I’m not sure if she really believed me.  Most kids never believe me.  Actually, most kids never listen to me!  But anyways, I can understand her hesitation.  You see, she graduated from High School without ever having had a “boyfriend”.  She may not have been happy about that, but I sure was.  I know who she is.  She is a treasure - a very beautiful, intelligent and just all-around awesome young lady.  And personally, I was amazed that she got through High School without getting noticed.  I truly believe it was a miracle.

Fortunately, she never changed.  She remained steadfast.  Unfortunately, most girls end up changing, not for better but for worse.   They disavow their morals, values and dignity thinking they will get what they are looking for, but all they end up doing is dying (whenever you give up your morals, values and dignity, you end up losing your true idenitity, you end of dying).  Many kids fall into this trap because they lack faith not only in themselves but in God.

Why do we lack faith in God?  Because most people settle with having an emotional affair with God.  They love God just because they can feel Him.    But that’s not a good enough reason to love anyone, especially God.  If someone gets married based purely on emotions (or due to an emotional affair), then chances are you’ll get divorced squarely on cold facts. 

Faith is not an “emotional affair” with God.  Faith is based on cold facts.  When Jesus told his disciples, “If you wish to follow me, pick up your cross and follow me.”  That means, “If you remain faithful to me, then you will suffer greatly.”  That’s faith!  And that’s the hard cold fact of our faith.   I can accept it or reject it.  If I stay close to God (keep their morals, values and dignity), I will go through Hell.  But in the end, I will be rehabilitated and resurrected.  People will admire me forever!  God will love me forever. 

Give us signs.  I do not follow God based on feelings.  I follow him based on solid evidence.  Sin destroys lives!  Just like the Lord said it would.  Forgiveness re-creates lives.   Yep!  Just like the Lord did.  “If the world hated me, then it will hate you.”    How true it is!  I don’t believe I am hated because I defend marriage, life and morals.  I know it!  And you should too.

Do I realize that my sins – my actions or omissions - can contribute to the collapse of my marriage, the downfall of my family, my church, my friends, my neighborhood, my relationships, my city, my country, my world?  Do I realize the power of just one person and one wrong decision?  Do I realize that my sins destroy my lives and the lives of others?  Does the absent father realize how he is damaging his children?  Does the attention-seeking-mom realize how damaging she is to her children? 

But do I realize that there is something greater here?  As much as my actions can destroy lives, so also my love and God’s truth can rebuild them?

In order for the city of Nineveh to be saved, the inhabitants had to unite behind one man, a foreigner:  Jonah.   Today, Christians are foreigners. 

Evil generations.  Why are we trying so hard to mask sin?  Why are we trying to redefine marriage?  Why did our parents not fight against the legalization of abortion?  Why are we allowing a “culture of death” to overtake a “culture of life”?

Voting should not an "emotional affair".  Voting should be done in good faith.   

Next month, four states will be holding referendums to decide whether or not to protect marriage or redefine it.  All referendums are unfair just as all voting is unfair.  They are unfair because our ancestor will not be voting, and they deserve to vote, for many of them voted before and believed in God, family and country, and sacrificed so much for their state and nation.  It is also unfair because future generations will not be allowed to vote either, but will be forced to live with our disastrous decisions. 

The founding fathers had a chance to rid our nation of slavery, once and for all.  Instead, they voted for less and left it to another President and generation to solve the problem. They should have let us vote for it was a ghastly mistake.  And it cost much more than any of them could ever have imagined.    

Our great grandfathers were so happy when we created the first atomic bomb.  But if they knew then what we would fear today –getting in the hands of terrorists – then maybe they would have considered things differently and considered fighting on.

No one seems to be concerned about an atomic Iran, just like no one back in 1979 thought Iran would be the threat it is today?  Definitely President Carter didn’t.  But if we could have voted back then, then maybe Carter and his staff would have taken a tougher stand when our embassy and staff were held hostage for over a year?  Are we not doing the same with Libya?  Or with the possibility of a nuclear Iran?  Are we not deliberately buying time for ourselves so that others, who can’t vote now, will have to fight later?

Today, no one seems to be concerned about the national debt.  Maybe it’s because those who will pay for it aren’t alive to vote on it. 

The power of faith.  The one who has faith does not live for today.  They live for eternity.  They don’t vote for today.  They vote for their children and tomorrow.  They do not sacrifice their children.  They sacrifice themselves.  Respect God.  Respect Life.  That’s the power of faith.

Luke 7:1-10 For Whatever Reason

Luke 7:1-10  For Whatever Reason

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A centurion had a slave who was ill and about to die…When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave.  They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, “He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.”  And Jesus went with them.

He deserves to have you do this for him.  The elders approached Jesus and strongly urged him to help this man out.  But why?  Why were they so insistent on a centurion getting help?  St. Luke leaves no room for doubt.  It is clear:  The elders sought the Lord’s help because the centurion had helped them out.  He had built their synagogue; he had power; he had money; he had authority; he had friends in high places.

But none of these reasons account for the reason why the Lord helped his man out (let alone the elders).  He helped them out for the same exact reason why he helps us out:  For no reason.

Do I have to have a reason for being kind to someone?  Do I have to have a reason for loving someone?  Do I have to have a reason to stay in touch with someone?  Do I have to have a reason to help someone?

Woe to you, hypocrite…if you help someone for selfish or prideful reasons!  Woe to you, you pagan…if you only help those who help you.  Woe to you, you Pharisee, if you only speak to those who agree with you!  It is better for you to have no reason at all than all the reasons in the world! 

In today’s Gospel, I can see how reason can get in the way of faith; how it can set-up a road block, a  barrier or a wall that separates me from another.  If I must always have a reason to show my love, give my time and my attention, then I allow my heart to be conquered by my brain.  But my love was never meant to be held hostage by what is physical; nor was it ever meant to be limited by another.  Love was created to be an extension of His hands, His works, His words, His heart, His mission!  Love was never created to be chained to a reason; it was created to be unlimited as well as unconditional.  The world was not created out of necessity.  It was created out of no necessity.  I was not given life because I was necessary.  I was given life out of no necessity.  Love is to be given freely.  Cost whatever it costs.  Love was given without charge to be given away without cost. 

Love overflows.  This explains why the Lord reacted the way He always did.  His reaction explains the reason why we should always get involved:  for no reason at all.  The beauty of Christian love lies in the power it has to push wide open the doors of our reason and allow each and every one of us to penetrate the mystery of faith. 

Just say the word and my servant shall be healed.   The centurion’s response to Christ’s love created a challenge (or problem) for all of us.  Do I have the faith that he had?  Do I appreciate and esteem God’s authority?  Do I demand that God meet me half-way?  Do I need to have a say in everything?

We love to be the one in charge.  We love to be the one who has all the authority.  We want to be the ones who set the rules.  We want to able to define the rules whenever we want.  We like things done our way.  We want people to bend over backwards for us.  But the centurion understands authority very well.  He knows he commands one hundred men.  But he also knows he’s not God.   He knows and respects that he is under the Lord’s authority. 

This truth may be difficult for us, but it should be obvious to all of us.  To walk I must roll out of bed, stand on my feet and move one foot in front of the other.  There’s no way around it.  It is what it is. 

The same holds true for being a Christian.  If you wish to be blessed, then you must pick up your cross, carry your cross and follow the Lord in his footsteps.  There’s no way around it.  It is what it is. 

And in this case, it is what it is for a very good reason!         

Mk 8:27-35 Crucifixes and Christians

Mk 8:27-35 Crucifixes and Christians

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Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”  They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.”  And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?”  Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ.”  Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him…He summoned the crowd and with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.”

A lesson learned is a lesson well taught.  If we have not learned our lessons well, then it’s because we have not been taught well. 

In the past three days, I’ve been meditating and reflecting on the cross.  As I mentioned before, the cross is only half a symbol of Christianity, for it is missing a very key component of Christianity:  Christ. 

It should be obvious to all that Christ is not the cross, for Christ was nailed to the Cross.  Rather, the cross is a symbol of the sinner; that is, it is a symbol of me.  Therefore, the real symbol of Christianity is not the cross; it is the crucifix.  This is the true symbol of Christianity for it is the fullness of Christ’s ministry.  Christ nailed himself to us, and He refuses to be separated from us.  He is forever near to me, next to me, nailed to me.  And that is very, very reassuring.  Christ will never depart from me.  He’s got my back FOREVER!

But with the loss in the meaning of the Cross, comes the loss in the meaning of the Christian.  Let us never forget what the Christian does best:  He follows the Lord, everywhere.  Where He goes I must go.  Where He leads I must lead.  “If you wish to follow me, then pick up your cross and follow me.”  Christ did not die for us so that we would have nothing to do for Him.  He died for us so that we could die like Him, for our neighbor.

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?  …So also faith of itself, it is does not have works, is dead.  Indeed someone might say, “You have faith and I have works.”  Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.”  (James 2:14-18)

Many Christians have not learned their catechism well!  They think that an easy life is a blessed life.  If you are one of the many who think that, then I invite you to think again.  After all, there is no denying that the Lord lived a blessed life and a very difficult life almost all his life. 

Is being a millionaire a sign of being blessed?  Think again.  I do not know of a single Saint that became a millionaire.  I do, however, know of many Saints who were millionaires and gave their millions to enter a convent or a seminary.  So, why do we think that in order to be blessed, we have to be filled with cash? Or, in order to be blessed we have to have a lot of free time.

If I have nothing to do, then chances are I will do nothing in my life.  But if I have a ton of things to do, then chances are I will accomplish something in my life. 

Take a good look at your life.  Take a look at the decisions you’ve made.  Now, take a good look at Christ’s life.  Take a look at the decisions He made and the words He said.  Analyze Him alongside yourself.  Do you notice any differences in focus, interests, discipline, direction and decisions?  If so, then bridge the gap!  Bring yourself closer to Christ.  If you do so, I guarantee you an immediate improvement in the quality of your life. 

I think that most of us know by now that a life filled with pleasure often led to a life full of regrets and emptiness.  Whereas (and most surprising of all), a life filled with struggles, pain, difficulties, and trials often led to a more meaningful, more romantic, more grateful and more powerful and purpose-filled life. 

Tell me if you think I am wrong.  But I have seen both cases far too often to doubt it anymore.

Christ nailed to the Cross teaches us four important life lessons:  (1) there is no Christ without a Cross. (2) There is no Savior without a sinner.  (3)  There is no love without sacrifice.  (4)  There is no resurrection without crucifixion.  Therefore, let us do as the Lord would do.  Do not shrink from pain, difficulties or trials.  Face them!  Face them head on!  Nail yourself to your cross.  Or as St. Paul puts it:  “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.”    

Every time I nail my triumph with Christ, I nail my future with His glory.  Every time I nail my sin into Christ, I nail my faith, hope and love in His mercy and compassion.  Every time I give God the last word, I turn my tragedy into triumph.  Every time I die to myself, I rise with the Lord. 

“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”