Luke 12:13-21 Beware!

Luke 12:13-21  Beware!

(Clickhere for readings)

 

Jesus said to the crowd:  “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

 

One of the toughest challenges a priest faces is to talk about someone they did not know.  Funeral Masses can be very challenging.  Family members can find it hard to express their loved one’s life.  Friends seem to remember only the most frivolous or superficial (as well as embarrassing) things about the deceased.  The “natural” tendency we have is to turn a eulogy into a stand-up comedy.  Those who do so think they are helping the living out by breaking through a moment of seriousness and sadness with a joke.  Well, it may work, but do we have to break our sadness by just cracking jokes?  Could we not do better? 

Often I need to sit down with family members and friends to ask them to describe the deceased’s life.  Even with that, I don’t get much to work on.  I get more statistics than substance; more stories than significance; more means than ends; more accomplishments than goals.

For example:  A person’s goal in life should never be that he/she remained sober most of their life.  That’s not a goal; it’s a means to an end.   A person remains sober because they want to be a better husband or wife; a more relevant mother or father; a more loving brother or sister; a holy person.  That's the goal. 

I think it would be great if everyone wrote their own obituary.  I think it would be wonderful to let loved ones know, in your own words, what you thought of them.  Do not leave it to others to do it for you.  Why?  Because they don’t know you as well as you know yourself.  They don’t know what is important to you.  And you never know who will end up writing it for you.

A long time ago, I was specifically requested to celebrate a funeral Mass for a man I did not know.  I was honored yet surprised to learn that the family had asked me.  So I asked the family to help me give this man the recognition he deserved.  I asked them to write something down for me.  His ex-wife did it.  I won’t go into the details but it was not helpful.  I did not want his farewell to be his last confession!

Sometimes people consider it important to highlight their loved one’s economic success story; or their hobbies; or what they loved to collect (like beer cans and match boxes or lighters).  They neglect to mention what mattered the most because they don't know what matters most.  But when they do know, it makes all the difference in the world.  

Recently, I performed a funeral for a man who loved to collect things.  In fact, he collected many things.  That was interesting, but was that really important to him?  Did that really describe his life?  Finally, someone mentioned that he cherished his friends.  He never lost a friend.” 

That was it!  That’s what I needed to hear.  Yes, he collected many things in his life, but his greatest collection was his friendships.  He collected friends throughout his entire life and never lost a single one.  He cherished everything and everyone in his life.

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishments?  In your life, who influenced you the most?  What did your family mean to you?  Who did you listen to the most?  Who should you have listened to?  What did you consider to be important?  If there was anything you could have changed, what would it have been? What advice would you like to give to your loved ones; to others? 

In today’s Gospel, the Lord tells his listeners a parable regarding a man who stored up treasure on earth but forgot about the things that mattered most.   One night he passed away, unexpectedly. God said to the man, “You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?  Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God. 

We do not know the hour or the day in which our journey on earth will end.  It’s good to start thinking about what matters most and to write it all down.  Believe me, this is not just practical advice for the elderly, the sick or the dying.  This is something that we should all be doing, and periodically updating.  Even kids should be doing this.  They could do it in religion class.  It will help them to focus more on what matters the most (God, family and friends) and less on what matters the least:  themselves and being popular.    

Luke 8:19-21 Dynasties

Luke 8:19-21 Dynasties

(Click here for readings)

The Mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd.  He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.”  He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

Thus spoke the Lord.  In one glorious swipe, he effectively dismissed the idea of creating any sort of dynasty, or empire, or royalty or priesthood among his blood relatives.  The Lord would not be succeeded by a blood relative.  Neither would any family member receive any type of inheritance other than the cross.

We have a lot to learn from this and much to appreciate from it.

Although there are very few kings and queens today, there are still certain dynasties that appear to be created not by vocation but by circulation; that is, by procreation.

Political Dynasties.  Take for example politicians.  I sense that most politicians are born to be politicians, not by any sort of spiritual calling, but by a “close” calling (or association) to a family member.  Why were so many from the Kennedy family elected to office?  Did they all have a miraculous calling from above to serve, or did they all have some sort of genetic disorder that made them twice as likely to be politically inclined?  Was it expected of them to serve or were their constituents voting that Camelot would survive?  Maybe it was all of the above.  But given the results, I doubt that most of the brood ever had a vocation to service. 

Now I could go on and on and discuss the Bush family dynasty; the Clinton family dynasty; the Pelosi family dynasty, etc...but I won't.  I hope I have made my point.  

What exactly did the American Revolution replace the “Royal Family” with?  Maybe with nothing.  Maybe it just nixed the “Royal”.

Pastoral Dynasties.  We cannot avoid this.  It is so obvious and unfortunate.  So many famous “Pastors” who were called by God allowed their children, who were not called by God, to fill their robes.  The Rev. Dr. Robert Schuller, founder of Crystal Cathedral Ministries, worked and sacrificed his entire life to build his Christian ministry headquarters out in Orange County, California only to see it collapse at the helm of his daughter, Pastor Sheila Schuller Coleman. 

Oral Roberts, the anti-Catholic preacher and minister, worked hard and fearfully at building his University out in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  I say “fearfully” since he was reportedly threatened by God with death if he did not raise enough cash to get the University financially stable.  Well, Oral did it and survived only to see his son turn it into a house of illegal financial activity that nearly burn it into the ground.  Now I wonder why God would have killed Oral and not his son if he wanted to see the school flourish?  I guess God’s ways are not our ways.

Thank God for celibacy.  Thank God that most priests discovered their vocation not in following their father’s footsteps, but in following the enormous footsteps of The Father.  Thank God there was no empire, or ministry or dynasty to inherit but rather a simple mission church or parish community that was not of their choosing.  Thank God disciples are still “sent”…and put through the ringer.  We need that.  We need more of that!  We need to make sure that we are in ministry for all the right reasons.

Christian Dynasty.  Is there a Christian dynasty to inherit?  There is.  And it is a family affair.  But it is not based on race, gender, nationality or even blood relations.  It is based on faith; faith-in-action.  Who are my brothers and sisters?  Those who hear the word of God and act on it. 

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people set apart, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  (1Peter2:9) 

This is an important statement because it is coming from the first Holy Father, St. Peter.  We are all equal.  We are all peasants and we are all kings.  And yet we are all distinct – given specific tasks to carry out in the mystical Body of Christ.  What distinguishes us from each other is the vocation we have received from the Lord.  Now the vocations may be different, but the mission remains the same:  Witness to the world the wonderful things that God has done.

Declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light!

Luke 7:11-17 Whatever!

Luke 7:11-17  Whatever!

(Click here for readings)

Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him.  As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow…When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.”  He stepped forward and touched the coffin and said, “Young man.  I tell you, arise!”  The dead man sat up…and Jesus gave to him his mother.

One of the toughest assignments for a priest (for anyone) is to tell a family that their loved one has passed away.  It is always a difficult assignment, but it is even tougher when you know the family. 

This Friday will mark the one year anniversary of the unexpected and sudden death of a father of four small children.  I will never forget that day. 

After a normal day of school, the children were brought to their grandparent’s home.  As I looked out the window, I could see they were excited because they had noticed my car parked out front.  They ran up to the door and opened it.  With the biggest smiles on their faces, they greeted me and were wondering why I was visiting.  Little did they know the sad reason for my unexpected visit. 

“Your daddy went to heaven today.”  Their mom, grandma and grandpa were there to comfort them.  But as the news sunk in, the color in their fair skin went away.  It was the direct result of a broken heart.  They could not be consoled.    

Why did the Lord raise this young man from the dead?  Why did He bring him back to life?  After all, his resurrection would only temporary, not final.  One day, he would return to the grave.  So, why did the Lord perform this miracle?  Was it for him?  Maybe.  Was it for her?  Could be.  But most likely, I think it was for both of them.  Most likely, it was an answer to one final wish and prayer:  “Oh Lord, if I only had the chance to tell him/her, one last time, how much I loved him/her…”

They may have had some unfinished business to attend to.  After living together for years, they may have gotten too comfortable, too used, to each other.  Maybe she had said some things to him that she regretted.  Maybe he had wished she would go away.  Or maybe they had taken the other for granted too often and for far too long. 

Thank God for death!  Thank God!  Otherwise, I fear we would never appreciate anyone in our life.  Thank God for difficulties.  Thank God.  Otherwise we would take everything for granted.  What do people call children that take everyone and everything for granted?  We call them spoiled.  And you can see a spoiled child from a mile away.  They never smile.   The one word on their lips is:  “WHATE-V-E-R!!!”

I really try never to take anyone or anything for granted.  I’ve learned that as a priest.  Yes, there are plenty of things to cry about, but there are really plenty more things to smile at and to laugh about. 

A few weeks ago, a mom told me that her daughter was struggling.  It turned out that last year she had not been invited to a single birthday party.  Yes, she’s a little shy.  Yes, she’s a little reserved.  But no one, absolutely no one from her class, had invited her to a birthday party. 

Now I know that many moms invite just their children’s best friends in order to throw an over-the-top birthday party.  I know that it can be very expensive.  But why not try something different.  Why not try to invite everyone from the class and make it a less than over-the-top party?  Why not keep our priorities in place:  First the lessons, then the party; first the kids, then the presents; first love, then friends.

This past Friday was a tough day for me.  I had a ton of things to do and then I remembered that I had Mass at Ursuline.  Although it was still morning, I felt like I was running on fumes.  I was exhausted and upset about something.  As we all sat down to hear the first reading, one young student got up and said: “A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippines.” 

Did I just hear what I thought I heard?  I looked up and glanced over at the nun.  She was smiling.  Then I looked at the youth Minister and she was giggling.  That was it.  I then burst laughing.  I couldn’t even contain myself while I was reading the Gospel. 

Although life is full of disappointments and pain, there are plenty of things to smile and laugh about as well.  It is so much easier to laugh than it is to cry.  And even when you cry, it could mean you are laughing!

May the Lord give us the grace NEVER to take our life, our family, our friends, our gifts and talents, our difficulties and trials for granted.  Of course it is not an easy thing to do, but it is the better thing to do. 

Live today as if it were your last.  One day you will be right.

Luke 6:20-26 Is There Ever A Dull Moment?

Luke 6:20-26  Is There Ever A Dull Moment?

(Click here for readings)

Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours…Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 

Life is amazing!  It is full of surprises.  But we often forget that the same surprise can be both good and bad; a blessing and a curse; sweet and bitter. 

Beauty is a gift.  But it is also a curse.  Wealth brings people together.  It can also keep them apart.  Love is joyful.  But it is also painful.  Poverty can be a blessing just as much as plenty can be a curse!  Friends can keep me all together.  But they can also tear me apart.  Being much talked about can quickly turn into being much gossiped about!

Is there ever a dull moment?

Sometimes it just feels like you can’t win!  I went to a birthday party and was surprised by the reaction of a seven-year-old when his uncle handed him a five dollar bill.  The child looked at it and then turned to him and said, “But I already have one!!!”   I thought to myself, “Boy, at that age, I may not have been able to add apples together, but I definitely knew how to add money together!”

It seems like there’s no winning, ever. 

How quickly peace can elude us.  How quickly a dark thought can invade us.   

Today’s Gospel paints an even bleaker picture of life.  If you are poor, then you are blessed.  If you are rich, then beware!  What is going on?  Is there ever a peaceful moment? 

There is.  But it takes faith.  It takes realism.  It takes preparation.  It takes vision.

The world took billions of years to establish itself.  And now that it has, it is gradually dying a slow and decaying death.  It took years for us to grow up. And now that we have, we are gradually dying a slow and decaying death.

Poverty is not an illness.  Misery is an illness.  And the miserable (Les Miserable) can be anyone:  King and peasant; young and old; rich and poor; beautiful and ugly; employed and unemployed. 

But no faithful are miserable.  A faithful person may be a poor person, rich person, young person, elderly person, beautiful person, ugly person, employed person, unemployed person.  But they are not a miserable person.   In fact, they are a loving person.

The reason why poverty is with us and is here to stay is the same reason why death is with us and is here to stay.  It is a part of the plan:  part creation, part sin, part life and part human.  It is a part of our falling down and growing up.  Think about it.  Why does the world give us a sense of beauty?  To watch it fade away?  Why is strength and health a thing to marvel at?  To experience weakness and illness?  Why does man begin to walk? To crawl again?  Why climb up a mountain if tomorrow I will be crawling out of bed!  Why does my body insist on being taken care of,  while at the same time making the necessary preparations to put itself to an end?  

Our world was created with both ends tying a knot and settling a score.  We are born into this world with nothing.  We die to this world empty handed.  We are placed in a womb.  We die and are placed in a hole. 

Yes, all things pass away, but not out of tragedy; rather, for an entirely different reason.  It is not to give birth to tragedy; it is to give birth to life and love.

Why is it that “We don’t know what we have until it is gone?”  Why must this be the prelude, the necessary opening act, to living and loving?  It doesn’t have to be!   But if I do not ever give myself, then I will never find myself.  Only if I give myself, will I find myself.  Only if I give myself, will I experience love.  Only when all “things” pass, will I witness heavenly things. 

When the music stops, why do we stop singing?  When the music stops, why do we stop dancing?  The lover does not wait for the beloved to love.  He does not wait for words of love before he gives a kiss.  The lover loves before the other.  Why give so much importance to what is given when I can give what must be given?  I do not need to have money to loved or loving.  I do not need to have music in order to sing a lullaby.  I do not need to be beautiful to be wonderful.   I do not need to be loved in order to love. 

The Lord came into the world to remind us of many things.  One being… that there is never a dull moment in life and love.

Luke 5:33-39 What To Do To...?

Luke 5:33-39 What To Do To...?

(Click here for readings)

The scribes and the Pharisees watched [Jesus] closely to see if he would cure on the Sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him…they discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

If you spend some time with someone, you are bound to get to know them.  Once you get to know them, you are bound to get upset with them.  From a distance, they can do no wrong.  Up close and personal, all they seem to do is wrong. 

This is the paradox of friendship.  In order to make a friend, you have to get to know them.  Once you get to know them, you know everything about them.  Once you know everything about them, you can easily get annoyed by them.  That’s why very few brothers or sisters are very good friends.  It’s not because we didn’t get to pick them.  It’s because we got to know them! 

To be a friend means to love a friend.  To love a friend means to forgive a friend.  A friend is not someone you find.  It is someone you forgive.   

This morning I told a group of high school senior girls that the best way to prepare for College life is to invite their little sister back into their room.  What better way is there to prepare for dorm life; for a roommate you didn’t pick!  What a great way to prepare for someone who will snoop into your affairs; complain night and day; and have little to no respect for your property, feelings or ideas.

Friends do not make us better prepared for college life (or life).  Family does! 

The scribes and Pharisees were watching the Lord closely to see if they could accuse him of something, anything.  Boy, that must have taken a lot of work!  It couldn’t have been an easy task.  And there lies the irony of it all:  the scribes and Pharisees were working hard, harder than the Lord, on the Sabbath!

But they couldn’t find anything.  So what to do? 

Rather than looking to be better or holier, the scribes and Pharisees looked for something – anything - to accuse the Lord of.  And the Lord knew it.  That’s why He went along his way and spent very little time with them.  Sure, He talked to them and dealt with them, but He gave very little of Himself to them, and this irritated the hell in them!  While the Lord continued to cure the sick and heal the sinners, the scribes and Pharisees continued to attack Jesus: viciously and aggressively.  They called him names.  They twisted his actions.  They distorted his messages.  In the meantime, the Lord continued doing what He did best.

What do you do when someone does you wrong?  Do you leave them alone?  Do you try to help them?  Or do you strike back in a vicious manner?  We all know what the Lord did.

What do you do when someone doesn’t fall into your trap?  Do you leave them alone?  Do you learn your lesson?  Or do you strike back in a vicious manner?  We all know what the Pharisees and scribes did.

Does name calling or throwing mud at someone’s name or reputation make you a better person?  Does calling someone a bigot, a racist, an extremist or a chauvinist make you feel any better?  Would it have made the Lord any better?  Did it make the Pharisees any better?

There are some people in this world that, regardless of how much you try to help them, will end up attacking you.  Christ knows!  The perfect man experienced it himself.   Would you expect anything different; especially you being imperfect?

Honest people make mistakes and give us a great opportunity to rise above the mud and forgive… just as we hope to be forgiven.    

To forgive someone does not require a lot of time.  Don’t expect too much time to be given.

Luke 5:1-11 Peter’s Hell

Luke 5:1-11  Peter’s Hell

(Click here for readings)

Simon said to Jesus, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.”  When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing…When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”  Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

Do not be afraid.  Here are those words again.  Why do I fear so much?  When do I fear so much?  I know when:  every time I lose control or when someone else takes control.  I am a control freak!  I want to control everybody and everything:  my day, my job, my boss, my friends, my destiny, my wife, my husband, my children, my life and my death.  But imagine for a moment a dog trying to control its master.  Looks pretty silly.  This is how it must look every time I try to control God.  Pretty silly.

And worse: control often leads to the fine art of manipulation.  Friends get burned.  I get burned.  Control freaks come to an end just like a power outage!  

Depart from me.  Peter loved the Lord.  But his love was elementary, far too simplistic; too black and white.  “Depart from me, Lord”.  I am no good for you.  Peter was afraid because he could not control the situation.  He understood the situation.  If he could not control the catch, he wouldn't be able to control the Lord.  And if he couldn’t control the Lord, he wouldn't be able to protect the Lord.  He felt like the burden was too much.  He felt the pressure to high.  Depart from me Lord.  I am a weak and sinful man.  

Peter understood the situation.  What he didn't understand was the Lord. 

We know not what we ask for. But what Peter was asking for is what many of us ask for:  to be left alone.  When Peter told the Lord to leave him, he was basically asking the Lord to send him to hell.  Oh, the heartfelt and confusing things we say!  Of course Peter knew not what he was asking for.  But every time we ask the Lord to depart from us, we are asking Him to send us to hell.

It’s time we exit the illusion of self-sufficiency and discover and accept one’s own needs:  need of others and God – His forgiveness and friendship. (Pope Benedict XVI) 

A while back, at a retreat in Lubbock, a young lady told me they were seeking evil upon God!  I asked, “Are you sure you know what you are asking for?”    She stood there unresponsive.  I continued, “Did you ever ask yourself why every time you wished evil upon the Lord, evils fell upon you?”   This individual had suffered greatly for her sins.  She knew what I was talking about.  “Have you figured it out yet that every time you try to crucify the Lord, you end up crucifying yourself?  Do you know why?  It’s because you were created in the image and likeness of God.  What you do to Him, you end up doing to yourself.” 

I am a sinful man.  Why should I not be afraid of the Lord when I feel like my sins have taken control of me?  How can you say I should be at peace and my rest tranquil when my life is falling apart?  How can I not worry? Why should I not be filled with stress, or anxiety or even panic attacks?  Why should I feel confident in God when I feel no love?  Be still.  Be silent.  Our peace comes from the Lord’s response to Peter’s insistence.  Peter is no different than me.  He was a sinful man.  I am a sinful man.  He was a useless man.  I am a useless man.  Peter was a simpleton.  I am a simpleton.  He was a control freak.  I am a control freak.  And still…the Lord made one thing very clear to him and that He would like to make very clear to me:  There are many things that I will do.  But I will never depart from you!

Departing from a bad situation is not something the Lord does well.  Love is very different from manipulation.  It asks for nothing in return and get’s more than it ever bargained for.

With a little faith, Peter’s hell turned into Peter’s glory.  He even stopped failing as a fisherman.

Mt 23: 1-12 Heavy Burdens To Carry

Mt 23: 1-12  Heavy Burdens To Carry

(Click here for readings)

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 they do not practice.  They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry…”

Do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example.   Some months ago, the Italian media began publishing hundreds of personal memos and letters by high ranking prelates working in the Vatican.  This scandal, known as “Vati-leaks”, is the stuff of soap operas.  It paints a horrible picture of some the personalities working closely with the Holy Father.  Not a few of these Cardinals and Bishops appear to be solely interested in advancing their careers.  Of course, these individuals (and documents) have become a source embarrassment and distraction for the Church, the Holy Father and the entire people of God.  Recently, the Holy Father called the entire Roman Curia together to blast them for their selfish ambitions and personal desires for personal gain.  In a nutshell, the Pope told them:  When you were invited to work at the Vatican, you were not invited to be served by others, but to serve others.  You are not here because you earned it.  You are here because you were called.  Get to work!

We really shouldn’t be scandalized by what is very human.  It’s very human to blame others for my failures.  It’s very human to point the finger at others.  It’s perfectly normal to make excuses for one’s incompetence. What’s remarkable - rather stunning - is that the Lord did not tell his disciples that the Pharisees were evil men; or that they preached evil things.  In fact, He told them that they preached what they were supposed to teach (the truth).  But they didn’t practice what they preached; or better yet, they didn’t preach what they practiced.  There’s a novelty for you! 

And by not doing so, they added extra burdens on sinners!  They isolated the open sinners from the hidden sinners.

They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry.  I have noticed that kids always love it when I tell them personal stories about myself, especially of my past mistakes.  They love it because they never ever expected it.  Actually, they love it because they can relate to it.  My hope and prayer for doing so is that they can relate to it in confession!  That is one of my goals during a retreat:  to get to confession and to get others to go to confession as well.

I don’t know about you, but I have noticed how the lines for communion are always much longer than the lines for confession.  I think it’s because we are far more inclined to let others see our good side than our bad side.  And this is the problem.  It’s not always a good thing.  According to today’s Gospel, the Lord’s problem with the Pharisees is not that they not perfect, it’s that they cannot relate to sinners, even though they are sinners themselves.  They tie up heavy burdens hard for others to carry because they tie their burdens upon the shoulders of others.  In other words, what makes it harder for me to carry my burden is if I think I am the only one carrying any burden at all!  If I pick up at how everyone around me is receiving communion, chances are I WILL TOO!  If I notice someone crossing their arms and receiving a blessing, I will be more inclined to do the same.

We can make ourselves more accessible (and more relatable) by making ourselves more transparent.  It’s not easy.  It’s no fun.  It’s not without its risks.  But it will end up being a bit relaxing for others.  What happens when someone opens up their heart to another?  The others follow.  And even more will eventually follow.

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Lk 1:39-56 The Assumption

Lk 1:39-56  The Assumption

(Click here for readings)

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

Often, I hear people tell me that they have a hard time relating to Mary.  I agree with them.  This morning, I was having a hard time as well.  But then I thought to myself, what exactly do I have a hard time relating to?

Just a few days ago, I went to see a couple of movies with some friends.  First, I went to see Bourne Legacy.  This movie was packed with death, murder, lies, chasing scenes, fighting scenes, personal (internal) struggles, commitment, love, betrayal, and intrigue.  The movie ended the good old fashion way:  good triumphing over evil and the hero relaxing with the woman he loves.  I liked it.

Then I went to see Total Recall.  Again, this futuristic movie was jammed pack with war, terror, death, a ton of  running, fights scenes, human (internal) tragedies, struggles, betrayal, love and intrigue.  It too concluded the good old fashion way:  with good triumphing over evil and the hero embracing the woman he loves.      

In both movies, the heroes shared something in common:  some sort of amnesia.  What is interesting is that neither hero ever forgot how to fight.  If we find it hard to relate to these types of movies, it isn’t because we don’t have struggles or difficulties in our life; rather, it’s because we’ve forgotten how to fight.

If we have a hard time relating to Mary, it’s not because she lived the perfect life; it’s not because she didn’t have any struggles or difficulties or even betrayals to overcome.  Rather, it’s because we have forgotten how to fight for someone or something that is worth dying for.  

Mary was a fighter.  She knew what it would take to overcome, overpower, and outsmart the evil plans of Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Roman Empire, the Jewish authorities.  She knew what it would take to overcome Joseph’s death, her son’s arrest, crucifixion and death.  She knows it takes her unconditional, real, sincere, hard working heart pumping prayers of love towards her Son and God to save the world.

Mary was a fighter.  Why?  Because everything mattered; everything except for prestige, titles, honors and false glories.  She was more than ready to get down on her knees before ever expecting to be lifted up.

This is our problem.  Not only have we forgotten what it takes (and therefore can’t relate) to be lifted up, but we have also forgotten what matters most:  not my glory, but God’s glory.

Not only do we get furious when we are not recognized for the little we have done, but we want it all without a struggle!       

Parents want their children to be perfect.  Teachers want the perfect children.  Blessed are the moms and dads and teachers that have the imperfect, the crazy, the totally human and defective children.  Blessed are the meek and humble of heart, for they will be exalted! 

Now, if you happen to have the “perfect” children, then I’m sure the Lord will be blessed with next door neighbors that have wild kids!  And if you happened to have the “perfect” classroom last year, then I am sure you will have the “crazy” classroom this year (or at least crazy parents to deal with)!

The struggles, the trials and difficulties you experience with your children are the best way – the perfect way - to show them how much you love them.  Tribulations are the perfect reminders that you cannot do it alone.  They are the perfect road signs that lead us to prayer and sacrifice. 

In every single apparition in which Mary appears, her message is always the same: “Come back to my son”.  Translated, this means, come back to reality; come back to what is important; come back to your senses. 

We would all like a Christ without a Cross, but let’s not forget the two go together.  Something worthy of dying for leads us all the way to glory and our final resting place.

Mt 12:38-42 Full of Surprises

Mt 12:38-42  Full of Surprises

(Click here for readings)

Jesus said to the Pharisees, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet…At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

Life is full of disappointments.  And they occur every time we are fooled into believing certain things are superior when in reality they are inferior. 

Yesterday I downloaded an app for my iphone 3G.  I was surprised to learn that I could get books on tape from my iphone!  I looked for one and found one that was free (whoopee!) and had available many of my favorite authors.  I found the book I’ve been trying to read for a while now (G. K. Chesterton’s classic, “What’s Wrong with the World”); I put my earphones on and settled in for what I thought would be a very relaxing and enjoyable evening.  Suddenly, my joy turned to sorrow. 

Look, I don’t mind dealing with an AT&T operator from another country.  I wouldn’t even mind dealing with an operator from another world.  But to listen to a book read by a speaker who sounds like a foreign exchange student, well…sorry.  I couldn’t believe it!  Who in the world would ask someone from the Middle East or India to read out loud a book that is already hard to comprehend? 

Life is full of disappointments.  I was very disappointed.

But life can also be full of wonderful surprises when we are fooled into believing certain things or people as inferior when in reality they are superior.

Jesus Christ grew up in an insignificant part of the world and was the only child of an insignificant couple.  He did not receive the greatest education or go off to study at the greatest academies of higher learning at that time.  He was a poor Jewish boy who lived engulfed in turmoil and surrounded by enemies.  Who would have thought…he would be the Savior of the world! 

Something greater here.  Jesus is unique because it is unique to find someone with a type A personality and a type B mentality.  It is unheard of to find someone who is incredibly intelligent and exceedingly humble.  It is unknown of to know someone who is very practical and very romantic.  No one ever expected to hear words of great wisdom from Jesus of Nazareth.  Nor did anyone ever expect to hear him speak words of forgiveness as he died on a cross.  Would you expect a Jew to go out of his way for a Roman centurion, a Samaritan woman or a sinful woman?  Would you expect a Jew today to go out of his way for a Nazi, a Muslim or a Palestinian?  No one ever thought in their right mind that the sinless One would dine with a bunch of sinners; touch sinners; and heal sinners.  No one thought He would ever pick sinners to follow Him! 

Although He left not a single written word, His Word lives on forever.  His Word is eternal.  Many prophets and sages came before Him and have come after Him, but not a single one was able to be Him.  Jesus is unique.  No one has ever been able to be like Him:  to combine love with truth, mercy with sinless, and wisdom with humility.  No one! 

And yet, so many of us have heard of Him.  We’ve even studied Him and yet we have a hard time, a very hard time, imitating Him!  If He was just a man, and we’ve had over two thousand years to be like Him, why is it so difficult to be like Him in all things?  It must be because there is something greater than Jonah [human] here.