Mt 13:44-46 The Kingdom of God and Gum

Mt  13:44-46  The Kingdom of God and Gum

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Jesus said to his disciples:  “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again.”

Recently, I went to see a movie with a beautiful family.  They have three girls and one little boy.  I can’t remember at this moment what movie we went to see, but that’s not the point of this meditation.  During the movie, the youngest child poked me repeatedly.  I thought he was just bothering me, but when I finally looked at him, I saw that he was offering me a piece of bubble gum.  “For me?” I inquired.  The child simply nodded his little head.  “Aw…thank you so much!”

While I watched the movie, I unwrapped the gum as quietly as possible and quickly put it in my mouth.  It didn’t take me long to realize that something was wrong with the gum; it didn’t taste right.  I chewed and chewed but there was no flavor.  In fact, it kind of tasted nasty.  It kind of tasted like it had been tasted before!  I looked over at my little friend and asked him, “Where did you get this gum?”  At that, he put his hand over his mouth and began to giggle; a giggle that reminded me of the JOKER!

I couldn’t believe it!  I was about to tell this child, “Don’t you know I can send you to hell?!!”  I didn’t.  I controlled myself.

Well, I immediately took the gum out of mouth and looked for the wrapper.  I have to admit I didn’t know where it was.  I kind of threw it somewhere in the movie theater.  With no options left, I decided to stick the gum on the front of my chair. 

I know…I know…Sorry, but I did it anyways.  I promised myself I would remove it as soon as the movie was over, I forgot.  Thank God! 

As we were saying our goodbyes and I was heading over to my car, I noticed that I couldn’t find my car keys.  I must have dropped them somewhere, but where?  I headed straight back to the theater and asked if anyone had found a set of keys.  Negative.  I went back inside the theater and to where I had sat.  But with the lights on and everyone gone, I couldn’t exactly remember where I had sat.  I went to one row, checked it, and found nothing. 

That’s when I remembered the bubble gum. 

I began to search for the bubble gum rather than for my keys.  Once I found it, I searched below my seat and found my keys.

If there is anything “unique” about my meditations; if the Lord has blessed me in a special way, then it is in taking the day to day realities of life and applying them to the Gospel truth. 

So often in my life I have considered certain “things” as useless, only to come back to them and find some hidden truth in them.  Take for example, faith.  As a child I considered faith as being meaningless, useless, and impractical only to come back to it later in life and appreciate it beyond belief!   Today, I consider my faith in God (and not in myself) as a treasure that is well worth selling everything for in order to own it.  What I once thought was tasteless, boring and unprofitable; today, I consider it to be a pearl of great price; the key to unlocking so many mysteries in my life.

Mt 10:24-33 Acknowledging God Before Others

Mt 10:24-33  Acknowledging God Before Others

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Jesus said to his Apostles:  “Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.”

I remember a conversation I had with a nutritionist.  He told me that he no longer drinks milk.  I asked him why?  He told me he was lactate intolerant.  I told him, “Excuse me for my ignorance, but isn’t there lactate-free milk in the supermarkets?”  “Yes”, he said, “but it's ‘unnatural’ for people to drink cow’s milk.” 

Unnatural???  How is drinking cow's milk unnatural?  Is it ‘unnatural’ to eat a tree’s apple?  I don't get the connection between this poor man's lactate sensitivity and the 'unnaturalness' of cow’s milk.  Isn’t lactate intolerance due to a lack of an enzyme?

Too often we make the wrong connections.  How often do we think we can push someone away from God by being too religious?  I know what you are thinking.  I know…I know.  I have heard it over and over again.  Many people have told me that their daughter or son no longer practice the faith because they felt forced into it.  But that’s simply not true.  It’s not!  The problem was not that they were forced to go to Mass.  Was it ever a problem that you forced them to take a bath?  Did they tell you they would never bathe again?  Of course not! 

Too much of Christ is not a bad thing.  Too little of him has proven to be a horrible thing.  Too much fresh air is never a bad thing.  Too little is a deadly thing.  Our problem is not Christ or Christianity.  Our problem is with us!  If I do not live my faith faithfully, then I will turn others off.  That’s the bottom line.  If I am mean and judgmental, constantly preaching and lecturing, and going off on others by insulting them, and then force my children or grandchildren to go to Church every Sunday and tell them they will go to hell if they don’t, do you think I may very well turn them off to God (or turn them into a raging lunatic)?  I admit there are a few exceptions to every rule.  But the connection between the love of God and the love of one’s parents is a strong connection.  The Lord did it himself.  Examine your conscience and let me know. 

Offending or offering.  “I don’t want religion to get in the way of my friendships.”  “I don’t want to offend anyone because of my God.”  “I don’t want to impose my faith on others.  I don’t want to cause a stir in the family.”   I’ve heard it all.  Do we offend others by offering our hope or do we offend others by offering no hope?As the number of Christian baptisms and marriages slowly but surely declines, it’s easy to think it’s because of our secular world.  It's not.  Of course the secular world doesn’t help…or does it? 

Does a candle not shine brighter in the dark?    Is the bully not conceived from a secular womb?  Does the raging lunatic not lack faith, hope and love? 

Yesterday, I was shaking my head hysterically at the absurdity of how dumbfounded a news reporter was at how rational Peter Keller was.  If you do not know, Peter Keller of Washington State murdered his wife and daughter and planned to hide in a bunker out in the wild that took him months to build.  It was an elaborate, well thought out and executed plan.  He even made a video of himself explaining himself.  The news reporter couldn’t believe it.  She kept repeating over and over again, “He sounds so rational!”  Duh!!!  Of course he does!  What did she think?  Why are people so stupid to think that lunatics have lost their reason?  That’s the only thing they never lose.  The problem with lunatics is that they don’t think outside the box – that is, they don’t think outside of their tiny brain!  They leave no room for faith, hope or love.  That’s what drives the murderer to murder!  That’s what drives the bully to strike...behind the scenes.  They think they know it all.  They have no need for faith, hope and love.

Do you really think that someone who claims to be “tolerant” of all religions will end up being “intolerant” because of your authentic love for Jesus Christ?  No.  On the contrary, they will examine your faith and see if it hold up to pressure. 

Don’t make the wrong connections, please.  Don’t blame God for being "socially unacceptable", or "out of touch with reality".  Don’t blame God for creating wars.  Don’t connect all religions with war, otherwise, you will exclude the biggest, costliest and deadliest ones of all time.  But if you do, then be fair and connect Christianity with St. Francis, Blessed Kateri, Mother Teresa, John Paul II, and the millions of other saints that have lived the Gospel faithfully.  Be fair and connect Christianity with the humble, not with the prideful!

In today’s Alleluia proclamation, we read “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of God rests upon you.”  So…have you been recently insulted for the name of Christ?  If so, then, according to St. Peter, “you are blessed”. Why?  Make the connection!  If Christ was blessed yet insulted, humiliated and rejected by others, then I to will be blessed if I am insulted, humiliated and rejected for the name of Christ. 

Make the connection.  Take it step by step.  Acknowledge God before others.  Live the faith faithfully.  Bear fruit.  Be blessed. 

Mt 9:14-17 Why?

Mt 9:14-17  Why?

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The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?”  Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?  The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them…” 

The Lord was asked many questions.  Thank God!  Otherwise, I’m not sure we would know as much as we know.  We don’t like people asking us questions because we don’t like having our opinions questioned.  And what I have seen in the past is clear:  if I can’t defend my opinion, then I will attack the person questioning it. 

Questions have always helped me to better understand why I do what I do or believe what I believe. Those who ask me force me to be vigilant in my thoughts, words and actions.  I can honestly say that I am a better thinker today because I am a better questioner today.  But remember:  If a good question can lead to a better opinion, so can a good answer lead to a change of opinion.

The Lord was asked by the disciples of John why he didn’t fast as much as the Pharisees did.  Good question.  To understand the Lord’s answer requires that we understand the purpose of fasting.  We fast so that we can get closer to God.  That’s the goal of fasting.  Fasting is a means, not an end.  Fasting allows us to purge ourselves from sin and purify our minds, hearts, and souls from material comforts so that we can get closer to the Lord.  That’s why we fast. 

Understanding this, we can better understand the Lord’s answer.  “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?”  Why in the world would the apostles fast if they are physically close to God?  If you have been invited to the (heavenly) banquet, then why in the world would you fast?  If you are growing, then why stunt your growth?

The Pharisees fasted, prayed and diligently observed the Law.  But did they budge an inch closer to the Lord?  Did their hearts get any softer?  No.  It appears as though they were praying and fasting for the wrong things.

I know a few people who “pray” for clarity and understanding regarding abortion, contraception, euthanasia and gay-marriage.  What they don’t realize is that they are praying not for clarity but for a change in opinion; that is, God’s opinion.  Isn’t the Church’s stance on these issues clear enough?  Isn’t the origin of the Church itself clear enough? 

A few days ago someone asked me why the Catholic Church is so “structured”.  They commented, “Some say it is a sign of weakness; a way to suppress free thought?”  Good question.  I gave them my answer.  “Structure comes from hard lessons learned.  The Church is like a building constructed on solid ground.  There is a lot of order, structure and thought that goes into building a building.  The reasons for it are the fires of the past and the errors of eras gone by.  There is much structure in fire codes these days because of the fires of ages past.  The Church has been through Hell and back.  Do we have to repeat wars once fought or fires once put out?  If we do not appreciate structure, it’s because we do not know the past. 

I always wondered by confessionals were done in boxes that were sealed; that is, where the priest did not have access to the penitent.  Until the 60’s, this was commonplace.  Now, it has been made very clear to all.  This is but one example of an error repeated from a lesson lost.

The Lord loves to bring people and teachings together; brides and bridegrooms; faith and reason; kindness and truth; justice and peace; honest questions and honest answers; fasting and God; Christ and The Church.

Mt 8:28-34 When Pigs Fly!

Mt 8:28-34  When Pigs Fly!

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The demons pleaded with Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.”  And he said to them, “Go, then!”  They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned…Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.

Why in the world did the Gadarenes want Jesus to leave their district?  To me that’s even more bizarre than two demoniacs coming from the tombs or an entire heard rushing into the sea!

Why would they want Jesus to leave their territory?  Did the townsfolk get used to the devil?  Were they comfortable with their strange companions?

“Seek good and not evil, that you may live” (Amos 5:14).  As we get further and further away from the truth, the truth will become more bizarre, more intolerant and more uncomfortable than lies.  Lies are very comfortable and tolerable.  They flow like milk and honey. 

Yesterday, Anderson Cooper, the CNN anchor, came out of the closet.  He told well-wishers that he was thankful to God for being gay and for being able to fall in love with someone of the same sex.

I feel justified in speaking about this since Mr. Cooper made his faith in God public while making the case of his sexual orientation public. 

I agree with him on certain points.  I too can fall in love with someone of the same sex, but I don’t need to be gay to do that. 

Love comes from God, that’s true.  And the command to love one another comes from God.  We can love our dad, brothers, uncles, male friends and male cousins as much as we love our mom, sisters, aunts, female friends and female cousins.   But what’s even more commanding from God is the unique and special love between a man and a woman.  Although it is carried out in a much hidden, almost secretive way, it has never been kept in the closet or as a dark secret.  Rather, it has been made apparent and obvious in every single way: By God, by parents, by children and by biology. 

Sure, I can 'feel' loved in many different ways just like I can take a drink in the normal way, through my mouth, or in a very artificial way, through an IV.  I can speak through my mouth, which is the typical way, or I can speak through my throat in a very mechanical way.  I can breathe through my nose and mouth in a very natural and healthy way, or I can breathe through my neck by means of a tracheostomy.  I can do it all, and I can even say that it was all done in the name of love.  But I cannot say it was done in a very natural way.   

Yes, I can use my mouth in a variety of ways:  to drink, eat and speak.  But that doesn’t mean I can drink whatever I want, like poison; or eat whatever I want, like rotten food; and say whatever I want, like filthy lies.  No! In the end, the mouth, like the body, is subject to certain laws.   

In today’s Gospel, the Lord was driven out of a town.  He was politely asked to leave.  It appears as though he was making too much ruckus with all those pigs squealing and all those tombs opening!  Wherever he went, the Lord made a scene.  It was a scene that repeated itself over and over again.  Wherever he went, he turned sinners into saints.  And sometimes they screamed all about it.

Wherever we (Christians) go, we make a scene.  And just like the folks in Christ’s time, very polite (tolerant) people will ask us to shut up and leave.  But unlike the Lord, why do we ask ourselves, “What did I do wrong?”    Oh…this is the reason why Christians are not welcomed!!!  This is the reason why people hate Christians!!!  Really?  Or is it for other reasons!

My dear friends:  Get this into your head.  Once and for all!  Make no mistakes about it.  To be Christian will never mean to be popular.  It isn’t part of Christ’s story which means it isn’t going to be a part of our story! 

To be Catholic will never be a comfortable thing.  We live on the edge.  We speak the whole truth.  We stand up for the dignity and the sacredness of human life.  And anything (ANYTHING!), or anyone (ANYONE!), that tries to eliminate it, cheapen it, or distort it will not be tolerated. 

Christ’s death was not a cheap death.  Life is worth living and dying for.  Life is not cheap to us!

As our society gets further and further away from God (the Truth), we will continue to be pushed further and further into the back and darkest part of society – the gutter.  But in the meantime, the Church is where sinners are welcomed, but sin is not. 

We do not drive the Lord away.  We make pigs fly! 

Now that's Independence!

Mt 5:13-16 You Are The Light!

Mt 5:13-16  You Are The Light!

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Jesus said to his disciples:  “You are the light of the world.  A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.  Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” 

If you want to be great, then make yourself small.  This is not only one of Christ’s great teachings; it’s also practical science 101: the closer you are to the ground, the bigger something appears. 

It’s hard to take seriously a 50ft statue of someone.  It’s easy to take their grave seriously.   We should love our humanity for what it is:  small.  We should love our God even more for making himself small. 

Christ is always preaching at the top of some mountain.  He makes himself small to make his Father great.  All honor and glory to the Father!  Whatever He does, He attributes to the Father.  Even near the end of His life, the Lord said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” 

All of us love to be praised.  We appreciate it and we value it.  But do we reciprocate it?  “The glory of man is God’s glory.”  Who I am and what I am is a reflection of God.  Do I realize that?  Do I accept that?  Do I take this seriously? 

Sometimes we ask the question, “What good deed can I do today?”  Imagine for a moment if you asked your boss, “Is there anything I can do for you today?”   Well, can’t we ask this question to the greatest Boss there is? 

You are the light of the world.    No I’m not.  I’m nobody.   That’s what a lot of us think.  That’s what all of us should think.  I am nothing…without the Lord.  I am nobody…without the grace of God.  I would be simply dust, a speck, an instant, a moment, a passing shadow…if it were not for the Lord.  But with the Lord, I can be great while small. 

Last night I went to the movies to see “For Greater Glory.”  I was pleasantly surprised to see on the big screen the life and martyrdom of Jose Luis Sanchez del Rio.  Back in 2005, I had the grace to be in Guadalajara to witness this young boy’s beatification.  The stadium was packed with over 50,000 people.  And yet, at that time, I thought to myself, “So many young people will never know what he did.”   Well, almost ten years later, and through this movie, millions of people (including hundreds of thousands of kids) throughout the world will know his name and all that he did out of love for God and at the young age of twelve. 

We can be better.  We just need to know better.  We can be inspired.  We just need to be inspired. 

You are the light of the world.  It seems to me that the only people inspiring these days are heretics.  They have a loud voice and a ready audience. 

It’s time we come out of the closet.    I want to tell everyone that I am a Christian. And to make matters worse, I want to tell everyone that I am an orthodox Christian.