Luke 14:12-14 Feeding Your Faith

Luke 14:12-14  Feeding Your Faith

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On a Sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.  He said to the host who invited him, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends… or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they invite you back and you have repayment.  Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.”

Reading books on prayer is not the same as praying.  Knowledge of God is not enough to fall in love with God.  We must experience God.  How?  It’s simple, extraordinarily simple. 

If I want to increase my faith, then I must take a leap of faith.  The best part about believing is the surprises that come from faith.   

Every morning I reflect on God’s Word:  His Son and Scripture.  I translate the Lord’s words into my words and the Lord’s actions into my actions.  This is my Morning Prayer and daily bread, and this is what I will give to my parishioners and students.  This is how I increase my faith.  This is how I take a leap of faith.

Recently, at a high school retreat, while the kids where in adoration, a student came up to me and asked for some advice regarding a friend.  I told her that she should go back to adoration, look for her friend and surprise her friend by giving her a hug.  She wasn't sure about my advice.  Well, as soon as she left I left. 

The next day, she came up to me and told me what happened.  As soon as she went back to adoration, her friend came up to her and gave her a hug.  She couldn't believe it.  She couldn't believe that the Lord had told her friend what I had told her. 

Her faith grew that day.  It became alive for the first time in a long time.  

When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.  The Lord loves to keep us on our toes, our tippy-toes.  He loves to keep us in suspense.  He loves to throw curve balls at us.  Just when we think we are getting the hang of this Christian stuff, the Lord encourages us, to go one step further, by challenging us.  He loves to challenge our pre-conceived notions by turning our world upside down.  He loves to challenge our love out of love for us.  He does so because, like He told Martha, He wants us to experience the better part; the part about trusting God above all our fears and tribulations and finding the surprise at the bottom of it.   

When was the last time you were surprised by your faith?  If it has been a while, then it means you’re going through the motions:  you're going to Church out of a debt to pay.  It means you're just praying out of an obligation or habit.  And if you're praying out of habit, then you're praying with your mind only and not with your whole body:  mind, heart and soul. 

The commandments are not so much an obligation as they are a prescription.

In today's Gospel, the Lord is not offering us a quick tip to holiness or some “techniques” to rise in stature and in respect.  He is encouraging us to make the most out of life; to learn from the blind, the poor and the crippled.  There is so much to learn outside of school.  There are so many friends to be made outside of my circle of friends.  There is so much more to this world than the places and things I can see, or walk to or buy.  There is so much more to love than my carnal desires. 

There are so many better things in my life than in whom or what I like.

Because of our lack of faith, we have this undesirable tendency to work with the undesirable to make ourselves more desirable.  In other words, we have a tendency to do things for ourselves even when we are doing things for others. 

The Lord is telling us that that is not Christian.

Kids struggle with their faith because they never get a chance to experiment with their faith.  Parents can help their children by encouraging their children to take a leap of faith.   For example, if your child wants to have a birthday party, then encourage him/her to not only invite their friends, but also to invite some people who would never imagine being invited by him/her.   See what happens next.  Try it.  Take a chance. 

If you think about it, the problem with most of our parents and kids today is that they resort to sinning rather than believing.  They are more than willing to take a chance at breaking the commandments (and getting what they want) than take a chance and living by the commandments (and get what God wants).  So they never really get a chance to experience God in their lives or know Him by heart or above all things because they are constantly placing themselves and their fears in His place.

If you want your children to experience God in their lives, then you must show them the Way.  It’s not enough to just teach them "the faith".  Rather, you have to inspire them to His words and actions by your decisions, inspirations, suggestions, mercy, compassion, understanding and unconditional love.  To achieve this, you must continue reflecting on your faith and feeding your faith on God’s word and God’s body.

Luke 11:37-41 The Things That Matter Most

Luke 11:37-41  The Things That Matter Most

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After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home.  He entered and reclined at table to eat.  The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal.  The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees!  Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil….Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside?”

God loves us just the way we are.  Although I may disagree with most people who love to say this, I have to admit I disagree with them not because of what they say but because they “know not what they are saying.”  Yes, the Lord loves us “just the way we are”.  But if this is true, then why did the Lord admonish his host?  Why not just ignore him?  If I can’t say a kind word, then I shouldn’t say anything, correct?  And besides, the poor Pharisee didn’t even express his astonishment to Jesus.  Why all the fuss? 

Yes, I agree, the Lord loves us “just the way we are”.  In fact, He loves us enough to die for us.  But that does not mean He doesn’t expect much more from us, especially after He died for us. 

Jesus loves the Pharisee enough not only to die for Him but to correct him as well.  Love is not blind to error or sin.  It does not ignore one’s faults or even one’s sins.  The Lover is allowed to correct the beloved, and leaves room to be corrected himself.    

It is not wrong for a mother and father to say to their child, “I will always love you no matter what you do.”  But it would be seriously wrong for a mom and dad to never teach their child right from wrong.

Today, applauses, ribbons, certificates and trophies are given out like assorted candy.  Everyone gets one, regardless of how well they did or how much effort they put in.  Every time we congratulate a student on their poor performance we’re not only lying to them but teaching them how to lie. 

Yes, parents and teachers should love their children and students just the way they are, but that doesn’t mean they have to lie to them.  It takes faith, not lies, to love someone.  “Faith working through love” is what matters most (cf. Gal. 5:6).

My country right or wrong.  Americans were not the first to use this slogan during the Vietnam War.  The British were, sometime in the 19^th century, and during a war.  It is not an easily understood slogan.  It can easily turn the patriot into a real traitor.  After all, if someone loves their country enough to allow it to go down the wrong path, then (sorry) he is not a patriot, he is a traitor.  I love my country very much, enough to warn it or stop it from going down the wrong path!

Not too long ago, I got into an argument with a very holy woman who happens to be a Democrat and a very good friend (at least I think so).  She was trying to convince me that the Republicans were politicizing the tragic death of our Ambassador and three other Americans in Libya.  For her, this tragic incident was becoming a political issue, and the main reason for all the conservative media’s attention. 

My perspective is very different.  I told her that this tragedy will not go away not because Republicans keep bringing it up but because terrorists keep bringing it on, especially every 9/11.  Aren’t the terrorists constantly reminding us where there is a lack of security?  Aren’t they reminding us that the war on terrorism is far from over?  The Islamic world, especially in the Middle East, does not join us in mourning the loss of life on 9/11.  Instead, they continue to pick at our wound or open up a new one every 9/11.  The war on terrorism is far from being over.  And there is fear in admitting this.  It will take at least a century for this war to end because we refuse to attack the source of the problem:  Radical Islamic preaching.

I love my country, right or wrong, but love doesn't hide the issues, it brings them out, into the light. 

Everyone who loves life, their country, their family and their neighbor must speak up about what matters most.  It takes a lot of courage to love everyone just the way they are.  It takes a great deal of faith to love them even more. 

Luke 10:38-42 Lord, Do You Not Care?

Luke 10:38-42  Lord, Do You Not Care?

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Martha, burdened with much serving, came to Jesus and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?  Tell her to help me.”  The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.  There is need of only one thing.  Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

Lord, do you not care?  The Lord cares…that I know.  But I’m not convinced that He cares so much about what we care so much about.  While we stress over a lot of things that maybe are just not worth stressing about, we don’t stress enough what we should be stressing.

Forget for a moment that Martha is working hard in preparing and serving a meal.  Let’s, for a moment, imagine that Martha is a 21^st century woman, wife and mom who doesn’t prepare or serve a meal but rather stresses over picking the right nanny to tend to her only child.  Lord, don’t you care that I pick the right nanny? Now of course I can’t speak for the Lord, but my gut instinct tells me He really doesn’t care.  Or let’s take for a moment our full-time working man who thinks he's a part-time dad and husband.  He puts in extra hours on Saturday and Sunday to get that big promotion at work.  Lord, don’t you care that I make more money than I really need?  Again, I can’t speak for the Lord, but I think it’s a sure bet that He doesn’t really care.   

There is a school for young children in Dallas that by the name of it I thought at first was a French pastry shop.  But then one morning I was surprised to see so many kids getting dropped off to get a pastry, and right before school!  I inquired and found out that my little “French pastry store” was actually an American’s ingenious business plan to start up a very expensive school for the snobbish and lonely children of the very rich and far too busy parent.

Recommendations written by school parents reinforce what I just said:

“If not my wife or I…then [this school]...as slightly (maybe overly) protective parents, we looked at EVERY option. Nanny’s, babysitters, daycares, half days, half weeks, full weeks…Far and away the best decision was [this school].

They stressed.  They looked at every option, except the obvious one; that is, that they downsize to allow someone to stay home and be the most important person in their child's life; that is, the first educators of love, faith and values to their own God-given and precious child. 

Another stressed-out parent writes:  “Our daughter has attended [this school] since she was 7 months and she’s now almost 4 years old.  [This school] has exceeded our expectations and prepared her so well for Pre-K.  I highly recommend [this school] This is not a daycare but the first steps into education.”

Yes, before your child can take his or her first physical steps, they need to be taking their first cognitive steps “into” education, Pre-K. 

Now, I've always understood how some poor families could not afford to have one parent stay home.  But the fact that rich families cannot afford to either is very confusing to me. By the looks of it (and commentaries), it seems as though rich parents are stressed just as much over the right educational options for their child as poor parents are stressed over the lack of options for their child.  Everyone seems to be stressed out, regardless of whether or not they are rich or poor.  So maybe poverty and wealth have nothing to do with stress but being over-ambitious and selfishness do?

This might explain why so many children are on medication for anxiety and stress.  It’s not because their parents are rich or poor, it’s because their parents stress over the wrong things.

We should all take a trip to Finland where children start their education at the age of seven and don’t seem to worry so much about keeping up with other Fin’s.

I don’t think toddlers need teachers to learn skills or a foreign language like French by the time they can pick their nose.  [Of course, there is a French way to pick one’s nose…if you did not already know.]  I think toddlers need their mom and dad to take care of their bloody nose.

Does the Lord care about this?  I don’t think so.  Actually, I know He doesn’t care at all!  But I guarantee you that the Lord does care that we are faithful to our vocation as husband/wife and father/mother.  The good news is that he will hold us accountable for the simple things in life.  The bad news is that most of these things are neglected on a daily basis. 

Did you give your time, attention and affection to your spouse and family?  Did you stress to your children the need to pray to the love of their life?  Did you teach your children how to love as they should? 

If not, then it is time to stress over them...over and over again.

Luke 10:13-16 Listen To Me!

Luke 10:13-16  Listen To Me!

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Jesus said to them, “Woe to you, Chorazin!”  Woe to you, Bethsaida!  For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented…Whoever listens to you listens to me.  And whoever rejects you rejects me.  And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” 

Not too long ago, an old man, working at John Paul II High School, told me when he first learned to pay attention.   He had enlisted in the Army and was given a chance at serve in the 101st Airborne Division.   

The Army instructor made it very clear to all the young recruits.  “Men, listen up!  Jumping out of a plane is very serious business.  Pay close attention at all times.  Follow instructions carefully.  If you don’t, you could pay for it with your life.”  As soon as he had finished these words, the men saw a plane flying directly above them.  As the instructor continued to speak to them, the recruits were distracted at what they saw.  Ten men had jumped from the plane.  As they were falling from the sky, one man’s parachute failed to open.  The recruits could not believe what they were seeing.   They watched in horror as the soldier hit the ground at over 100 mph.  They witnessed blood and guts splatter and scatter all over the place. 

It turned out to be just a dummy.  But it was a lesson he said all the dummies learned and never forgot.

Who do I listen to?  Who will I listen to?  Who will I obey? 

The people of Chorazin and Bethsaida rejected the Lord.  Do you understand?  They REJECTED God!  What happens to us when we reject God?  We end up falling from the sky and breaking apart.  We hit rock bottom and fast!  It doesn’t matter how much we have or how privileged we are.  If anything, the weight of our possessions just makes us fall faster!  And the more privileged we are, the more shocked we become!

We all want to be successful in our lives.  But what exactly does it mean to be successful?  That’s an important question.  If you want to live a successful life, then we better know what success means. 

Success is nothing more than holiness.  The holier you are, the more successful you are.  What could be more successful than being another Christ?  What could be more successful than life-everlasting?  What could be more successful than being the man or woman you were created to be? 

So what does it mean to reject the Lord?  It means to reject His Church. 

“Whoever listens to you [my disciples] listens to me.  Whoever rejects you rejects me.  And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”    Wow!  The Lord definitely stands behind his men, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, till death we unite.    

Say whatever you want.  Say to me that you are a very “spiritual” person but not at all “religious”.  Go ahead.  It means nothing.  Say to me that you believe in Christ but not in His Church.  Go ahead.  But know that what you are saying is not at all what Christ said.  “Whoever listens to you listens to me.  Whoever rejects you rejects me.”   

Someone said to me today, “Why should I go to confession with a priest that is a bigger sinner than I am?”  I told that person, “Because he would be very gentle to you!  He’ll probably be able to relate to you better than most others.” 

Let's use our common sense.  Is a doctor disqualified for treating patients because he has cancer?  Is a woman disqualified for being a marriage counselor because she is not married?  Of course not!  Is someone disqualified to forgive because they need forgiveness?

What are you trying to accomplish in your life?  Who is influencing you the most?  Is it God?  Is it your family?  Is it your friends?  Is it the entertainment industry?

I’m so sick and tired of hearing Catholic school teachers (and “Nick Junior”) repeat secular old and stale doctrines to our children.  Why do we keep telling children how important friends are when it is their friends that are causing so many of their problems?  Why are we failing to tell our children how important it is to make friends with their siblings? 

Think about it.  Why are so many girls confused about boys?  Because they never speak to the first boy in their life:  their brother (or father)!  Today, tell your daughter to ask her brother a simple question:  “What do guys usually think about?”  Do it.  So that she will finally know the secret about boys (and most men).  What do boys think about all day long?  “Uh…nothing???”  Yes, that’s it!  Boys don’t have anything on their mind, and if they did, it would be gross.  The secret is finally out and your daughter finally knows (and has no further doubts about it) that most boys are narcissists and pigs!  She just found out what her friends will painfully find out; that is, that boys don't care much about anyone or about anything! 

Why do so many boys have a hard time understanding girls?  Because they never speak to the first girl in their life:  their sister (or mother).  But if they did, then they would finally connect two important dots:  that their sister is actually a girl.  Help them mom and dad!  Why don’t we help them?  Tell your boy to ask his sister what she thinks about all day long.  And the secret will finally be revealed.  He will know that they think a lot more than he does, and that they think a lot about their hair, their clothes, their friends, romance, colorful stuff, etc…  Now they know! 

I think the biggest difference between a movie and life is the script.  In a movie people tell you where to go, what to do and what to say.  But in your life, you have the chance to write your own script.  You can determine what you will say, what you will do, and how you will live.  But since no one is an island, you will have to decide who will have the greatest influence in your life.  Who will it be?  Friends or family.  Secular ideals or God’s Word.  School/Country or Church.  My will or God's Will.

Christ speaks.  You decide.  Best of luck.

Mt 23:23-26 From the Outside In

Mt 23:23-26  From the Outside In

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Jesus said:  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.  You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.” 

A few days ago, I wrote that “Atheists believe the world goes round and round; that is, it is what it is.  Christians as well believe the world goes round and round, but upside down; that is, it isn’t what it is.” 

Upside down and outside in.  Let us pray for all our moms and dads who continue to kill themselves for the insignificant and deny themselves of the significant.  Let our thoughts go out to all our dads who continue to bust their behind for a fancier car, a bigger boat, a larger paycheck and a better yard but do not lift a finger for their spouse and family.  Let us pray for all our moms who continue to kill themselves for greater glory, greater praise and greater independence but have neglected to care for their spouse and family. 

This is life lived upside down.  This is an exercise in Futility. 

Let us pray for our boys who continue to build their bodies, but not their souls.  For our girls who wish to perfect their bodies, but not their souls.  This is life lived outside in. 

The Sensationalist.  Those who deceive (who love to be bad) love to play God.  They love to turn the truth upside down, as if we were standing on our heads, until it hurts our heads.  In our upside down world we want to be able to tell God what He should do; to tell Him what marriage is, what family is, what love is, what life is all about.  We even want to tell Him what sex is! 

What does it take to be remembered forever?  What does it take to get noticed; to get your name in print?  Be a sensationalist.  Mix some good with a lot more bad.  For example:  If you want to be a big time singer, then it’s important to have a good voice.  But it’s even more important to lose your faith.  If you want to be a political activist, then you should know a little bit of history and take a lot of lessons in singing.  But it’s even more important that you know what to name your band.  It should be something more shocking and perverted than the bands before you. 

Want some to notice you?  Don’t step in Church, step on the Church! 

By the way...If you are starting up your own Church and need a large congregation, then you should know a little bit about the bible and a lot about lighting and music.  Make sure you know that Jesus said he would return, and make sure your people think it's NOW, and you will have a very large congregation! 

Now “flashists” and sensationalists have no place in Christianity.  St Paul asks the community of believers in Thessalonica not to be shaken out of their minds by a “spirit”, or by an oral statement, or by a letter allegedly from one of them to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.  “Let no one deceive you in any way” (cf. 2Thes 2:3a). 

The sensationalist is full of it; that is, full of sin.  He tends to crave more of that which is sensationally sinful than that which is sensationally true.  He tends to be drawn towards sensationalism, like temptation and to crave it like a drug. 

In reality, what is truly sensational is what we call “common”.  An apple falling from a tree is just as sensational as a rover landing on Mars.  Both were designed.  Both serve multiple purposes.  Both carry out functions that are truly remarkable.  But the apple falling from the tree far out functions, out performs and far exceeds (or far out-seeds) all rovers combined. 

Predicting the end times and preaching about it have always been a great source of revenue for many denominations.  We love what is sensational.  And we are always scanning the horizon for the next sensation to happen.  We live for it, and when we are through with it, we look again to satiate our appetite; looking for the next sensation, which is typically more daring, thrilling, appealing and appalling. 

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.  (cf. 2Thes 2:17)

Christian prayer is not sensational; it is very straightforward.