Luke 10:25-27 People Pleasers

Luke 10:25-27  People Pleasers

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There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

If I were to ask a group of Catholic High School students what we must do to have eternal life, I guarantee that most of them (if not all of them) would say, “Do good things to others.”  And of course that would be incorrect. 

Now in our politically-correct charged atmosphere, that is rapidly decaying Christian values and  common sense, my response to such a global-fuzzy-warm-feelings sentiment would not sit very well with most so-called “social justice” advocates of the first-world-in-high-tech (but third-world-in-family-life) nation of America. 

The Lord answered this question, regarding salvation, long ago by posing a simple question to a scholar: “What do you read in the Law [Scripture]?”  The man answered by saying, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”  Christ said, "You are correct."   

Now, in order not to fall into the trap of loving others as we love ourselves, the Lord gave us a criteria.  He said, "Love one another as I have loved you." 

The Lord feared that we would love others not as we should, but to make us feel good.  In other words, the Lord feared that we could easily end up wanting our neighbor to worship us…just as we worship ourselves. And maybe that's the reason why we rarely ever mention God in any of our "social justice" projects. 

But if we can rise above ourselves, then we can rise above the fray just like the Lord rose from the dead and above all human conditions. 

Christ invites us to rise above human divisions and cultural barriers and promote a movement that places God above all things: all ideas, all customs, all people and all powers!  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is nothing more than the Gospel of Truth and Life in a Culture of death and lies.  

I know I have more in common with some of my Baptist friends than I do with some of my Catholic parishioners.  I know that I have more in common with some public school students than I do with some Catholic school students.  We are related not by titles but by mission.    

A few days ago I walked past a high school student waiting for the bus to take him to a Catholic High School.  He saw me.  I saw him.  I smiled at him.  I waited to see if he would say something.  He said nothing.  In fact, he put his head down. I thought to myself, “There goes another Catholic student who is sick and tired of God and the faith.”  Then, on the same day, I read in the newspaper how a bunch of public school cheerleaders were fighting in court to keep their tradition of writing bible quotes on their banners!  That’s amazing!  But what is even more amazing is that the judge ruled in their favor (at least temporarily). 

How many Catholic schools do you know put bible quotes on their banners, marquees, newsletters, etc…? 

Again, it’s all about what we want to promote:  an unknown God or a well known school; an unnamed God or a name for our school?  Do we have to sacrifice one for the other?

Well, this morning I saw him again.  He stood like a statue in the freezing cold air.  I walked up to him, with my head down and stood in front of him.   I made the sign of the Cross and looked up at my living “statue”.  I pretended to be startled and I told him, “Oh my goodness!  I thought you were a statue of St. Augustine!”  He was shocked.  He smiled and laughed…a little.  He didn’t know what to say.  That’s the unfortunate part.

Sometimes I think our schools, in their drive for academic excellence, cause our students “shell-shock” and confusion with regards to common sense and religious fervor.

The Lord helped a “scholar” to better understand the word “neighbor”.  You would think it would be obvious to such a brilliant man.  But as the war on religion (on what is right, holy, decent and good) continues to ravage America, our youth and our families, you would think that we would be fighting back.  Instead, we have become “people pleasers”.  Worst of all, we think this is pleasing to God.    

St. Paul asks the Galatians:  “Am I seeking to please people?  If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ” (Gal 1:6-12). 

You gotta love St. Paul, since nobody else did. 

We tend to place “freedom” above the Gospel.  But we can see what happens to our youth, our families, our culture and our neighbors when this happens.  What the Gospel tells us and what experience has demonstrated is that freedom without responsibility is a disaster!        

Christians have been given the tremendous responsibility to save America and Americans.  How?  By serving God and help our neighbor.  Let’s not blow it by being people pleasers.

Mt 14:1-12 Angry Birds

Mt 14:1-12  Angry Birds

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Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist.  He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”

The best thing a despot could do is kill his enemies.  The worst thing a despot could do is create martyrs.  Herod was no dummy.  He knew that, but forgot it.  John’s death exposed Herod’s weakness.  The tetrarch was not as strong and powerful as he made himself out to be.  His arrogance brought about Christ’s emergence.

This man is John the Baptist.  He has been raised from the dead.   Herod was no superstitious guy.  He knew what he was saying.  He knowingly killed John and unknowingly raised a million more like him.  Even better, he raised, from obscurity to center stage, someone a million times more powerful than the Baptist who was ready to take it to the next level. 

Herod placed his hands over his head.  He knew he was through.  The Jews knew that.  Jesus knew that.  The end of an era was fast approaching.

Let us not forget what caused John to lose his head:  his unwavering support for the dignity of marriage.  How bizarre is history.  No matter how much we study it, we continue to forget it.

August 1^st, 2012.  What started off as an individual’s sincere acknowledgement of the dignity and sanctity of marriage ended with millions and millions of people across the country supporting religious liberty and freedom of speech.  Just two months ago, the supporters of gay marriage were riding high with unprecedented victories.  They had won the support of the President of the United States.  They had won recognition and support from the NAACP.  They were stronger than ever; more powerful than ever.  The only thing they did not need to do was turn their rainbow into a storm.  And they did. 

They gay community, once considered victims of discrimination, became ferocious abusers.   Many people in the country were shocked and outraged at their lack of understanding, charity and overall conduct towards American citizens of Christian belief.  Of course they would never dare attack American Muslims and their beliefs for they know that Muslims strike back… and hard.  Instead, they went after a soft spot, a scapegoat, and found a sleeping giant.

On August 1^st, 2012, millions of supporters of free speech and religious liberty (and marriage) turned out in record numbers to support Dan Cathy and his company, Chic-Fil-A.  This day (“Appreciation Day”) was organized in response to a gay community’s nationwide boycott of the fast food chain.  It was their attempt to bring a Christian organization and Christian individuals to submit or to fail.  If they had won, it would send a clear message to all Christian organizations. 

It failed, and failed miserably. 

But not only did it fail; it created a backlash that has galvanized millions of people.  It was the “shot heard round the world”; the spark that lit the world on fire. The question on the minds of millions was:  “Will this happen to me if I disagree???” 

August 1^st, 2012 was the most successful day in Chic-Fil-A’s history.  Last year the company made 4.1 billion dollars in sales, up 13% from the previous year; a company that closes its doors every Sunday.  On the other hand, the so-called “kiss-in” protest turned out to be an abysmal failure.  Not only did their manner of protesting disgust the general community, it also opened a window to the community at large at how the gay-community wishes to represent itself: in hyper-hysterical sexual postures.

How did the two communities react?  During the boycott, customers often saw Chic-Fil-A employees offering free water to gay protestors.  They continued, as always, to serve everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or preference.  But as gay marriage supporters continued to shoot themselves in the foot with bad publicity, they finally shot themselves in the head with a hate filled bigoted gay marriage supporter verbally assaulting and abusing a young employee at the drive-thru. 

By the end of the week, most supporters of gay-marriage had been silenced, embarrassed and set back.  “No comment” was their only way to save face.  In a single day, they managed to destroy whatever achievements they had made with the general population.  They thought they had found a chicken.  They never imagined creating an angry bird.

He has been raised from the dead.    Let us all learn from a chapter in the life of the Baptist.  The blood of the martyrs is seed for the Church.

Mt 13:10-17 No Scapechicken!

Mt 13:10-17  No Scapechicken!

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The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?”  He said to them in reply, “…This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand…Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear.”

A sociology professor asked his class if anybody was a racist.  Of course all the students shook their heads in denial.  “Are you sure?” the professor asked.  A few minutes later, he tested one student by asking him, “Tell me what you think about this statement:  If you want to make the world a better place, then you have to kill all the African-Americans, all the Jewish people and all the firemen.”   The student, looking confused, responded, “Why all the firemen?” 

The professor walked away with a smile on his face, satisfied that he had made his point. 

However, I think I would have objected to such a rash conclusion.  The student was not being a racist.  He was being a student.

We know, from our history, that African-Americans have been the object of discrimination and slavery by others.  We also know, from history, that the Jews have been slaughtered by the millions by others.  But the reaction of the student, regarding firemen, would have made me wonder:  Why are firemen the object of this man's fury?

The same question can be asked regarding Christians who support (traditional) marriage:  Why are they the object (or target) of so much fury? 

If I was a supporter of "gay marriage" and asked a Southern Baptist gentleman what he thought about "gay marriage”, I would hope he would be honest with me.  Then I would hope he would agree with me.  But if he didn't, I wouldn't be surprised.  In fact, I’d like to know why he didn't agree with me and I’d like to have the opportunity to share my point of view with him.  But since I asked him the question and hoped he would be honest with me, would it be right to be furious with him?  Did I ask him the question in order to set him up to be a scapegoat?

When I walk into a restaurant, I want to be served quickly and be treated with respect, with dignity and with good food.  I don’t expect the owner of the fast food chain or the waiter or even the cashier to agree with me on any other issues, especially political or social issues.  Just like the President of the United States, I want my food to taste great and be void of all diseases. 

But now, it appears as though the gay community wants all restaurant owners, all cashiers and all waiters to agree with them when it comes to accepting “gay marriage”.  BEWARE ALL CASHIERS, ALL WAITERS, ALL OWNERS, ALL PEOPLE!  Beware if anyone asks you a question regarding “gay marriage”.  Beware if you speak your mind and defend what has never had to be defended before.  Beware if you are honest.  Beware if you do not agree with them.  Watch out!

Why in the world is the gay community (and its hysterical supporters) shocked by a practicing Christian’s belief in scripture; in marriage; and in honesty?  And, at the same time, would serve anyone, regardless of their gender specific tendencies, a good meal? 

What did they expect this man to say?  Are they upset that he was honest?  Are they upset that he is a Christian?  Will they do the same to others as well; to Muslim owners?

The Boys Scouts of America (BSA) recently received over 300,000 signatures from individuals who oppose their policy regarding homosexuals serving as leaders.  But not one of those signatures proves a thing; namely, why the BSA’s stance is wrong.  After all, when millions of Germans voted for Hitler, did it mean they were right?

This Tuesday is Chick-fil-A appreciation day.  The gay community went after the wrong man.  They thought he only cared about money; they thought he only cared about chicken.   This scapechicken may very well turn out to be a lightning rod for Christians everywhere. 

Mt 7:1-5 Parable of The Sick Man

Mt 7:1-5  Parable of The Sick Man

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Jesus said to his disciples:  “Stop judging, that you may not be judged.  For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.”

On July 4^th, 2050, the American Medical Association came together for the last time.  A few months before, all hospitals and clinics were ordered shut for good.  After all, it had been years since anyone had been sick.  Yes, people continued to die, but they died for natural reasons. 

But a few years later, out of nowhere, came a young man who believed he was sick.  And since there were no longer any hospitals or clinics to go to, he would often wait outside the home of an elderly man who was once a doctor. 

“Doctor, I need to see you!” cried the young man standing in front of the shut door.  The elderly gentleman opened it and gently said to the poor fellow:  “Go home my dear child, go home.  You are not sick.  You are simply dying.” 

“I know I am dying”, said the young man.  “But I am too young to die.” 

The good humored man, full of wisdom and years, chuckled and said: “What is age? ...It is a human invention.  Besides, were we not born to die?” 

Saddened, the young man responded, “Yes doctor, but the aches and pains are becoming unbearable.  I can’t take it anymore.” 

With scientific love and a hand gently placed upon the frightened man’s shoulder, the former doctor replied:  “Aches and pains are a very natural thing my dear child.  They are becoming worse simply because the cancer is finally spreading, that’s all.” 

“But can it not be stopped???  I am too young to die!” 

“You are not too young to die…You are dying at the right moment.  You are being who you are.  You are living the way you were meant to live.  You see, you were born with a predisposition for cancer.  That’s all.  It’s not an illness, unless you consider old age or even life as an illness.  It’s who we are.  It’s who you are.  Accept it!  Embrace it!  This was our great discovery long ago.  The APA (American Psychological Association) got it right before we did, and just like them, we ended all illness by accepting it and, most importantly, by embracing it.  We are no longer weighed down by the enormous pressure to cure and to be cured.  Family and friends no longer have to be burdened by another’s illness.  We are free from insurance, mandates, bills and fees and pre-existing conditions.  Do you realize how good this is?  Your death will mean the end of all your aches and pains and all feelings of guilt and remorse.  In fact, it will be the end to all your feelings.  Come now…Just be who you are and bear with the days you have left.  You are not sick, my dear child, you are human.  Now go and rest in peace.”

The young men turned around and slowly walked away.  All along he kept saying to himself, “But something isn’t right here.  Something inside of me keeps telling me the opposite.”

As the young man turned back one last time, the doctor said aloud, “You’re fine…You don’t need a doctor.  You need a change in attitude.  Attitude can make everything right.  Accept this dear child.  Accept this for your own good.”     

Stop judging.   The Lord demands that we stop judging.  The reasons for it are obvious:  (1) we tend to judge harshly and incorrectly and (2) we tend to judge according to our standard rather than His. 

The problem with our standard is that it keeps changing with time.  And, given enough time (and the wrong people in a position of authority), what was once judged wrong can easily become right.  And what was once considered good can quickly become bad.  

The Lord is not asking us to stop judging.  He is not demanding that teachers stop grading papers or giving out report cards.  He is not asking judges to stop handing down sentences or giving out awards.   What He is asking is that we judge correctly, according to His standard; that is, His law, His word, Christ’s Love; that we judge honestly, mercifully and lovingly.  And to do so, we must see things clearly. 

The moral of my parable is simple.  The worst thing that could ever happen to us is not that we are denied treatment, but rather, we are told we are not sick.  We are sick!  We are sinners!  We all need a doctor, a Savior, Jesus Christ.  The means to our salvation is the forgiveness of our sins.  But if we are told that we are not sinners, then we will surely die in our sins.  All hell will break loose! 

Teachers that accept bribes will grade unfairly.  Corrupt judges will let the innocent man die.  Sinners will insist all sins are nonsense.  If we do not see clearly, we will never judge wisely. 

All hell would have broken loose if Christ did not pull the wooden beam from our own eye and carry it for our salvation.

We know how God judges:  with a lot of patience and with the patient in mind.  We know how we must judge:  through self-examination and with the Greatest Doctor in mind. 

Lk 1:55-66,80 What A Life Could Be

Lk 1:55-66,80  What A Life Could Be

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Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name.”…  All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” …The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

I praise you Lord, for I am wonderfully made.  You have created me in your image and likeness.  You call me son/daughter.  I have been given life for eternal life. 

Today, we celebrate the Baptist’s birth because his introduction into the world introduced to the world what is, and will always be, our mission and goal in life:  conversion to Christ.

 A few days ago I had breakfast with a wonderful family.  They have two daughters and one son.  I hadn’t seen them in a very long time and I was shocked when I saw the boy.  His hair had grown long.  He was wearing all black.  He looked tough and secure.  I was shocked to find out that he was neither.  In fact, he was very shy and very insecure.  I could barely hear him when he spoke.  And when he did, he hardly ever looked at me or anyone for that matter. 

Not too long ago, most people dressed in a way that expressed their personality.  Today, most people dress to make up for what is lacking in their personality.  Of course there are exceptions, but the rule rules.    

John grew mighty in spirit.  So much of who we are depends on how faithful our parents are.  So much depends on the obvious.  This child, like all children, is wonderfully made (cf. Ps 139).  Depending on his parents, he will grow either strong in body and soul or weak in spirit and pitiful in character.  The Lord has done his part.  Now, we must do our part, or face the consequences. 

On Saturday, a Kansas City mother was arrested after her 10-year-old daughter, who weighed only 32 pounds, was found locked in a closet.  The girl told detectives that her mother puts her in the closet “a lot”, that she doesn’t get to eat every day and that she “does not want to go back home anymore.” 

This little girl could have had a joyful childhood, loving parents, a place to call home, and friends from the neighborhood.  She could have had it all:  faith, hope and love.  Instead, her mother decided to give her hell on earth.  And both will pay a dear price for it.    

Hear me, O distant peoples.  Listen.  The Lord called me from birth; from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.  He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm.  He made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me. (Is 46:1-3)

I suspect this little girl’s heart has been physically as well as spiritually damaged.  What she could have been is exactly what John grew up to be:  a man with a heart to go after the Lord’s heart.  I wouldn’t be surprised if John grew up in poverty or under not-so-great living conditions.  But he did grow up with all that is needed; what every child, wanted or unwanted, deserves:  A fighting chance.  And he got it. 

John grew up in love with the Lord.  His family encouraged him to go after the Lord’s heart and he did.  He searched for it and he found it.  He found Christ. 

Mission accomplished.

What, then, will this child be?   John grew in his family's shadow and under their wing.  And because he grew, he was able to blossom.  And blossom he did.  He became his own man with his own personality.  His name and personality were unique.  He lived off of wild honey and locusts.  He made the desert his home.  His clothes were made from camel hair.  He was who he was, and he dressed the part; he dressed what he wished to express. 

John’s clothing added volume to his voice.  The desert added depth to his message.  His simple way of life added much needed honesty and authority to his mission.  Everything about him (and everything around him) made him easy to understand, especially by those who could not understand.  When John spoke, he spoke in stereo, in 4-D, with heart, mind, body and soul.  For what he said required his life, our full attention, and all the help we could get. 

His message was a learned lesson.  It was not a very warm and/or fuzzy message.  It was an essential message.  His message was filled with honest-to-God words:  Repent! Commit!  Simplify!  Sacrifice! 

These are the requirements for our conversion and that of our children as well.  Good Luck on your mission.

Mt 6:19-23 Where’s The Beef?

Mt 6:19-23  Where’s The Beef?

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Jesus said to his disciples:  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.  But store up treasure in heaven.  For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”

Do you remember the little old lady in the Wendy’s commercial that shouted out “Where’s the beef?”  Well, she did more than boost sales for Wendy’s.   This catchphrase became an all-purpose phrase questioning the substance of an idea, event, product and even person.  “Where’s the beef?” now means more than just beef. 

Where is Christ in your Christianity?  If you are buying a hamburger, you would think that the most important ingredient in the hamburger would be the burger, not the bun, or tomatoes, or onions or the lettuce.  Of course, all these ingredients are important in a hamburger, but the essential, not accidental, item in a hamburger should be – must be – the meat! 

Christians are good people, wholesome people, nice people.  We help others.   We give.  We are generous.  We are compassionate.  We are a community that helps others regardless of who they are.   But what makes Christians different from non-Christians?  What is essential to being Christian?  The answer is obvious; it comes from our name:  Christ. 

If we give our time, talents and financial treasure but do not receive Christ's Word, Christ’s sacraments and Christ’s graces, then we will give...something, but not everything.  If we are good to people but are not good at being Christ-like, then we will do what is possible, but not what is impossible.  This is why so many of us see holes in just about everything we do; in our “social justice curriculum” and even in our homes.  We give a lot and get a lot done, but we just don't ever seem to be able to seal the deal.  As a community, we give tons of food and clothing but are we sharing our faith, hope, and love?  Are we giving what all people need now and in the end?  While we are giving our love are we also sharing our faith in Jesus Christ?

Where is Christ in my life?  We grow up with tons of goals to achieve.  We want to be this.  We want to do that.  We want to go here.  We want to see this.  We want to experience that.  And there is nothing wrong with any of it, except for the fact that some of our goals were illusions while most of them changed with time.  It’s true.  I notice it with myself.  What seemed so important in my youth, no longer interests me in my maturity.    I see it too. I notice how young people love to dress while old people love to be able to dress.  Fast cars are at the top of the list for many young men and near the bottom of the list for many young dads.  We shouldn’t feel bad for our dads.  We should actually feel proud of them.  They get it.  They’ve grown up.  Career is important, like the lower bun of a hamburger.  Money is important, like the dressings.  Family is important like the top of the bun.  But what matters most must be Christ.  He is the way, the truth and the life.  He is the reason for it all.  Where is Christ in my life?      

Where is Christ in your children?  We spend years of our life to give our children the best.  We really do.  And that’s a lot…maybe too much.  After all, what went wrong with our children?  How did they screw things up so bad?  How did they become so narcissistic, pessimistic and problematic?  Maybe, just maybe, while we were chasing our dreams our kids were having nightmares.  While we were enjoying work, they were terrified of school and ‘friends’.  Could it be that while we were building our dream home, they were already thinking about selling it?  I see the way moms and dads treat their kids.  They have only the best in mind.  They spend and spend and spend a lot of money to get a safe car and safe car seats; they spend to buy organic foods, use organic detergents and live in ‘safe’ neighborhoods.  They want their children to receive the best education possible.  They lock the doors at night and turn on the alarm to keep their children safe and sound.  So what are we doing wrong?  Why are our kids acting like bullies, criminals and delinquents?  Why are our kids wasting their youthfulness on drugs and sex?  Why are our kids cutting themselves, abusing themselves and killing themselves?  You ask, Are they starving?  I say yes!  Are they dying?  Yes!   Are you kidding?  No!  How could they possibly be starving and dying if we are giving them everything?  We are not giving them everything.  We have given them just about everything but not everything.  We have taught them just about everything except the most important things.  We have given them just about everyone except the most important One.

What’s missing in our children's lives?  Christ!  They are starving for Christ.  Our kids are dying for Christ.

There are a wide variety of people that influence our children:  mom, dad, friends, teachers, coaches, mentors, actors, actresses, musicians, performers, etc…Some people have more influence than others.  Some people think they have more influence than others.  Some people have way too much influence, period.  But there is someone who is just dying to love our child, influence our child and be the most significant other in their life:  CHRIST.  There is something our kids could use more of and, I promise you, it will never mess them up:  faith, hope and charity.

Our treasure is our faith in Jesus Christ and the fruit of our treasure is our personal holiness. 

Who would not want that for themselves, for their children and for our world? 

Mt 5:38-42 Standing Can Destroy

Mt 5:38-42  Standing Can Destroy

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Jesus said to his disciples:  “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’.  But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.” 

Literalism is not the same as radicalism.  To take the word of God literally and in all cases is not the same as to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all cases.    

Offer no resistance.  Why?  Won’t evil prevail?  No.  Evil destroys itself.  But if you are like me, it seems like it doesn’t destroy itself fast enough!  That’s where we come in.  That’s where Christians can make a world of difference.  We can speed evil’s death by making it a little more obvious.  And the best way to make it obvious is for a Christian to stand in front of it.  “Offer no resistance” is not the same as saying offer nothing; or let evil step all over you; or let it roll over you.  Offer no resistance does not mean to be overcome or overtaken (cf. Rm 12:21).  It means do not fight evil with evil.  Do not fight fire with fire.  Don’t do it!  Otherwise, the difference between the son of God and the son of Adam will be harder to see; our light will not shine so bright.  Instead, “fight evil with good” (Rm 12:21) and our light will shine as bright as the Son! 

Christians follow a golden rule:  “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  It’s golden because it is solid and priceless.  Evil follows a rusty rule:  “Hurt others before they hurt you!”   It’s rusty because it’s decaying.  It’s decaying because it’s been recycled far too often.  Eventually, it will rip itself apart.  On the other hand, Christianity will never decay because it continually resupplies itself.  Love stimulates life.  Courage stimulates Heroes.  Evil stimulates extinction. 

Cheap music and cheap lyrics are more evident when compared to an opus of Mozart or Beethoven.  Pornography as art is easier to decry when compared to the masterpiece of a Mona Lisa.  Lenin and Stalin came out of the closet when Marx went in it.  Darwin planted a seed and Margaret Sanger sprouted.  Nietzsche and Feuerbach dethroned God and Hitler took his place.  “Can a bad tree produce good fruit? …You will know them by their fruits” (cf. Mt 17:16-18).

Christians are called to let evil die.  Sometimes it takes silence; sometimes it takes words.  But it always takes a stand.  The world is watching. 

According to the Detroit News, state Representative Lisa Brown was disciplined by House speakers for speaking over and over again about “her vagina” in a debate on an anti-abortion bill that would put new restrictions on abortion doctors.  Brown was silenced during floor debate for her comments.  They were deemed inappropriate.  But Brown, a pro-abortion representative, defended her actions.  “I used an anatomically correct word.  I said vagina.  Is there something wrong with that?  Can I not say elbow?  I don’t see the difference.” 

There you have it, folks!  She doesn’t know the difference between her vagina and her elbow.  And that explains why she has a hard time seeing the difference between a fetus and a tumor; or a body from a body part. 

Evil destroys itself.  Abortion will destroy itself.  It is just a matter of time, but we need to speed up the process.  We can.  I have always said that the best reasons for being Pro-Life can be found by reading the statements made by rabid Pro-Choice advocates.    

The Lord said, offer no resistance.  Let evil do what it does best:  destroys itself and its children.  Let us do what we do best:  destroy evil and put it to rest. 

Don’t forget to pray and take a stand so that people can recognize evil for what it is.

Mk 12:35-37 Jesus Is Lord

Mk 12:35-37  Jesus Is Lord

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As Jesus was teaching in the temple area he said, “How do the scribes claim that the Christ is the son of David?  David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said:  The Lord said to my lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies under your feet.’  David himself calls him ‘lord’; so how is he his son?”  The great crowd heard this with delight.

Throughout the entire week, we have read how the Pharisees, scribes, chief priests, elders and Herodians were attempting to trip Jesus up.  They never succeeded.  They never arrested his ideas.  They only succeeded in arresting him, and only temporarily. 

Christ taught the crowd and the crowd was delighted.  Finally, they thought, someone who speaks to us from the heart.  Someone who not only believes but witnesses to the truth they preach. 

But what is even more impressive, more impressive than a heart-filled preacher or a person who lives what they preach, is a person who can relate the truth of the Word of God and the Word made flesh with the confusing words coming from the crowd.   That is an achievement!

I recently read from the Public Research Institute that 62% of millennial Catholics (born between 1988 and 1994) say “present-day Christianity is judgmental”.  I have a few problems with this.  It is one thing to say to someone “You’re so judgmental”, but it’s actually a much smarter thing to be able to recognize how judgmental that statement you made is. 

I don’t have a problem calling some of our youth very judgmental because I’m judgmental too.  It takes one to know one.  And I know plenty of them.  I know how quick they are to judge their mom or their dad or their teacher or their friends.  So, I don’t find it surprising in the least that they would be so judgmental to their Church?  It’s who they are!  So let them!  Let them learn from their mistakes, unless it kills them.

I know enough to know they love their parents when they let them get what they want.  I know enough of them to know they hate their parents when they don’t get what they want.  Why would the Church, Holy Mother Church, not suffer the same growing pains parents suffer from?  

I know our youth are happy with their Church when the Church judges something to be good and right that they think it’s good and right.  I think the problem begins when their Church declares something to be bad or wrong when they think it’s good for them and it’s their right.  That’s when the Church becomes “judgmental”!  But it’s actually the moment the Body of Christ (or Holy Mother Church), invites them to be meek and humble of heart rather than scornful, threatening or insulting.  Only you Lord have the words of eternal life!   

But my biggest concern with this survey is the very low percentage (62%) of Catholics who think Christianity is judgmental.  I would have hoped and prayed that 100% of our youth would have agreed that Present day Christianity is judgmental.  [Notice, they don’t say that “Christians” are judgmental; they say “Christianity” is judgmental].  That’s important because we judge issues, not people!  We tell it the way it is, just like Christ.  If anything, Christians are far nicer than our “present-day” youth who judge issues poorly and people harshly!  Did you ever hear the Holy Father call someone a jerk or stupid?  Did the Holy Father ever use an expletive before the word “gay” or “atheist” or “socialist” or “communist”?   Did the Holy Father ever speak directly or harshly about a President or Dictator or Puppet?

We are only judge issues and forgive the mistakes that people make.  Unlike many of our present day youth, we do not insult or use vulgarities or throw punches or stones or bricks or even pies at our elderly, our parents or friends or teachers or politicians or “enemies” because they take a stand that we oppose. 

To never pass judgment on anything would be like never saying anything is right or wrong.  It’s like saying to our ancestors: “We have nothing to learn from you!  Go back to your dead!”  It’s like saying to our history professors, “Who cares if we repeat history!”  It’s like saying to our professional Shrink, “I ain’t got nottin to learn from my past mistakes!”  God forbid we would be so naïve to think this way. 

How funny it is that 38% of our Catholic youth say that Present-day Christianity is not judgmental?  How sad it is that more than 25% of our Catholic youth leave the Church by the age of 24.  Do they think it is different from ‘Ancient-day’ Christianity? 

Here it is!  Here is the biggest problem facing our youth:  no one dares teach them right from wrong, good from evil, holy from unholy.  Today it’s all about diversity!  It’s the key word!  A local Catholic school prides itself by saying, “We are a ‘diverse’ school.”  We are proud of our “diversity”.  That’s right!  Actually…that’s neither right nor wrong.  No one is wrong.  No one is right.  Nothing is bad.  Nothing is good.  If we were only talking about a child’s height or race I wouldn’t have a problem with it.  I wouldn’t have a problem with it because it isn’t a problem.  But that’s not the problem.  It’s not a child’s height or race we are discussing.  It’s a Catholic child’s faith.  And a child’s faith will determine the important decisions they make and the serious consequences they take.  Their faith will determine how well they live the rest of their life:  for better, for worse, in sickness or health, death or eternal life.

Our present-day Catholic youth that come from our Catholic Universities appear to never get more than a scratch from the sword that is the Word.  Although many of our youth participate in “Social Justice” missions almost none participate in Gospel missions:  Go throughout the whole world and preach the Good News.   As a result, our Social Justice has become their Peace Corp.  It’s all about doing some good and feeling some good about oneself without ever experiencing the pain that Christ experienced:  rejection.  It’s become a safe way to win the approval of the crowds while never getting the opportunity to have stones thrown at you for preaching the Good News.  There is nothing wrong with the Peace Corp.  But there is something even greater to offer in His Corp while in His Church and School. 

To bring clean water to poor areas is great.  To bring people to baptism is even greater.  There is nothing wrong with sharing some of our bread and wine.  But our Lord would love to share his Body and Blood.  There is nothing wrong with fundraising to remove a sadistic leader as the head of a child army.  But don’t we have kids with guns here?  Don’t we have kids here with all the clean water in the world but no clear idea of who Jesus Christ is? 

Jesus is not a social worker.  He is much more.  Jesus is not a revolutionary.  He is much, much more.  Jesus is not a protest marcher or a liberal or a conservative.  He is much, much more.  JESUS is LORD.  He is the same, yesterday, present-day, forever.  Our Catholic youth need to know that NOW.