Mk 9:38-48 On a Limb

Mk 9:38-48  Out on a Limb

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Jesus said, “If your hand causes you to sin, cut if off.  It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna…And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off.  It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna...  Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna.” 

If I had to lose a limb for every sin, then I am sure I would end up with just my earlobe! 

I am not kidding.  And I am not alone.

As we continue to believe that it takes little to no effort to get into heaven, the Lord, in a very dramatic way, reminds us that we do have “a part to give" in our salvation. 

As we continue to “lower the bar” in order to appease everyone, the Lord continues to raise His bar up, ever so forcefully, so that we never take our salvation or His sacrifices for granted.

When I was meditating again on today’s Gospel passage, I asked myself why the Lord exaggerated so much.  But then, I realized he wasn’t exaggerating.  He was being sarcastic.

I will do whatever it takes!  Christ knows us.  He knows us well.  He knows to what lengths we will go to get what we want.  Take for example the young football player who is more than willing to take steroids to get on the team.  “I will do whatever it takes to get on this team!”    And take the not-so-young football player who will take steroids to stay on the team.  “I will do whatever it takes to stay on the team!”    Why do you think the Olympic committee banned performance enhancing drugs?  Because athletes would do whatever it took to win the gold medal! 

We all know young teens will starve themselves to death to get the perfect body!  “I don’t care!  It’s worth it!”  We are just know learning that College students will take ADHD medication or even Alzheimer drugs to stay focused, get the competitive edge and get an A+.  “It’s all worth it…for my career.”  And there are parents (not doctors) who are doing it  for them.

We will do whatever it takes to be successful, competitive and comfortable.  Even a single mom may end her pregnancy to further her education, reputation and make life just a little less complicated.  "You murdered the one who offers you no resistance" (cf. James 5:6).

Can we blame the Lord for saying what he said?  If you are willing to do all these things for yourself, then why not cut off your hand and foot to get into heaven?  Why not?  Unless…it’s not worth it to you.

What is Heaven worth to you?  Is it worth more than a career, an education, extra playing time, your body? 

The Lord is not against sacrifice.  And He knows we are more than capable of making sacrifices.  His problem is not that we sacrifice; His problem is with why we sacrifice.  When I say “It’s worth it!”, am I not really saying: “I’m worth it?” 

Do I sacrifice out of selfishness or do I sacrifice out of selflessness?

Am I willing to sacrifice my morals, my values, my faith for titles, privileges, and greater fame and fortune?  If so, then the Lord tells us that it is better to lose your hands and feet!

After all, He did. 

Better to lose a hand…lose a foot.  The Lord was not only being sarcastic; He was being prophetic.  He chose His words very carefully.  This morning, when I looked at my crucifix, I noticed how the Lord lost his hands and feet.  On the cross, He is saying, “It’s worth it”, but what He's really saying to me is: “YOU are worth it!”

It’s time to cut ourselves away from our pride, vanity and sensuality.  It’s time to lose the chains of sin. 

If we are willing to do whatever it takes to extend our career; to get noticed; to be successful, then why not do whatever it takes to obtain eternal life?

Better to lose a limb, then to lose a soul.  Better to sacrifice your life than to take a life.  Better to love unconditionally than to live unconditionally.

Luke 9:7-9 Perplexed

Luke 9:7-9  Perplexed

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Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead”; others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”  But Herod said, “John I beheaded.  Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”

Herod looked perplexed.  He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.  Things were not as self-evident as he thought they were.  After all, he had killed The Baptist.  That should have been the end of the story.  Never did he ever imagine that it was the beginning of the story.

Not too long ago, I gave a talk at a Catholic school.  To my “Catholic” audience, I told them that if they wished to ever be a better Christian, then they must learn to think logically and live “illogically”.  Of course my young audience was a little perplexed, but I went on to explain how they must constantly be searching for the truth, in a very logical and structured way, but continue to live like Christ, who spoke and lived in a very “illogical” or “paradoxical” way. 

I then went on to explain to them the failures of atheism.  How atheism is nothing more than a backhanded slap on the face of God and more of a frontal attack on wonder and faith.  For the atheist, nothing is surprising, not even evil; nothing is beautiful, not even love; nothing is exciting, not even life.  It is all what it was supposed to be.  It is as thrilling and as amazing as dissecting a worm.    

For them, everything is self-evident…except for The Everything!  They say, “Of course the Universe exists, duh?!  What did you expect?”  Or, “Of course an apple falls from a tree.  It’s all based on the laws of physics!” …It’s as if the laws of atoms were like the laws of governments…not made but self-evident.

An atheist prides himself on believing only what he can see, and not what others have seen, which to him means everyone is sick (or blind and deformed).  It could never mean that he may be sick (or blind and deformed). 

Atheism is not only a denial of God; it is a denial of humanity, for to be a man means to be blessed in believing the unbelievable.  My dear atheist friend, you cannot be an atheist because you were conceived out of nothing!  Do you yet not understand?  Man is not only capable of believing what he cannot see but what he can dream, which allows him to eventually realize his dreams.   If he did not dream the impossible dream, then he would forever remain a prisoner in the land of what-you-see-is-what-you-have.  This man is insane, for he sees only what is there and thinks only what is humanly reasonable and observable.  If the world were truly what he could only observe, then the world would be as big as his head: small.

But no atheist ever believed himself.  No atheist will ever tell you that we have discovered everything that exists.  He knows there is still much more to discover; that there is much more that exists.  But for the sake of argument, he pretends to think we have discovered everything and that God does not exist.

Well… the reason why I mention all of this is for the fact that after I spoke, I had a student come up to me and ask me politely never speak about atheism again.  I asked the student why?  She told me that she felt insulted by what I had said.  Now, I must say I was taken aback a little by what she said since I was speaking in a school, in a Catholic school, and in the United States of America - a nation that prides itself on freedom of speech.  I was a little surprised that someone would propose censorship rather than scholarship. 

Now my response surprised the student as much as it surprised me.  I went back to Christianity.  I went back to the paradox of our faith.  I told the young student that what I had said was far less important to me than she was to me.  I told her that I would respect her wish for the time being. 

My response surprised her.  In fact, I think she was stunned, perplexed, at what I had said.  And maybe, just maybe, for the first time in her young atheist life, nothing and no one was as self-evident as her.  Maybe, just maybe, someone no longer fit in her head.

Lk 4:38-44 The God Touch

Lk 4:38-44  The God Touch

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After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon.  Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever.  He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.  She got up immediately and waited on them.  At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him.  He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.

I will never forget what happened to me when I went to Mexico to attend the beatification ceremony of Jose Luis Sanchez del Rio, the young martyr whose life was recently featured in the movie “For Greater Glory”.   While I was in Sahuayo, Michoacan, I went to visit the local Church where this child would often serve at Mass.  As I was heading back to the bus, a young man asked me for a blessing.  I placed my hand over his head and blessed him.  Then, another man came up to me and asked for my blessing.  Again, I placed my hand over his head and prayed over him.  When I looked up, I could not believe what I was seeing.  A crowd had gathered around me.  Fifty, then sixty, then nearly one hundred people surrounded me and asked me for a blessing. 

Never before did I feel so needed and so wanted as in that moment and in that place.  Never before did I experience such personal oneness (closeness) with Christ and His priesthood.  Never before did I witness so much trust, love and devotion towards Christ.

He laid his hands on each of them.  When I saw the crowd gather, I was tempted to give one big blessing, but then I asked myself what the Lord would do.  It’s then that I remembered:  “He laid his hands on each of them…”   

The Lord gave himself; his time and attention, to every single soul that sought Him.  It is this extraordinary fact and highly inefficient tactic that made Him so loveable, memorable, personable and believable to others.  The Lord had no fears in allowing others to get close to Him; to get to know Him.  This should not be taken lightly.  After all, most celebrities keep their distances.  Stages are set well above the crowd – above our abilities to jump over it.  Cameras and microphones allow pop stars to easily communicate with millions of their adoring fans…and get away with it FROM A DISTANCE.  Do not even think for a moment that it is for their security.  Hah! It is not for their safety, it is for their sake; their image. It’s not to keep them safe and sound but to keep what is hidden from being revealed.  Our sins are what make us fearful of getting too close to anyone. 

Over time, I have convinced myself that if others only knew me…they would run away from me.   

He stood over her.  The Lord reaches out to us.  And even though He knows us, He continues to love us.  Though He was without sin, He does not shy away from us.  Instead, He over reaches to get to us so that we can’t help but touch Him, know Him and be saved by Him.  His light is what shines all over my heart, mind, body and soul.  His light dispels the darkness in my life.  Idols are incredibly insecure people.  They do not want us to know them for who they really are.  They prefer to cover their eyes with sunglasses, even during the night.

When you leave this earth, how many people will have known you intimately, personally and affectionately?  Two?  Three?  A handful?  Is this a bad thing?  Not at all!  Not at all if it was for good, and better yet if it was for worse.   

Do you realize that the Lord was known intimately by just a few people?  But boy…look at what they did with that knowledge! 

Regardless of how long we live:  ten years, thirty years, fifty years, even one hundred years, we will only be intimately and personally known by just a few.   

Some people may get to know me with blood samples; others by my size, height, width, DNA, look or feel or some weird Freudian measuring stick.  Still others may even get to know me by what I wrote, said and did.  But only a few will ever know me by heart.  And if only a few ever got to know me by heart, then I can truly imagine only One who would have known me better than I knew myself; who would have known what I was capable of before I was ever formed in my mother’s womb. (cf. Jer 1:5)

This is the God touch.

Lk 4:16-30 Cut To The Chase

Lk 4:16-30  Cut To The Chase

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Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the Sabbath day.  He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.  He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:  “The spirit of the Lord is upon me…”

So many things I take for granted.  So many things I consider coincidental.  St. Luke retells a story that must have been told a thousand times. 

Out of the four evangelists, Luke’s Greek and writing style is considered superior to the rest. It is well polished and well thought out.  He must have rehearsed it over and over again in his mind before writing it all down. 

Reading today’s Gospel passage is like looking at a series of pictures.  I see the Lord arriving in Nazareth.  The streets are deserted.  All eyes and ears and every heart, mind, body and soul are concentrated in a single place:  the local synagogue.  Then the Lord walks in.  He walks into a small and crowded synagogue.  All eyes instinctively look up; all mouths unknowingly open wide.  Immediately everyone begins to measure him up.  His cynics may have remembered him as being taller.  His fans (or fanatics) may have been shocked at how much He had grown.  Others may have hoped there would have been some halo above him.  We all look for something to point to or to hold on to; and typically, it’s not the right thing; the important thing; the most revealing thing.    

Regardless, the man of miracles, whom so much had been said, had finally arrived home and was now in their midst…and surrounded.

He stood up to read.  The service began the second He arrived.   The entire community had obviously been waiting for Him, for they wanted Him to read. The elders were the first to take a seat.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they placed a gentle hand on the leg of the up and coming rabbis to take a seat.  Today, in Nazareth, men, women and children would hear the great orator’s voice.  Would it be thunderous?  Would it be flowing? Would they detect a hint of nerves? Would the carpenter’s son be nervous?  Would the Lord crack under pressure or would He perform exceptionally – memorably - well? 

Again, instead of looking for authentic signs of wonder, they were looking for signs of blunder.

There exists little to no comment on how well the Lord read.  This is by no means an indictment on the Lord’s performance.  St. Luke, unlike the crowd, understood what was of great importance. 

We know what is important by what he tells us.  And what he tells us, is what was handed to Jesus.  A scroll.

It is a scroll of the prophet Isaiah; the prophet of the suffering servant; the prophet of the Messiah.  Unknowingly to man, but always knowingly from God; coincidental to man, but always providential from God, the chief rabbi handed a scroll to the Lord as if an angel had come down from Heaven and personally hand delivered it to Him.  In it was the following passage:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me. [Anointed = (Latin) Chrīstus (Greek) chrīstos, translation of Hebrew māshīaḥ anointed, Messiah]

In a dazzling dance, perfectly choreographed by the Holy Spirit, between God and man, the Lord, all at once, revealed, in a religious setting, and at the hands of the chief rabbi, His essence and mission to an entire village.  As the Word of God was handed to Jesus, the Word became flesh and dwelt among them.

“It can’t be!  God can’t exist. He can’t be real.”   Some people just can’t seem to cut to the chase.  They can’t seem to get to the end of the story, the meaning, the point of life.  They prefer to survive in the bureaucracy of time and space, the limited physical world, rather than thrive in the freedom and possibilities of an entirely different world.  They prefer all things considered rather than all things possible. They can’t seem to see the hand of God to save their life! 

When the Lord arrived home, he cut to the chase.  With scroll handed to Him, Divine Providence led man, woman and child to Him.  And instead, man, woman and child drove the Lord to the brow of the hill to hurl him down headlong.  When God does not allow us to define Him, it means it’s time to get rid of Him.

The greatest nuisance in life is getting trapped in red tape.  The greatest joy in life is getting through the red tape.  Of course, things can go downhill from there, but it would be foolish to blame the epiphany we had.  Instead, it would be wise to feel pity for those who live in and weave red tape. 

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. 

Jn 6:60-69 Turning the World Upright

Jn 6:60-69  Turning the World Upright

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Many of Jesus’ disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” 

An atheist believes the world is what it is.  A Christian, on the other hand, knows the world isn’t what it is; it’s upside down.  I think this helps explain why the world finds Christ’s sayings so hard to accept.  After all, when you are upside down, it’s hard to follow someone so upright!

You would think it would be easier to believe someone who loves you than someone who wants to love you.  Think again.  Most parents of teenagers know just how hard it is for their teens to believe them.  Although teens may have a hard time listening to and obeying their parents, they don’t seem to have a hard time listening to their friends, especially their boyfriend or girlfriend.  When a high school boy tells a high school girl that he loves her and wants her, she has a tendency to believe him.  But when her mother tells her that this boy’s hormones are out of control and that he is a smooth talker, well, she has a tendency to dismiss her mother.  You would think by now this lesson would have been learned.  Think again.

You would think that if we sell diamonds for millions of dollars and cars for thousands of dollars, that no one would ever sell their body for twenty dollars or their soul for ten.  Think again… 

Of course the atheist is correct in saying this world “is what it is”, but it is not the same as saying it is what it was always meant to be. 

Sin has turned everything, especially us, upside down.  And since God is love and sin is inversely proportional to love (the more we sin, the less we love), it's no wonder we have a difficulty understanding God.  It's no wonder God’s sayings seem to be difficult sayings that are hard to accept.

I find it amazing how I can believe every word someone says to me, but I cannot believe in God’s word.  Or how I can repeatedly place all my trust in another human being, and repeatedly be disappointed, but I can’t seem to place my trust in God who unconditionally loves me. 

Wives should be subordinate to their husbands.  Today’s first reading is not easy to accept.  I happen to love it and for a shocking reason:  it's very pro-wife!  St. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, tells the community, “Brother and sisters:  Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.  Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.  For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church…Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her…”  (Eph 5:21-32)

This is a hard saying…what wife can accept this?  Answer:  Only those who have been unconditionally loved (served) by their husbands. 

Men often tell me, “Father, my wife ignores me.  She never does anything for me.”  If that is your case, then maybe the problem is not so much with your wife as it is with you!  What does it take for a wife to do whatever her husband asks her to do?  St. Paul tells them:  Men, if you wish to be the head of the household, then you must be the first to love; the best in loving; and the foremost teacher in love.  Remember:  the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church.

Why would I ever do anything for Christ?  Because I know He would do anything for me.  [Actually, he already did everything for me].  I would gladly be a slave for Christ because I know he would serve me before I had the slightest chance to serve Him.

Would I ever be a slave for someone?  Only if I knew they loved me.  Only if I knew they would die for me.  Christ is the head of his bride, the Church, because He earned it.  He died for her.  Here lies the true inspiration for Romeo and Juliet.

The same holds true for Christ’s body and blood.  Why did Simon Peter believe Christ?  Because Simon Peter knew he was loved by Christ.  That’s all it took. 

I’m a simple fisherman, Lord.  I don’t understand a thing you said today.  But I do know something.  I know that you love me.  And if you love me, then that’s all I need to know.  That’s all I need to know to believe in you. 

It is Christ’s love that turns our world upright.

Mt 19:13-15 Why the Kids?

Mt 19:13-15 Why the Kids?

Jesus said to his disciples:  “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 

God calls the children closer to Him because children have a stronger sense of wonder than most adults do.   Here are four wonders of the Lord that continue to shock me to this day. 

God is love.  Conservative Christians often complain that God is love.  They think it is too lenient.  Too many of them prefer the God of judgment and condemnation.  Liberal Christians rely way too much on the God of unconditional love.  They consider His love to be what they love and therefore abuse His love. Regardless of all this, we cannot blame St. John who wrote “God is love” (1Jn 4:8).  After all, he was inspired by the God of love, Jesus Christ. 

We think that all religions define God as love.  They do not.  It is quite unique.  It is not commonsense.  Our relationship with God could be something very much different.  God loves man means God gives man equal footing.  This is extraordinary.  It is something that we would never have known if it were not for the Son of God. 

God is Father.  Again, this is shocking.  After all, God could easily be the Master and we his pets.  Or God could easily be the Scientist and we his experiment.  Instead, God is our Creator who would love to be known as our Father.

Teenagers often complain to me about the amount of quality time they have with their mom and dad.  They would prefer a smaller home and fewer clothes if it meant spending more time with their father and mother.  How shocking!  How amazing!  In other words, our kids today are just like the kids from yesterday.  They don’t just want to live and breathe and have more things.  They want a sense of belonging; they want family.  They want their parents who attend their recitals, games, award ceremonies, etc…  They want to be able to snuggle up to their mom or dad in the evening and have someone to talk to during the day.  They want guidance.  They want discipline.  They may not ask for it, but are scared if they don’t have it.

Some scientists conclude that if there is a God, then he doesn’t do much of anything.  After all, the world spins by itself, the seasons come and go like clockwork, and the cycle of life continues to roll.  If God exists, then what does He do?

Like so many of us, scientists search for God in all the wrong places and in all the wrong ways.  With a very limited understanding of science, the Jews had no problem understanding that God was more a Creator than He was an Administrator.  Then the Lord came and shocked His disciples when He called God His Father and our Father!  In an era of scientific ignorance, the Jews and Christians never looked for God as a Manager; rather, they understood God as personable being.    

Kids may brag about their dad for being the better dad, the strongest dad and the smartest dad.  But they are most proud of their dad when he is the most loving dad; when he gets up close and personal with them.  God does not want to be known for his power, his knowledge, or his ‘presence’.  He wants to be known for his love; for being up close and personal.  He wants to be known for being a Father.

God became man.  The Incarnation is a Christian doctrine we take way too much for granted.  We celebrate Christmas as if it were to be expected.  It should not be. God becoming man is shocking, if not scandalous.  What can we compare it to?  Nothing.  It is a mystery.  Why on earth would God ever want to live on earth?  Especially after we messed things up so bad, and not just once or twice but all the time!  The answer is love.  Love does crazy things to a person, even to God… who is love.  Love makes people go bonkers.  The love that God has for us is the only imaginable explanation for the Incarnation.

But not only did God become a man, he became a poor child.  The Almighty-One became the little one.  The Unlimited One became the limited one.  The heavenly king became an earthly thing. 

In God becoming man, the Lord taught us that no matter what position you hold in life, no matter what titles you have on earth, you are nothing if you do not give and forgive.  God becoming man reminds us of how important one’s heart, one’s mind, one’s soul is in the grand scheme of things.

Eating God.  Take this all of you and eat it.  This is my body which will be given up for you.  Is this not shocking?  Do you understand what this means?  That Christ’s words were not enough to love us; He needed to die for us.  That His death was not enough to save us; He needed to transform us.  And to do so required that He give us His body, blood, soul and divinity.  “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you” (cf. Jn 6:53).    Is this not shocking?

When we receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist, we do not receive Him in order to change Him; we receive Him to let God change us!  The Lord wants us to become more like Him; that is, to be created in the image and likeness of God.

If this is not shocking, then I don’t know what is! 

John 6:51-58 Simply Shocking!

John 6:51-58  Simply Shocking!

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Jesus said to the crowds:  “I am the living bread that came down from heaven:  whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

There are very few things in this world that truly shock me.  That most musicians, artists, Hollywood stars, perverts, heterophobes openly make fun of Christians, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Sacraments does not shock me in the least.  It annoys me. [By the way, Microsoft spell-check has the word ‘homophobes’ in its dictionary but not ‘heterophobes’.  I doubt I misspelled a non-existent word]. 

Very few things shock me.  That three young ladies from a radical Russian rock group committed a sacrilege in an Orthodox Church did not shock me!  What shocked me is that they went to jail over it.  Now that shocked me as well as thrilled me.  They claim they are “political activists”, and that they were protesting against Prime Minister Putin.  But how exactly does busting into a Christian Church, dancing on the altar and praying blasphemous prayers remove a corrupt government?  How does insulting a religion replace a government?   

Of course, most of the world is shocked over the fact that these individuals received a two year prison sentence.  I am too…for a completely different reason.  But again, I am not shocked that no one in the West is up in arms over the fact that the faith of nearly two billion people was insulted.

Like I said, very few things shock me. 

Recently, an atheist organization sued the 911 memorial museum in New York City over the famous metal cross beams found amidst the ruins of the World Trade Centers.  The group claims it is a symbol of Christianity and that it does not belong in the museum.  The museum curators claim the beams belong in the exhibit because it is an actual piece from one of the buildings, and that these two metal beams became a symbol of hope for the thousands of men and women who worked in the rescue and cleanup effort.  The atheist group is willing to allow the piece to stand as long as they are given an equal opportunity to exhibit some sort of symbol representing atheism.  When asked what that symbol would look like, the lawyer did not know what to say, so he said, “Maybe a giant ‘A’”.  I personally believe it should be a piece of rubble (man's achievements without God).    Now, I do not find it shocking that our legal system is wasting tax payer money in order to resolve this issue.  I just find it annoying.  But what I do find shocking is how this intelligent (atheist) lawyer had nothing better to offer his organization (and people) than an “A”.  It reminds me of a book I read in High School:  The Scarlet Letter.

Jesus said to the crowds: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”  Christ not only shocked his audience, he shocked his Apostles!  He shocked the hell out of them!  He shocked them because he surprised them at how far he was willing to give himself for them.  The leader; the giant; the Lord was willing to give himself for his subjects.  That was unheard of! 

There is nothing shocking about a leader being vane, egotistic, arrogant, selfish or self-centered or self-entitled.  There is nothing shocking about the loner, the abused, the poor guy, the loser or the freak being at the center of a massacre.  By now we've all become numb to massacres, drug related violence, etc.  We've all become accustomed to shocking the heaven out of the world!  Big deal!  Unfortunately, it is to be expected.  

That we have public school massacres in such anti-religious settings is not shocking.  What is shocking is that we do not have more of them.  That we have hate crimes committed by LBGT activists against the Family Research Council and other Christian organizations is not shocking.  What is shocking is that we do not have more of them. 

But what is truly shocking; so shocking that it shocks the hell out of this world, is to be humble, self-giving, selfless, sacrificing, forgiving and giving to all, including those who insult you.  That is shocking!  

From the Lord’s incarnation to his self-emulation, the Lord shocked our senses, our preconceived notions, our understanding of how things worked.   With every single word He spoke; every single miracle He performed; every single contact He made; every single pardon He gave, the Lord gave himself to us.  But what is shocking is that it wasn't enough.  He  also wanted to give His body, blood, soul and divinity to us.  He literally, physically, realistically and objectively wanted to give His life to us.

When we receive the Lord in the Eucharist today, let’s do what the Lord would do.  And let's never take His life in us for granted.

Mt 11:25-27 Childlike Wonder

Mt 11:25-27  Childlike Wonder

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At that time Jesus exclaimed:  “I give praise to you, Father, of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.” 

Peter Keller was bored.  That’s the reason he gave for killing his wife, his child, and eventually himself.  He was bored…with life.      

But life is not boring; people are boring, and people, like Peter Keller, are boring when they don’t know how to live.  Peter Keller was selfish and selfish people are boring.  Mother Teresa was giving and giving people are surprising.  When you give, you create.  That never gets boring.  When you are selfish, you destroy.  That gets boring, and fast.

What should be our attitude towards life?  If I only had one word to sum it all up, the word would be:  wonder.

Every day we should have the facial expression of a dead person.  Yes, every day we should keep our eyes, as well as our mouths, wide open.  After all, the happiest people are surprised people, and surprised people imitate dead people. They don’t look like they have seen a ghost.  They look like they have seen God.  And hopefully, most dead people see God.

We consider it the stuff of science that an apple tree should grow an apple, and consider it the stuff of fairy tales that an apple tree would grow a peach.  But why?  Why is one not as much of a fairy-tale as the other?  Don’t both deserve our sense of wonder?

Is it so obvious that we should share a sun with other planets, but have just one moon to ourselves, and one planet to call home?  Just because we can explain what has already happened does not mean it had to happen.  Instead of complaining that the days are boring because they begin and end the same way, we should shout “Bravo!” and ask for an encore as appreciative audience does in the opera house.  We should be childlike and say “Do it again!” at the slightest hint of pleasure and the simplest sense of wonder.

A year ago I heard a talk given by a Catholic author named Joseph Pearce.  He mentioned how he was shocked that his favorite rock band, The Rolling Stones, would sing, “I can’t get no satisfaction.”  Wait a minute!  Didn’t these guys have everything the world could offer them?  Didn’t they have tons of money; tons of drugs; and tons of women at their disposal?  Why would they be singing “I can’t get no satisfaction”??? 

Whoa, something is wrong here!  No.  Nothing is wrong.  It is the truth.  Christ is the only one that satisfies the mind, heart, body and soul.  It’s time we give him a chance. 

I worry about our kids.  They are growing up way too fast.  They are losing their childlike heart at an alarming age and rate.  They have become rational and logical far too early in life.  Someone has been poisoning them.  I’m not exaggerating.  I will never forget going to a High School production of Peter Pan.  I was sitting next to a child.  When Peter Pan suddenly appeared, flying across the stage, I looked at the child and said, “Isn’t it amazing how Peter Pan is flying in the air?”  The child looked at me and said, “It’s the wires.”  I looked at him and said, “What?  What did you say?”  Again, he repeated himself, “It’s the wires.”  I told him, “The wires?  It’s not the wires, it’s the fairy dust!”  He shook his head in disagreement and stared at me as if I were some idiot and said, “I wasn’t born yesterday.  It’s not the fairy dust.  It’s the wires.”  I told him he was wrong.  When he nudged at his mother to get involved in the debate, she waved both hands at me as if to tell me, “This is your problem.”  He asked for an explanation.   I gave it to him.  I told him, “When Peter Pan wants to fly, he throws the fairy dust.  If he doesn’t throw the fairy dust, he doesn’t fly.  It’s the dust that gives the guys in the back the signal to pull the strings and help Peter Pan fly.  Get it!!!  It’s the fairy dust that makes him fly.  Don’t make me repeat myself again!” 

How sad it is when a child loses his sense of wonder.  How sad it is when an adult can't figure out that there is Someone hidden pulling all the strings.