Mt 19:3-12 Honey Boo and Ducks Too

Friday of the Nineteenth Week In Ordinary Time

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Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?"  He said in reply, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?'  So they are no longer two, but one flesh."

The Church is so stubborn!  It's so medieval!  It's so inconsiderate of others!  Everyone should be allowed to marry the person they love, regardless of gender. 

We have all heard these accusations thrown at the Church.  But what our accusers will not do is throw them at Christ.  That's a no-no.  Why?  Because that would be much more insulting than insulting the Church.  And that's still a yes-yes!  In fact, it's one of the few yes-yes in our society today. 

It's easy to hate an institution that is already hated.  No big deal.  But if you carefully examine Christ's words, then you will see where the Church gets all its doctrines and creeds.

Have you not read...(probably not)...that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female...and the two shall become one flesh.  Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate...or distort or confuse or twist or confound!

Not all can accept this word.  There are a lot of words we find unacceptable today and "Marriage" is one of them. 

So what do we do with what we cannot accept?  We redefine it. 

Marriage no longer means what it used to mean:  an exclusive relationship between a man and a woman.  It means so much more!  And soon it will no longer mean just one man with one woman!  It will mean even more!  The more the merrier!   

Recently, I found myself watching the hideous reality show "Honey Boo Boo."  Believe me, it was the first time I ever watched it.  It was also the last time I ever watched it.   I'm more like a Duck Dynasty kind of guy!

In this one particular episode, June Shannon refused to "marry" her long time live in hubby, Mike Thompson.  So instead of a marriage ceremony, June preferred a "commitment" ceremony.  And like a fly ball in baseball, she added the politically correct sentiment that she was unopposed to gay "marriage."  Where did that come from?

Anyways, June said that the word "marriage" scared her. 

Let me get this straight.  She has four kids with this one guy and the word "marriage" scares her???  Now that's scary and totally dysfunctional! And that's the impression I got while watching this show.  The entire family is somewhat dysfunctional. 

But dysfunctional is in while traditional is out!  Soon after A&E aired this program, another program popped up.  I can't remember what it was called, but it was about young men, in their twenties, being physically attracted to older women in their 70's!

Were they born that way or did someone make them that way?  As Hillary Clinton would say: "What difference does it make!" 

There's something obviously wrong.

The best way to combat dysfunction is to know the Word of God, trust in it, and then to apply it to our lives.

Receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but, as it truly is, the word of God (Cf. 1Thes. 2:13).

Mt 18:15-20 Move On!

Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week In Ordinary Time

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Jesus said to his disciples:  "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone."

Jesus said to his disciples.  Remember, this means YOU! He is talking to you!  

I have never found it hard to relate to Christ's words.  He knows perfectly well the human heart.  He knows our heart. He knows us perfectly well.  

What does the Lord wish to tell you?  Maybe it's been too long since you spoke to a family member or a close relative.  
I will never forget.  It was a Sunday morning.  My grandmother had just finished making coffee when the phone rang.  I can't remember what I was doing but I was next to her.  

I didn't understand much of the conversation. My grandmother's remarks were short and simple replies, and mostly in agreement and conciliatory.  When she got off the phone she looked at me and told me her sister had called and that she wanted to apologize for something she had said over fifteen years ago.  My grandmother appeared surprised.  I didn't think much of it. 

That same day my grandmother suffered a major stroke.  A few days later we buried her.

I'm quite sure that my grandmother's sister is forever grateful for that phone call.  She had listened to the Holy Spirit.  She did not hesitate.

A lesson from the past.  Moses lived to be one hundred and twenty years old.  In other words, 10 times 12.  The Jews have a love affair for numbers.  They mean so much more than a number.  For the Jews, ten represents completion and twelve represents the number of Jewish tribes.  

Moses lived a full life which means he completed his mission on earth:  to unify all the children of Israel.

He is their greatest prophet.  

"Since then no prophet has arisen in Israel like Moses" (Dn 34:1-12).

Live your life to the full.  Whoever follows the Lord lives life to the full.  Whoever hears His voice is like a wise man who built his house on rock.  

Live your life to the full:  Obey the Holy Spirit.  Do not delay. Do not hesitate.  Listen and act on His behalf.  

And there will be very few like you.  

Mt 18:1-5,10,12-14 Childlike

Tuesday of the Nineteenth Week In Ordinary Time

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The disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?"  He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven."

Just a few minutes ago, I read how Pope Francis told a group of young people back in May to shout "Jesus" and not Francis.

"From now on no more 'Francis,' only 'Jesus,' alright?...All of you in the square shouted out 'Francis, Francis, Pope Francis,' but where was Jesus?" he admonished them.  "I want to hear you shout out 'Jesus, Jesus is Lord, and he is in our midst."

To be childish.  Back in the old days, children were meant to be seen, not heard.  Today, kids are speaking way too much for their size and age.  It's not all bad, given the fact that so many parents are acting like kids today!  

To be childish means to think of yourself, and yourself alone; to monopolize someone's time and make of yourself more than you truly are.

In his spiritual autobiography "Quest for God," Paul Johnson describes a humorous encounter he had with an atheist friend of his, Sir Alfred Ayer.  He writes:

"We used to meet at the Beefsteak Club, where I enjoyed teasing him.  'Freddie, I suppose it would be a correct statement to say you are the most intelligent man in Britain.'  'Oh, no, no, no, my dear fellow,' he would begin modestly, 'don't be absurd.'  Then, intellectual rigour and his love of truth would assert themselves.  'Well, if one looks at the statement seriously - if one considers - if, in short, one wishes to be strictly honest, I suppose - indeed I must - conclude you are right; you are, in fact absolutely right!"

Interesting...

It's not an uncommon occurrence for modesty and integrity to be replaced by pride and wishful thinking.  There's simply not enough room in the human heart and brain for both to coexist.  I know, I keep trying to squeeze the two in there!

But what's worse is that it's not uncommon for someone's logic to flow like honey but their thoughts like diarrhea, or to be highly skilled in the art of debating and yet defending what is absolutely atrocious! 

It's not uncommon at all to see an intelligent man be a hypocrite, and to cast aside honesty for the sake of victory.   

This is what it means to be childish.

To be childlike.  To be a child often means to be physically small and weak in intelligence.  Therefore, to be "childlike" must obviously mean to be intentionally small and forever gathering and learning.  It means to consider oneself small and insignificant and to be an eternal student.  Hence, to be a child is no longer the result of certain physical processes brought about by genetics but rather a virtue brought about by hard work.  

To be a child is no longer a description of what you are but of who you are.

To be childlike means to return to a time in your life when learning was more important than accusing; integrity more important than the "bella figura" (looking good); and being good outweighed all other things...including being "right."

To be childlike means to accept the One who is always marching before you.

"Moses summoned Joshua and in the presence of all Israel said to him, "Be brave and steadfast, for you must bring this people into the land which the Lord swore to their fathers he would give them; you must put them in possession of their heritage.  It is the Lord who marches before you; he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you.  So do not fear."

Believing does not require seeing.  Otherwise, the question of God would have been resolved back in the Stone Age!  

To believe simply requires honesty and modesty.  Pride and prejudice suffocate the Lord out of all of us.  There's simply not enough room for both to coexist.

The Jews of old, like all people young and old, constantly struggle with being childlike.  After all, arrogance is not something new.  It is something quite old. 

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Mt 17:22-27 Working Together

Monday of the Nineteenth Week In Ordinary Time

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When Jesus and his disciples came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, "Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?"  "Yes," he said. 

Oh oh.  Peter was caught with his hand in the cookie jar and was stunned into sinning! 

Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?  He flat out lied.  Yes!  

Has that ever happened to you?  Of course I don't mean lying.  That we have all done!  I mean have you ever lied out of sheer embarrassment for the person you love?  

Peter was caught off guard by the collectors of the temple tax.  They asked him a direct question and he didn't have the courage to honestly answer it.  Why?

Because he was embarrassed.  

I know a lot of people who are embarrassed into lying.  "Hey, did you just pray?"  No!  Of course not.  "Did I just hear you say that you went to Church this Sunday?"  Who me?  

A long time ago, I sent out a request for prayers for a test I had to take.  An atheist responded back:  "Study!"  I wrote back, "This is a test I can't study for.  It's a CT Scan."

But that we may not offend anyone.  Today, Christians can easily be scared into silence. We are not supposed to talk about God in public (shh...that would be imposing).  We are not supposed to talk about our love of God on TV (shh...that would be too self-righteous).  We are not supposed to pray or display our faith in public squares (shh...that would be insulting).  We are not supposed to encourage others to pray in hospitals or in other institutions (shhh...that would be overreaching).  We are not supposed to discuss in our public schools the impact of Christianity in early American society (shhh...that would be disrespectful). 

God is supposed to be dead, and we need to make it appear that way. Don't you know???  

Recently, the Obama Administration  teamed up with Republicans to file an amicus brief in favor of prayer at town council meetings.  From what I have gathered, it appears as though the council members of Greece, NY only invited Christians to lead the prayers.  A Jewish resident, along with an atheist, sued and won in federal court.  Now, the Supreme Court is reviewing the case.

As I have often done in the past, I once again disagree with the Obama Administration's position.  Why should only Christians lead the prayer, especially if the town has constituents of other religions?  They should all be invited to lead a prayer.

Hence, rather than eliminating prayer, all institutions should be given an opportunity to allow believers to pray.  This is respect.  Maybe they could even skip saying prayer at one meeting so as to show respect to all atheists.  Or maybe they could start the prayer before the meeting officially began, that way anyone who wished not to attend the prayer would not be forced to skip the start of the meeting.

Now that's working together...and not endorsing any one particular religion.

Paying the temple tax.  For heaven's sake, the Lord did not have to pay the temple tax .  His Father owned the temple! But that we may not offend anyone the Lord paid his dues.

Christians ought to strive for and encourage prayer at all times, in all places and in any manner that is respectful of the members of the community they live in or the institution they work for.

Luke 12:32-48 Baby, You're The Greatest!

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Jesus said to his disciples:  "Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.  Sell your belongings and give alms...for where your treasure is, there also will your heart be... Much will be required of the person entrusted with much."

As a child, I loved watching reruns of two shows:  "The Honeymooners" and "The Lone Ranger." I didn't particularly care for any episode, but what I loved most about them were their endings.  They always ended the same way.

In "The Honeymooners", almost every episode would end with "Ralph Kramden" (Jackie Gleason) embracing his wife, "Alice Kramden" (Audrey Meadows) and saying: "Baby, you're the greatest."

I found this scene to be so heartwarming.  As a child, I knew a lot of people who were arrogant, prideful and obnoxious.  But I had never met anyone who could also be humble and honest.  It was so refreshing to visualize someone like that.  I never thought it was possible.

In the "Lone Ranger" (the show, not the movie!!!), I found it strange - maybe even a bit bizarre - how someone so heroic, so talented and so incredible could also be so humble.  He would always leave before anyone noticed.  He would always leave before anyone could thank him.  I had never met anyone like that before.  [Note:  this was long before I rediscovered my faith.] 

Isn't God very much like this?

For the first time in my life I discovered the virtue of humility.  I loved it.  I admired it.  I sought it.  And never in a million years did I think it would be so difficult to embrace it.

"Baby, your the greatest!"

Who then is the faithful and prudent servant?  The humble one, of course.  He is the faithful servant. 

There is a direct correlation between faith and humility.  They are proportional to one another.  From my own experience and observations, I can confidently say that the more humble someone is, the more faith-filled they are.  The less humble someone is, the less faith-filled they are. 

Abraham was a man filled with great humility and faith.  As St. Paul tells us:

"By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go. 

"By faith he sojourned in the promise land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents... 

"By faith he received power to generate, even though he was past the normal age - and Sarah herself was sterile...

By faith he believed that he would become the father of a multitude "as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore."

"By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac...his only son." (Heb. 11:1-2, 8-19).

This is the real power of faith.  It gives a man/woman the ability to see beyond their sight; to see beyond what eye can see.

Faith can lead us to where we never imagined going and to what we never imagined seeing.  Abraham is the father of all Jews, Christians and Muslims.  He is the father of nearly four billion people. 

It's time to start counting the stars!

Do not be afraid any longer.  Humility requires tremendous courage, for meekness is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of faith, for Christ encourages people to let go of their fears and let loose their lives.

The Saints are a wonderful example of this truth.  Their lives - their struggles, difficulties, missions and achievements - give witness to what God can do with the not-so-rich-and-famous...or even talented.

Lord, increase my faith!  If we truly wish to have more faith, then we must stop being as prideful as we are and start being as humble as Christ is.  We must strive to live according to God's Commands and according to the teachings of His Church. 

Let's see what happens next. 

It might take us where we never imagined going, to what we never imagined seeing, and to being who we never imagined being.

Jn 12:24-26 Unless You Fall To The Ground You Will Never Grow Up

Feast of St. Lawrence

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Jesus said to his disciples:  "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.  Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life."

Unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground, it remains just a grain of wheat.  This morning at Mass I officially brought a child, a baby, into the Church.  The little girl was not expected to live long, so she received an emergency baptism while in the hospital.

After many prayers and the hard work of doctors and nurses, little "Angela" [this is not her real name] was welcomed into the Church in a touching and beautiful ceremony.  I had never heard of this type of ceremony.  The parents insisted on it.  I looked it up and I was surprised to learn that this Rite exists in the Baptism Manual.  I am so glad they insisted on it, but I wondered why.  After all, she was baptized.

"We want to thank God.  We don't ever want to take our child's life for granted."  This is what they told me.  This was their response to my curiosity.  I got it.  I finally got it.  This is today's reading.  How fitting!

Tough times can leave us breathless; speechless.  This very young couple, full of energy, full of life and full of dreams, was quickly brought to their knees. 

When it rains, it pours.  Tough times can spiral out of control.  But we don't have to spiral out of control with them.  Instead, we can do what most doctors recommend.  We can sit down and close our eyes. 

But what I have found that works even better than sitting down is falling down; that is, falling to our knees and praying. 

Pray and be humble.  Learn from this.  Grow up.

Unless you fall to the ground you will never grow up.  Challenges can bring tremendous stress, but they can also bring incredible growth.  The death of a child can fracture closest of relationships.  But it can also bring people closer together.  The near loss of a child can fracture one's faith, but it can fortify it as well.

I have often said that life is not fair.  It isn't.  It's remarkable!  And it is too easy for us take it for granted.  Tough times are God's times to help us grow up and come home.

I thank God for my priesthood; for all the experiences I have had; for all the growth spurts I have experienced!  It has made my life so much better.  In fact, I have come to believe that I am at my very best when life is not fair to me. 

Am I crazy to say that humiliation can lead us to be more honest, humble and compassionate?  Or that the loss of a job can make us more of a family man?  Would I be weird in saying that the less I think of myself, the happier I would be? or that the loss of someone or something will force me to reexamine my life for the better? 

Difficult moments are growth spurts.  They are absolutely necessary if we want to get the best out of life and eternity.

There is a story that has been circulating for some time now.  It is the story of an "angel-priest" who mysteriously appeared at the scene of a car crash.  He arrived just when the teenager, trapped in her car and unable to be freed, asked rescuers to stop working and to pray to God with her. 

Now everyone saw the priest:  firefighters, police and, of course, the injured teen.  And no one knows how he got through the police barriers. 

Is this a hoax?  Is this an example of collective hallucination?  Of course not.  It is a miracle.  It is the power of prayer.

The priest is not an angel.  He is a priest.  To me, the miracle is not so much that he got passed the police barricade or that he arrived right when this young lady asked for prayers.  For me, these are miracles, but not the greatest miracle of all. 

The greatest miracle of all is that he left.  The priest left!  I doubt I would do that.

This priest did not seek recognition.  To me, that is a miracle, the biggest miracle of all.  Humility is a miracle.  It is God's trademark.

Everyone at the scene agrees:  the priest's arrival and his soothing words brought comfort  and confidence to all involved.  He let them know that she would be freed soon.

She was.

This lady was on the ground.  Her life was drifting away.  Her body was full of fractures but her faith was firmly intact.  She did what she needed to do.  She asked for God and He sent her a priest.

And the priest left her after he prayed with her.  What a beautiful ending.  What a remarkable testimony.

Mt 16:24-28 Pick Up Your Cross And Turn Your Life Around

Friday of the Eighteenth Week In Ordinary Time

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Jesus said to his disciples:  “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.  What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?

A couple of days ago was one of those days when the Son began to shine on me.  It was a “great-awakening” moment.  I realized just how much of a sinner I am.

It was an awful day!  Early in the morning I began to feel the heat of the Son, and it was very, very intense!  Thankfully, the day ended wonderfully, with an admission of guilt and an outpouring of God’s grace.  I finally did what I should have done long ago:  I quit fighting fire with fire.

Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself.  There are moments in our lives when we really feel like we can do no wrong, and that the world is at my beck and call, ready to be crushed by me at my command.  Success, like superior intelligence, can do that to us.  It can give us this false sense of superiority and take us to places we never ever dreamed of going:  Hell (and I don’t necessarily mean the eternal one).  How easily the roar of the crowd can turn a lamb into a gladiator. 

I’m sure you know what I mean.

The Lord reminds his men:  If you wish to follow me, then begin to deny yourself.  He is telling them that a comfortable life is not in store for them; and that recognition will “Passover” them.  Instead of the laurels of success, persecution will follow them wherever they go. 

But why “deny yourself?”  For one simple reason:  the worst form of persecution always comes from within.  

This knowledge is not meant to frighten them but to humble them.  Pick up your cross and turn your life around!

The most important thing is not to win every argument; it is to win every soul.  The most important duty is not to win at any cost; it is to love at all cost.  The most important rule is not to fight fire with fire; it is to turn the other cheek.  It is scary how certain circumstances in our lives can quickly turn us upside down to empty us of all that is good, pure and holy. 

What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?  Again, what do I gain in being a thorn in someone’s side?  What do I gain in holding on to resentment, bitterness, anger and frustration?  Do I not become a thorn, a dagger, a disturbed individual?

Break away from all these chains!  Free yourself with the instrument that liberates all men:  humility.  Repent and believe!

Now you're ready to carry your cross and turn a new leaf over!

Accept this challenge.