Confess and Believe

   “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  (Romans 10: 9)

   These words of Paul are as applicable today as on the day he spoke them.  But what do they mean to us and how we live our life today?

   When we confess that Jesus is Lord is that enough?  It's easy enough to say but if it isn’t in our heart and the way we live I don’t believe it meets Paul’s criteria.  Not only do we need to verbally confess the Lordship of Jesus but it must be evident in the way we live.  Our entire attitude must be one of confessing that Christ is Lord of our life.  In other words we can’t just talk the talk, we must walk the walk.

   If we believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead we are expressing not only our belief in His resurrection but in the hope of our own resurrection through Him.  For that is what He taught.  If we believe what He taught about His resurrection we must believe the rest of His teachings as well.  We can’t pick and choose which we will follow and which we will ignore if we are to be saved.  Each of His teachings is a part of the path to salvation.  When we attempt to decide for ourselves which are important and which aren’t we are letting selfishness and pride over-rule His commands.

   Confessing that Jesus is Lord and believing that God raised Him from the dead is where we start down the Christian road.  Confessing His Lordship by the way we live, believing all His teachings and living them the best we can is how we complete the journey.

Lord, help us confess your Lordship.

Not only in words in but the way we live.

Jesus, help us to believe and follow Your teachings.

Not just those we understand, but also those we struggle with.

Amen

Light A Candle

   “I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 13: 47)

   Paul spoke those words to Gentiles to assure them that God loves all.  In the new covenant there would be no Jew or Gentile, male or female, slave or free; the good news of the Gospel applies to everyone.  We too, as Christians, have been made a light for Christ.  We must do our best to share that light.

 For the last few days I’ve been discussing light and darkness in our world.  Anyone who has eyes can readily see that the light is struggling in a world that clearly prefers darkness.  But what are we to do about it?

   While we can’t change the world, we can be a light to those we know and love.  Our light burns best when it burns with love for God and others.  That love can encourage others to take up the light.

   But what kind of light are we to use?  A bright spotlight in someone’s eyes causes them to turn from the light.  If we approach others with such a light we risk pushing them away; their eyes aren’t accustomed to such glare.  However, if we reach out with the light of a candle it can be more welcoming, inviting a closer relationship.  Turning on a room full of bright lights might be good for reading or needle-point but for a quiet, loving discussion candle-light is much better.  Candles create an atmosphere of warmth and comfort that bright lights can’t provide.

   Candles offer another advantage as well; the light can be shared.  A second or third or fourth candle can be lit from your own candle and given away.  Sharing the flame of your candle can brighten their lives but will never dim your own candle.  In fact, the best way to keep your candle burning brightly is to share it as often as possible with as many as possible.

   When we share God’s light we receive even greater light.  Light, love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness.  These are the gifts that we have to offer; these are the gifts that grow greater within ourselves because we have given them to others.

Father, Your light shines within us.

Help us to share that light with others.

The more we share your light the more light we receive.

The more we share your love the more we are loved.

Amen

The Light of Jesus

   “And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to the light, because their works were evil.” (John 3: 19)

   The world has received its’ verdict; it is condemned to pass away.  Not because God wants or intended it to be but because mankind refused the light.  The darkness allows our sins to remain hidden from sight while light shines upon the evil for all to see.  Too many prefer to remain in darkness and sin.

   How did we reach this point; a world that has no future; a world that will pass away.  We knew of the sins of our first parents.  We’ve heard of the destruction of all but Noah and his family in the great flood.  Sodom and Gomorrah should have been a wake-up call but wasn’t.

   There have been so many warning signs.  We’ve seen wars and more wars.  We’ve seen children starve when there was food that could have been provided.  We’ve watched as people died from disease when help could have been given.  We’ve seen peoples killed simply because they didn’t look like others thought they should.  Yet we didn’t learn.

   Still the darkness rules our world.  Our children are killed in the womb and thrown out with the trash.  Our elderly and disabled are encouraged to die because they no longer have “quality of life”.  Who defines quality of life and by what measuring stick?

   So much darkness and still God offers us the light.  He sent His son to bring the light but the world took His life on the cross.  Still He forgives and wants to take us back into His family.  Yet many continue to walk in the darkness.

   The Light changes everything.  In His light we can see the evil that is in the world.  We can see the evil that is within us.  Throw off the darkness; let the Light of Jesus shine in.  Reject the darkness and live in the Light forever.

“I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8: 12)

Our world is filled with darkness Lord.

We often lose our way.

Lead us out of the darkness

And into your eternal light.

Amen

Light of the World

   “You are the light of the world.” (Matt 5: 14)

   Jesus said these words during the sermon on the mount.  His teachings are applicable to us today no less than when He taught the apostles over two thousand years ago.  As Christians we are to be the light of the world.

   I sometimes feel that my light is on a dimmer switch.  It seems that it shines brightly at times but less so at other times.  The cares and concerns of this world intrude and dim what should be the light of Christ shining within me.  If the light is dimmed by sin others will not see it and I am not sharing the light Jesus has given me.

   The world in which we live is full of blinds and shades that can reduce the visibility of our light to virtually nothing.  Rather than trust in God and His plan for us we allow our day to day concerns to overwhelm us, urging us to depend upon ourselves rather than asking the help of our Lord.  Pride tells us we can handle it when humility should be urging us to seek His help.  Our light can't shine though pride and selfishness.

   The light we are to share is not one of wattage but of spirit.  We can’t light up the night by the brilliance of our light, but we can help others come to the light of Christ by letting our spiritual light shine upon them through our love and caring.  Our life and the way we live it is the dimmer switch that can increase or lessen our light.  When we live as Jesus taught, others will see the light within us.  When our life is of this world we draw a shade over our light rather than sharing it.  In some cases we may even extinguish our light.

   Through prayer and trust in God we can shine brightly and perhaps bring others into the light.  By seeking God’s will for our life He will increase our light enabling us to shine more and more brightly.

“But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.” (John 3: 21)

Father, the path we walk grows dark at times.

Let your light shine brightly within us.

Let us place the brightness of your light on a pedestal

That others may see your light through us.

Amen

Light From the Darkness

   “Only those who walk in darkness ever see the stars.  If we never suffer how will we know joy?” (“Seven Words of Jesus and Mary”, page 23, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen)

   Anyone who has walked down a dark road on a moonless night has probably experienced the fear and anxiety that can be brought on by the darkness.  The sight of a street light just ahead brings relief and joy.  It promises that we will soon be back in the light and out of the darkness.

   Darkness, whether physical or spiritual, is usually unpleasant on many levels.  We seek the light to reassure ourselves of our safety.  Yet, darkness serves a valuable purpose.  By walking in darkness occasionally we better appreciate the light.  If we are never ill, how can we appreciate heath?  Without knowing sorrow, happiness loses its’ joy.  

   Those who prepare for physically difficult sporting events know the pain and agony that their training may bring.  They consider it worth it to win the prize in their chosen sport.  In the same way martyrs throughout the years experienced the pain and agony of brutal torture and execution.  They considered the prize of heaven to be worth the cost.

 

   Those who sit in the stands and cheer on the athletes don’t know the pain experienced in training, but they never win the Super-bowl, the Stanley Cup or the World Series.  Those who sat in the Roman coliseum cheering the brutality suffered by those being martyred never felt the pain, but never won the prize of eternity with our Lord.

   Darkness, suffering, pain and death are things we all experience.  Some live in the fear and anxiety; some see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I believe that light at the end of the tunnel is the key; the light of God and eternal joy.  Like athletes and the martyrs, we may have to experience the pain to win the prize.

   “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear not evil, for you are with me;” (Ps 23: 4)

King of Kings

   “His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, his kingship, one that shall not be destroyed.” (Dan 7: 14)

   When we think of kings or queens we think of royalty and all that entails; the great celebrations full of splendor, the spectacles of the royal entourage and such.  Yet these regal trappings and ceremonies will pass away.

   Our King had none of the rituals and glories associated with the kingdoms of this world.  He was born of a poor Jewish woman in Bethlehem and laid in a manger.  Yet His birth was announced to the shepherds by angels singing glory to the newborn King.

   The King we serve was raised in the small town of Nazareth.  He learned carpentry from His foster-father Joseph.  He had no throne, no crown, no servants attending His every need.

   The King of Kings lived a life of poverty, preaching the good news of forgiveness and salvation to all who would listen.  He was loved by some, rejected by most, betrayed by one of the chosen apostles and, when arrested, abandoned by all but one of the others.  The one upon whom He would build His Church denied knowing Him, not once but three times.

   Our King was beaten, insulted and nailed to a cross.  He never condemned those who did these things but instead asked the Father to forgive them.  He forgives us still even though we continue to sin against Him.

   He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven where those of faith are to join Him for eternity.  He died for our sins to enable us to enter His kingdom.  Of all the kings and queens who have lived or will live He is the only one truly worthy of our worship, love and service.

   This is the King we serve; let us give Him all glory, praise and thanksgiving.

Jesus, You are the King of Kings.

The King who came to serve rather than be served.

I offer myself as a servant to You.

I love You with all my heart, soul and mind.

Amen

Two Doors

   “I’ve had choices since the day that I was born.  There were voices that told me right from wrong.”  ("Choices" – lyrics by Billy Yates and Mike Curtis)

   From our youth we’ve had choices to make.  As a child our parents made many of those choices for us, trying to help us learn to make the right choices in life.  Sadly, some parents had made the wrong choices in their own lives so helping their children make the right ones was difficult at best.

   As we grew older, we had other guidance in our lives.  Some of our friends helped us make right choices, pointing out the risks and dangers possible in our decisions.  Others encouraged us to ignore those perils and make the choice that best suited what we wanted at the time with no thought to the future.

   Somewhere along the line most of us were given spiritual choices as well as the everyday choices of life.  Some, like me, knew virtually nothing of the spiritual life as a child.  As an adult I found God through my wife.  By going to Mass with her she, in many ways, led me to Jesus and the mercy and forgiveness of His love.  I am very blessed and thankful for her influence in my life.

   There will always be choices to make.  If we rely upon friends and even family, we may at times be led astray and wander into dangerous spiritual territory.  By testing our choices through the Word of God we have a much greater chance of choosing the path that will lead us to our place with God.

   It’s sometimes like the game shows we see on television.  We are faced with two doors and we must choose one for our prize.  Behind one is a fabulous gift, behind the other disappointment.  If we listen to the crowds, we risk choosing based on earthly priorities and concerns leading to disappointment in eternity.  If we seek the voice and guidance of God, we can choose the correct door and enter the blessed joy of heaven.

There are so many choices Lord,

How do we know which to choose?

Help us to look for your guidance in all things.

Help us choose the door that leads to you.

Amen

Possessed

   There are many accounts of demonic possession in scripture.  Mary Magdalene was possessed by seven demons which Christ drove from her.  (see Mark 16: 9).  Jesus expelled demons from two persons near Garadene.  The demons then entered swine, driving them into the sea. (see Matt 8: 28 – 32).

   Demonic possession is real and exists today, but I think the most common form of possession is far less dramatic.  Perhaps Satan and his demons have found that a more subtle form of possession is better suited to our time.  We may not be possessed by demons who attack others or send swine into the sea but rather by our own desires.

   Many spend their lives possessed by trying to get more, own more, and have more to brag about to others.  A new car is only good until another catches their eye; phones, computers and such are tossed aside once a faster, flashier one hits the market.  They become possessed when those things that they want become what they believe they must have.

   I propose a different possession; one of God and faith.  If we can become obsessed with things we don’t need we can instead become obsessed by things that benefit us.  The demonic possession we read of in the Bible and occasionally see in the world today can be replaced by the possession of God and the Holy Spirit.

   Through prayer and effort on our part we can shun earthly possessions for heavenly ones.  We can direct our efforts to a greater indwelling of the Holy Spirit and a growth in our faith and love of God.  It's not going to happen unless we seek it but it's there for any who want it.  "The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name -- he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.  (John: 14:26)

   Possession by the Holy Spirit is one we should seek in all that we do.  He will help us navigate the perils and dangers of earthly possession and lead us to the Father.  Our Parish Priest encourages all who seek this possession to say a simple prayer to help obtain His presence.  It goes like this:

Jesus, I love You, possess me.

Jesus, I love You, possess me.

Jesus, I love you, possess me.

Amen

Thanksgiving

Father, each year we set aside a day for thanksgiving.

We take that day to thank you for our many blessings.

We give thanks for our family and friends.

We give thanks for the foods that we share on this day.

Why do we only have one day a year set aside?

Why aren’t we thankful each day for our blessings?

Every day is filled with Your love and mercy.

Each day is filled with Your blessings.

Let us take this one day and live it every day.

May we awake giving thanks for the day to come.

May we go to sleep giving thanks for your many blessings.

May we give You thanks every day of the year.

Amen

   I wish each of you the many blessings of God on this day and pray that your life will be filled with happiness and joy.  Happy Thanksgiving!

The End

   If the world were to end tomorrow would you be ready?  If you knew the exact date and time what would you do to prepare?  We aren’t intended to know when the end is coming.  When asked when the end would come Jesus told His disciples “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 13: 32).

   We can't know when the end of the world will come, but there is another end that each of us will experience.  Even if the end of the world is centuries into the future all of us face the end of our world at the moment of our death.  Like the end of the world, we don’t know the exact day and hour of the end of our earthly life.

   Not knowing can be both a blessing and a curse.  I think if we knew the exact time of our death we would be in terrible anxiety as that time came nearer and nearer.  God has blessed us with the ability to not spend our life contemplating our death.  Yet, not knowing also means that we always need to be prepared.

   I’ve often wondered how people would approach life if they knew exactly when it would end.  Would they realize that they were blessed to have the time remaining to do the will of God and leave this world knowing they had done their best?  Or would they instead live a life of debauchery and sin, believing that they could repent at the last moment and be saved?

   We live our lives never knowing when they will end.  Many fear death and the closure they believe it brings.  What we should fear is our place in eternity.  Death will come regardless, we make the choice of whether eternity is heaven or hell by the way we live .  When Jesus told His apostles that the day and time was not known He also warned them, “Be watchful!  Be alert!  You do not know when the time will come.” (Mark 13: 33).

Father, only you know the day and time of the end.

Thank you for the chance to seek you before that end.

May we always be aware that the time may be near.

May we live so as to join you when it comes

Amen

Redeemed

   “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43: 1)

   We seem to have a difficult time accepting scripture such as that above at face value.  We want to add our own interpretations and definitions of what they mean.  We are redeemed, but not if we continue to sin; or if we are too bad or evil to be redeemed.  In some cases we convince ourselves that we are unworthy of the redemption promised by these scriptures.

   Sometimes this idea is pressed upon us by those who would say we can’t be Christian unless we meet their definition of what Christianity should be.  Perhaps we can’t meet that definition if we suffer from addiction to alcohol or drugs.  Maybe we can’t be Christian if we don’t give the right amount to the church.  If we get angry our faith is questioned.  If we sin at all, we are accused of hypocrisy.

   We need to realize that we have been redeemed even though we can’t meet the level of perfection some would place on us.  Even more important, we need to recognize that we can’t demand perfection of ourselves.  Paul, in his letter to the Romans writes, “all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.  They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 3: 23 -24).  We need to understand that our redemption is not of our own doing, but a gift freely bestowed upon us on by our Lord.

   People fear for their place in God’s family because of their sins.  Yet God doesn’t abandon us; He patiently awaits our plea for forgiveness and welcomes us home.  As a parent is overwhelmed with joy when a wayward child returns, so too is God when a sinner returns to Him.

   We can’t have peace in this world if we demand the impossible of ourselves or others.  We have sinned and will sin again.  Perfection is beyond our ability in this life.  The greatest blessing is that God knows and understands this yet still loves us and wants us as His children.

   “But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the holy Spirit.  Keep yourselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.  (Jude 1: 20 – 21).

God’s Forgiveness

   “Bless the Lord, my soul; and do not forget all his gifts, who pardons all your sins, and heals all your ills, who redeems your life from the pit, and crowns you with mercy and compassion,” (Ps 103: 2 – 4)

   God did not create us to be unhappy; human suffering was not His intent; sadness and despondency isn’t something God wishes for us.  “God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.”  Most Catholics over a certain age will recognize that quotation as coming from the Baltimore Catechism, the book used to help youngsters understand their faith.  Yet this simple answer is quite complete in letting us know why we were created.  In even simpler words, God created us out of his love.

   He created the world and gave it to us as its’ stewards.  Had we followed the advice of the catechism to know Him, love Him and serve Him, pain, suffering and death would have never entered the world.  Instead, out of prideful sin, we broke our covenant with God and lost the happiness and joy we were intended to experience.

   Though we broke the covenant God still loves us.  He wants to reestablish that relationship we had at the very beginning.  He wants us to be His sons and daughters and live a life filled with His blessings, finally realizing the ultimate joy of joining Him forever in heaven.

   To offer us this opportunity Jesus paid the price for our sins and reopened the doors of heaven to those who would seek it in faith and trust.  He provided the means for us to gain forgiveness for our sins; not just once but over and over.  God knows our weaknesses better than we know them ourselves; He understands that we will stumble and fall.  Yet His love remains; His mercy is endless.  Our sins are forgiven, our debt is paid, not by us but by the love and mercy of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

   When we throw ourselves on the mercy of God, our sins are washed from us.  He loves us and wants us to be happy with Him forever in the life to come.  It’s our choice to join Him.

   “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us.”  (Ps 103: 12)

The Spirit of God

   “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”  (Luke 1: 35)

   These words of the angel Gabriel to Mary announced the means by which she would bear the Son of God.  By the Holy Spirit she would conceive though she was a virgin.  With God all things are possible.

   The Holy Spirit is waiting to overshadow us as well.  He will fill us as He filled the Blessed Mother; as He filled the prophets with the word of God; as He filled the Martyrs with the conviction to live and die for God.  He won’t push His way in; He won’t knock down the door, but He will fill us if we invite Him.

   When we ask the Spirit to dwell within us, we are making a commitment to try out best to follow the guidance He will bring to us.  The Spirit will help strengthen us in our efforts to avoid sin.  We will fail and we will fail again but the Holy Spirit will never forsake us; He will be with us in all things.

   Our life can be changed by the Holy Spirit if we are willing to open ourselves to Him.  Mary’s response was, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 38) This should also be our response to the Holy Spirit.  Come Lord, fill me and let me be the servant of the Lord.  May your will be done.

Father send your Holy Spirit upon me.

Let Him fill my life and guide me on the path to you.

Help me to trust in You even when I don’t understand.

Give me the faith and hope to live my life in Your will.

Amen

Walk By Faith

   “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20: 25)

   Those words of the apostle Thomas earned him the nickname of “Doubting Thomas”, a name still used today to describe one who refuses to believe unless they have proof.

   The world is full of doubting Thomas’, those who refuse to believe unless they are given proof.  Many will not accept that the Eucharist is in fact the body and blood of Jesus even though it says so in many places in scripture.  They would want the bread to physically change to flesh and the wine to blood before they would believe.  They won’t accept the miracle.

   When the Blessed Mother appeared to three young Portuguese children at Fatima no one would believe them.  Yet on October 13, 1917 an estimated thirty thousand or more saw the miracles performed by Our Lady.  Then and only then, did they believe.

   Thomas had the opportunity to see Jesus and touch His wounds.  Those at Fatima saw what became known as the “Miracle of the Sun.”  We, unlike Thomas, believe in Jesus, His death and resurrection without the proof of sight.  I believe in the miracles of Fatima, Lourdes and many others even though I’ve not personally seen them.  I believe in the miracle of the Eucharist.  Faith doesn’t require physical proof but proof of the heart and of the spirit.  St. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians put it this way, “for we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor 5: 6 – 7).  That is what Christians do, we walk in faith.

   Thomas got the proof he demanded; Jesus let him place his finger into the wounds in His hand and into His side, Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20: 28) Jesus’ reply to Him is important for us who walk by faith and not by sight.

   “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed. (John 20: 29)

Meatless Friday

   Most Catholics know about meatless Fridays.  It used to be an expected sacrifice for all each week.  Many would give up meat and eat seafood instead.  Yet, it was never intended to be as much about meat as it was about acknowledging our Lord and making some small sacrifice to honor Him.  It was a way to express our love for Him.

   That sacrifice has essentially disappeared.  Many Catholics believe it was abolished by Vatican II.  As with many things people believe about Vatican II, abolishing this sacrifice was not part of that Ecumenical Council.  Canon Law still says that “Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday.” (Canon 1251).

   The sacrifice is still a part of our faith.  However, we have the option of choosing a sacrifice which might be more meaningful.  For instance, giving up meat on Friday is no sacrifice at all for a vegetarian or vegan.  For me, giving up meat is not a big deal since I would prefer seafood anyway.  In my case, going vegetarian on Fridays might be the appropriate sacrifice.  The point is not what we sacrifice but that we sacrifice something meaningful.

   Unfortunately, it seems many used Vatican II as an excuse to stop the practice entirely.  This begs the question of what we are prepared to give for Christ.  If we are so weak or so selfish that we won’t sacrifice some little something on Fridays to honor the sacrifices He made for us what does that say about our faith and love of God.  Jesus gave His life for us and we don’t even want to sacrifice a hamburger once a week.

   I suggest that we, individually and as families, put some sacrifice back into Fridays.  If not meat, how about desert?  Maybe the kids could give up an hour of video game.  Mom and Dad could give up an hour of television.  Turn off the cellphones for family dinner and really talk with each other.  If possible, take the family to daily Mass on Fridays.  Whatever you choose, give it to God as your gift for the many blessings He has given us and to thank Jesus for His sacrifices for us.

   How about trying it today?  After all, it is Friday.

For Me

Lord, You became man – for me.

You were born of woman – for me.

You lived the life of a carpenter – for me.

You preached the good news – for me.

Jesus, You were rejected – for me.

You were abandoned by Your friends – for me.

You were scourged and beaten – for me.

You carried Your cross to Calvary – for me.

You were nailed to the cross – for me.

You died – for me.

You rose from the dead – for me.

You ascended into heaven – for me.

Lord, You have given me so much

You have forgiven my sins.

You have offered me salvation.

You have saved me from eternal damnation.

What can I give You?

I give You my heart, my mind and my soul.

I give You my will and ask that Yours be done.

I give You myself.

Amen

Where Is God?

   I hear people ask this question when things go wrong or something happens they think God should have stopped or changed or fixed.  They are asking the wrong question.

   The question is not where God is, it’s “Where have I put God?”  We seek God when we need Him but so often ignore Him when things are good.  We put Him away along with the Bible and prayer in a drawer somewhere until something tragic happens in our life or we need help resolving a life-changing situation.  We put God behind our earthly wants and desires until those wants and desires mess up our life, then we turn to Him.  We ignore Him until all else has failed us.

   Mercifully God doesn’t leave us when we ignore Him and put everything ahead of Him in our priorities.  He is still there waiting for us to realize that the answer to our problem has been within us all the time.  No matter the problem, no matter how bad things may be, God is there and wants to help.  Just ask; call on Him in faith and He will be there.

   The answer to this question is the same as it has always been; God is everywhere.  No matter where you are, what has happened, or what is troubling you God is there.  If you seek Him, you will be answered.  If you reach out to Him in faith you will be helped with whatever cross you may be carrying.

   So forget the question of where God is.  We know the answer if we will only admit it.  He is within us; He is with us always; He loves us and wants to bring eternal joy and happiness to us.  But we must be willing to reach out to Him.  Get your bible from the drawer, get on your knees in prayer.  You will find God is right there beside you.

Father, we ignore You when things are good.

Yet turn to You when we are troubled.

Help us to know that You are always with us.

Your love is all we will ever need.

Amen

Spiritual Food

   “You will not see anyone who is truly striving after his spiritual advancement who is not given to spiritual reading.”  (St. Athanasius of Alexandria)

   There is an adage that says you are what you eat.  As with many of these old sayings there is some truth in this one.  If we eat healthy foods and avoid those which are not so good for us, we are more likely to be healthy ourselves.  A well-balanced sensible diet can do much to help us maintain our health.

   The same principal applies to our spiritual health.  If we fill our minds and heart with the wrong things it can harm our spiritual health just as the wrong foods harm the physical.  Proper nourishment is needed if we are to develop and maintain a proper relationship with our Lord.

   Is your bookshelf filled with fiction, glorifying sex and violence?  Do the television shows you watch present a spiritually healthy message or one of misplaced values and mores?  Is there a Bible on your nightstand or beside your favorite chair?  Do you read it?  What of the writings of the saints; are they part of your reading material?  Do you pray?  The things with which we fill our spirit determines the health of our relationship with God.

   We will go to most any length in our efforts to keep our body healthy.  We need to put the same or more effort into our spiritual well-being.  Our earthly bodies, regardless of their health, will pass away.  Our soul lives forever.  By properly feeding the spirit we can all be saints.

“Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of the one who sent me.”  (John 4: 34)

Father give me the food that feeds my spirit.

Let me look to Your word for nourishment.

Fill me with the desire to know you better.

Let me feed my soul with food from heaven.

Amen

What Will You Give Him?

   St. Jerome translated the Bible from the Hebrew texts to Latin in the late 300’s.  An ancient account tells of Jerome going to Bethlehem shortly after finishing his work to celebrate Christmas.  Jesus appeared to Jerome and asked him what he would give Him for His birthday.  Jerome quickly replied, “I give you the translation of your word.”  Jesus replied, “That is not what I want.”  Jerome offered fasting, becoming a hermit and giving all his possessions to the poor.  In each case Jesus said that wasn’t what He wanted.  Finally Jerome asked Jesus to tell him what would give Him the most joy on His birthday.  Jesus replied, “Give me your sins”.

   You see, all our worldly goods are nothing to Jesus.  All we have and all we will ever have is a gift from Him and exists only because of Him.  Money, power, fame; these were not what Jesus became man to obtain.  He became man; lived as a man; was tempted as a man; and died as a man to obtain our soul.  His desire had nothing to do with anything this world has to offer.  He came for us and for our salvation.

   He doesn’t want our money though if we are to serve Him our money is to be used to help others as well as ourselves.  He doesn’t want our possessions though those too are intended to be used not only for our benefit but for those in need.  He wants our soul.  He wants all of us.  He wants our sins.

   It’s seems a bit early to talk about Christmas but the true meaning of Christmas very quickly gets lost in the sales and hype for all we are supposed to want and give if we are to properly celebrate the season.  Yet no one ever speaks of what we are to give our Lord for His birthday.  After all, the only reason we celebrate Christmas is to honor the birth of our savior.

   Offer Jesus the birthday gift He truly wants.  Give Him your sins and then accept His forgiveness.  Accept the peace of salvation in your heart.  Give Him the gift of yourself; there is no greater gift than this.

   I share credit for this post with our Parish Priest for retelling the story of St. Jerome and his gift to Jesus at Mass this Sunday.  It sparked the thoughts I have shared here.

Bold Faith

   A brief look at the history of the Church reveals the fact that many have given their lives rather than deny their faith.  The persecutions of Christians in the early Church was brutal.  It was common to torture and kill them in the most painful ways imaginable.  Nero was known to have soaked Christians in oil, hanging them on lampposts and burning them alive as street lamps on the streets of Rome.

   Eventually, Christianity gained enough favor that the persecutions lessened but they never completely stopped.  Even today there are those who are martyred for their faith.  Those who have given their lives to stand for their faith recognize that death, even the horrible death endured by many, is a price worth paying for the glory of eternal life in the presence of our Lord.  They have received their reward in heaven.

   When I consider the many who have died and how they died for their faith I wonder how many of us would willingly accept torture and death rather than deny Jesus.  I pray that I would have the courage to give my life for my savior, yet until forced to make that choice I can never be certain.

   I’m embarrassed when I see the weakness of many Christians today.  We are not faced with torture and death; we are not subject to imprisonment for our faith, but we are still unwilling to take a stand for God.  Rather we expect the Priests, Bishops and the Pope to stand for the faith.  That’s their job, right?   We forget that they are merely human and, like us, subject to sin and the temptation of apathy.

   Our faith requires boldness, strength and perseverance.  We are God’s people, yet we fail to honor Him by defending our faith in Him.  We allow abortion to continue and say we can’t we can’t force our belief on others.  The millions of babies who have been murdered in the womb would think otherwise; they would want someone to speak boldly for their right to life.  God's children deserve our support.

   We have allowed a small percentage of our nation to practically force God from the public square, allowing every kind of abominable behavior to become acceptable.  Ever wonder why our schools, streets, and nation are becoming less civil and more dangerous?  Perhaps it’s because God is no longer allowed.  Still we won’t step up in defense of our faith.  If we don't take a stand it can only get worse.

   It’s past time for us, the laity, to stop sitting on the sidelines.  It’s time for us to take a stand for God even when that might be difficult.  It’s time for us to tell our Priests, Bishops and Pope to stand tall for the faith and promise them that we will stand with them.  If we don’t, we have failed as Christians; we will have become like the Church in Laodicea.  Christ will speak to us as He did to them, “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish you were either cold or hot.  So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”  (Rev 3: 15 – 16).