New Year’s Eve 

   As we look back over the past year, let’s try to focus on the good rather than the evil.

   There will be plenty of people who will recount every bad thing that occurred during the last year, but of what value is that?  When we focus on the negative it’s hard to remain positive in the way we live our lives.

   Instead of complaining about what we didn’t like, let’s instead be thankful for the many blessings of the year.  There is so much good to be celebrated if we will only look for it.  So many times we accept what is good as if it is our due.  We rarely take the time to give thanks to God, from whom all good comes.

   Evil has always been with us and will remain until our Lord comes again in His glory.  We can either allow the bad to dominate our lives or we can remember that Christ has overcome the world.  “In the end, God wins.” (Pope Benedict XVI).

   The world will continue until God decides it won’t.  Until then let us look to last year remembering the good and look to next year doing our best to contribute to the good.

 Be Still 

   “Pause a while and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted over the earth!” (Psalm 46: 10) 

   I keep coming back to this verse quite often which is why I’ve studied it in various translations.  Sometimes the wording used gives a different, previously unthought of insight into the scripture.  I believe God is opening my mind and heart to Him at these times, to help me better know and understand Him.

   The version quoted above is from the Jerusalem Bible.  I prefer it to the wording used in the New American Bible.  To pause is, to me, a bit different than being still.  I can be still while remaining in turmoil within.  To pause implies withdrawing from all things to contemplate God and His will.  It means going to my private place and quieting not only external noises but the distractions and noises that are nearly always there within.  I can’t be totally with God if my mind and heart is full of the things of this life.

   I need the quiet times, the pauses in my life.  They allow me to refocus on God, placing all my trust in Him.  It does no good to question the reasons or why things happened as they did, it matters only to trust that all things are in His hands.  Even when the hurt is most intense He is there when I reach out to Him.  By myself the woes of the world can be overwhelming, but our Lord has conquered the world and with Him all things are possible.

 For the Love of God 

   “Prefer nothing to the love of God.” St. Benedict 

   St. Benedict, in his Rule for Monks, speaks often of the love of God and its place in the spiritual life.  Without it there is no meaning to life, only confusion and a chase after illusions that we will never find.

   The love of God is a two way street; it involves both His love for us and our love for Him.  No matter what we may do His love for us will never end, it is eternal.  He will continue to reach out to us hoping to bring us to the kingdom He has prepared for us.

   Our love for God is much less consistent.  We love Him for all the many blessings He has given us, but we often reject the cross and the pain that love sometimes requires if it is to grow and develop.  Our love is sometimes strong, but often it is wavering, lukewarm rather than flaming.   At its best our should burn brightly even through the worst of time.

   The relationship between God and His people is often compared to a marriage.  Throughout scripture this image is used to show how our bond with God is to be.  In a sacramental marriage love insists on the good of the other rather than self.  That kind of love knows no bounds, it requires no repayment.  Love never seeks a return, only the  pleasure of giving love as best can.  It is a total giving of oneself to another.

   This is the love that God has for us.  A love so strong that He would send His only Son to die for us; to give us redemption and forgiveness of our sins.  Our love for God can never reach that level of perfection in this lifetime, but we can strive to love God more and more each moment.  We can give ourselves to Him as Jesus gave Himself for us.

 

 What is Yet to Come 

   “What we get afterward we choose here; and what we reap there we sow here.” (St. Augustine) 

   My life is a choice.  I have the ability to choose where I will spend eternity.  I do so each day by the decisions I make, the actions I take and the way I live my life.

   God offers great blessings to all who are willing to accept them.  The key is that we have to choose to receive those blessings.  He will not bless our sinfulness or our arrogance and pride.  If our heart is full of worldly desires there is no room in our heart for the blessings He wants to give us.

   When this life ends I will be judged by our Lord Jesus Christ.  I don’t envision a great big book listing everything I’ve ever done or a reading of every sin I’ve ever committed.  There is no score sheet on which the good must outweigh the bad.  My sins have been forgiven if I’ve earnestly and sincerely sought forgiveness and the psalmist tells me, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us.” (Psalm 103: 12)

   I will be judged by how well I’ve integrated the will of God into my life; how I’ve tried to be the man that God created me to be.  I know that there are times when I fail, but God knows of my weakness and is merciful.  I believe my desire to serve Him and the effort I make to do so are what truly matters.  Of course the efforts must be honest and diligent; lukewarmness will not suffice.

   What awaits me in the next life is up to me.  If I have tried my best; if I have sorrowed when I failed; if I have gotten up after each fall and tried harder; if I have done all these things then I believe that I will hear Jesus say to me, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father.  Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matt: 25: 34).

 What We Need 

   “God intends to give us what we need, not what we now think we want.” – C. S. Lewis 

   God knows us and has known us since before time began.  He, far better that we, knows what we need.  If we trust in Him and seek what He wishes to give, we will be blessed by His love and generosity.

   Too many times I think people look to God as they would an ATM machine; insert prayer and receive what was asked for.  It doesn’t work like that, nor should it.  Our desires are often of a worldly nature, skewed and confused by an evil society that seeks only self-gratification.  Often what we think we need would be harmful to us and God wants to give us only what builds us up.

   The martyrs didn’t pray that God would save their lives but that He would give them the strength to endure their fate.  Most died in peace, confident of their place in God’s kingdom.  In many cases the calmness they knew, even asking for God’s forgiveness for those torturing them, converted many to Christianity.  They didn’t pray for an end to the pain and suffering but rather for the strength to offer it to God.

   God knows what we need, and He wants to provide it.  But we must turn from what we think we need and seek what He knows we need.

 It’s Only Just Begun 

   Yesterday we celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Today, many are already looking forward to the new year, placing Christmas in the “been there, done that” file.  But Christmas is not just a beginning, it is forever.

   We have hung the decorations, sung the hymns and Christmas carols, and many have gone to church for the first time in many weeks or months.  We’ve spent weeks and far too much time and money on gifts and parties, while taking little time to contemplate the gift that was given us on Christmas day.

   In a few days or a week or so at the most, the decorations will come down, placed in storage for another year.  Sadly, the joy and promise of Christmas will also be placed in storage for many, forgetting that He came to live, suffer and die on a cross to offer us redemption and forgiveness of sins.  In a few weeks all that will remain will be the bills for gifts that will most likely soon be forgotten.

   Christmas doesn’t just recall the birth of Christ in Bethlehem; it recalls the birth of Christ in our hearts if we accept Him as our Lord.  Like the burning bush Moses witnessed He will set our hearts aflame with His love though we will not be consumed but strengthened.  As the infant grew into the man, Jesus will grow within us until it is no longer us, but Him living within us.

   As we begin to move on from Christmas may we treasure the gift of Christ to the world and to each of us.  May His peace and His love remain with us and strengthen us throughout the coming year.

The Savior is Born 

   “For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.  And it will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2: 11 – 12)

 

   

 

Merry Christmas 

 Room At the Inn 

   “She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2: 7) 

   As we prepare to welcome the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ this night we need to ask ourselves this question; is there room for Him at the inn of our heart?

   If there is hatred and anger in our heart there is no room for the Son of God who comes in love for all.  If there is jealously and greed residing within us our inn has no room for God.  If there is lust within our heart, we have no room for Him.  If there is arrogance and self-importance in our hearts there is no room for the humility of Jesus who would be born of woman and placed in a manger to offer redemption to all.

   There has never been and never will be a greater gift than the one we celebrate on this holy night.  It was to us that He came; it is for our soul that He offers redemption.  But unless we can make room for Him by detaching ourselves from the evils and sinfulness of the world He will find no room in our heart; there will be no room for Him within us.

   As we celebrate His birth, let us ensure that our hearts are open to His love.  Let us make certain that there is room for Him at our inn.

 The Greatest Gift 

   “So faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor 13: 13) 

   At this time of year we search for the proper gift; one that our children, spouse, or friends will treasure.  Of all the gifts that are readily available the only one that will last forever is our love.  Love is the greatest gift of all.

   Love is a choice, not an emotion.  When we love we choose to put the one we love above ourselves, to seek their betterment rather than ours.  Love never demands, it is gentle, it is caring, and it is everlasting.  This is the love that our Savior has for us, and it is the love we are to have for Him and for all His children.

   Christianity, like love is not an emotion but a choice.  I must make a conscious decision to give my life to Christ.  I must accept and welcome His will in my life and strive to live according to the plans He has for me.  Though I may wonder if I am on the right path, I must trust that He will lead me where I need to go, even if I am unaware.

   Over and over we hear people ask what the true meaning of Christmas is.  It’s actually quite simple; it’s about love.  God loves us so much that He would send His Son to die for us, to offer redemption and forgiveness of our sins.  It’s about a baby laid in a manger because there was no room in the inn.  It’s about the greatest gift of all; love.

 Great Expectations 

   “Not all of us can do great things.  But we can do small things with great love.” St. Teresa of Calcutta 

   We sometimes over-reach in our efforts to serve the Lord.  We read the stories of the saints and think that we should be able to do the same, but that’s unrealistic.  We should always strive to serve our Lord to the best of our ability, but we must also recognize that we sometimes try to do more than our abilities permit.

   St. Teresa of Calcutta did incredible good in her lifetime but she never considered herself to be a saint.  She had a calling and responded; God did the rest.  She gave her best and God raised it to greatness.

   St. Therese of Lisieux referred to herself as “the little flower”.  In her humility she considered herself too “small”, too insignificant to serve God in great ways.  She therefore devoted her life to doing the little things that she was capable of with tremendous love.

   We must remember that God cares far more for our willingness to try than to the greatest of what we accomplish.  Some will be called to greatness in this life, but most of us will not.  God has a plan for each of; you may be destined to greatness while I may not, but as long as we are serving God with all our love and devotion, we are both pleasing God.

   It is right that we should always do our best to serve God in all we do but in the big picture our role is to offer ourselves to Him, seeking His will in all things and leave the rest up to Him and His plan for us.

 A Peaceful Soul 

   “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” (St. Padre Pio) 

   By following St. Padre Pio’s advise we can find and keep the peace of soul we are meant to have.

   In prayer we commune with God.  We tell Him of our problems and seek His help in resolving them.  We offer Him ourselves just as the Blessed Mother did, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 38).  Our priest expresses this submittal to God's will beautifully, “Do to me what you want, do with me what you want, do through me what you want.”

   When we place our hope in God we can rest confidently in His faithfulness.  He will never abandon us, His love is eternal and without limit.  In Jesus Christ we have the hope of redemption and forgiveness of our sins.  The Holy Spirit dwells within us and guides us if we will only listen and hope in the comfort He will bring.  The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; when we hope in them our hopes will never be in vain.

   Everyone struggles with the worries of life and Satan take great delight in the unease that worry brings.  Some people are so consumed with worries that their life is a misery.  C. S. Lewis once wrote, “Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace within difficulties.”  When we place our worries at the feet of our Lord He will help us overcome them, He will give us His peace, even in a world full of worries.

   Pray, hope, and don’t worry.  When we live our lives according to this wisdom we will know peace.  Life will not always be easy but with God all can be overcome.

 

“In the world you will have troubles, but be brave, I have conquered the world.” (John 16: 33).

 Be At Peace 

   “Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you.  Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” (John 14: 27) 

   The world offers only a sad imitation of peace.  It doesn’t last and carries with it the fear of losing what little peace it may temporarily give.  The peace of Christ is eternal.

   There is very little peace in the world and what peace there may be is getting harder and harder to find.  Everywhere I look there is anger, hatred, and an overall lack of respect for our fellowmen.  The “war” of words grows more vicious and destructive by the day.   Common courtesy has fallen victim to the "me” generations.

   Even in our churches there is less and less peace.  There are those who want to remain true to the teachings of God and others who want to throw them out and bow to the evil desires of a corrupt society.  Those who look to religious leaders for guidance are in a dilemma.  The lies and deceptions of heresy put the souls of the faithful at risk, bringing confusion and uncertainty.

   There is only one whose word is true and always will be; our Lord Jesus Christ.  When we turn to scripture and read His words and pay attention to His lessons we can find peace.  When we live by the truth of His words we find it easier to ignore the lies and deceits of Satan and his many followers in this world.

   Jesus spoke often of the peace He gives to those who seek it.  It is a gift He wants everyone to receive.  When we trust in Him the world becomes less troublesome and we can know the peace of the Lord.

 Hardship 

   Hardships are a part of life.  In my opinion they a very important part of life.  If we never know hardship we will never fully appreciate the blessings.  They serve to keep us humble and grateful to God for His many gifts.  Hardships teach us to look to God and rely on the strength He provides in such times.

   Consider for a moment some of the hardships Joseph and Mary knew.  Joseph was of the house of David which meant that he and Mary had to go to Bethlehem to be counted when Caesar Augustus ordered a census.  It is over 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem and they would have to travel by foot or donkey, averaging about 20 miles per day.  At that rate the trip would take nearly five days if everything went as planned

   Once they arrived in Bethlehem they found that there was no place for them to stay, the city was overcrowded for the census.  A stable, among the animals, was the best that could be found.  Imagine the heartache of Joseph when he was unable to provide proper shelter for Mary and the baby that was to be born.  The Savior of the world was placed in a feeding trough, a manger, for a crib.

   Shortly after Jesus’ birth they learned that Herod intended to kill Him.  At the warning of an angel, they packed up all they had and went into exile in Egypt to avoid the wrath of Herod.  They surely knew of the slaughter of the innocents that occurred shortly after they left.  They must have felt at least somewhat responsible for that atrocity.

   In all the hardships the Holy Family experienced they trusted in God and His messengers, the angels.  They quietly, humbly obeyed, knowing that He was with them.  They dealt with the difficulties always confident that God was with.

   There are those who suffer great hardship in the world today, but most of us know little of true hardship.  We have become weak and complain of even the smallest of difficulties.  We forget that there are hardships which will test us and bring us to the breaking point.  We have forgotten what our Lord promised us, “All things are possible for God." (Mark 10: 27).

 God’s Plans  

   “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55: 9) 

   I am currently rereading “The Confessions of Saint Augustine”, his autobiography. It is the story of how he found God in his life, eventually becoming a great saint after an early life of debauchery and heresy.

   As I am reading it this time I’ve seen something that I hadn’t noticed before; the insight Augustine displays in understanding the many ways God brought him to Himself.  He sees the sinful lifestyle he had led, the adultery he knew and even the heresy of Manichaeism he had gotten so involved with as part of God’s plan for him.

   As I look back over my life it’s plain to see God’s hand in my life.  To begin with, I’m not even supposed to be alive.  When I was born the doctors told my parents that I would not live more than a month or so.  On at least two other occasions I have come near to death but survived.  Was it luck or God’s plan for me that saved me?  I choose to believe it was God.

   I grew up in a household essentially devoid of God.  Rarely was He spoken of except in vain and even more rarely did I see the inside of a church.  Yet, I fell in love and married my childhood sweetheart, a woman of faith, who led me to the Catholic Church and God.

   In these and other ways I can’t help but see His hand in my life though I didn’t’ see it at the time.  Things are often much clearer when looking back.

   I have no idea what else God may have planned for the rest of my time here on earth, but I will submit myself to His will in all things.  His will, His plan, is to bring me to His heavenly kingdom and that is where I want to be for all eternity.

 What Is Truth? 

   “So Pilate said to him, ‘Then you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say I am a king.  For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.  Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’  Pilate said to him, ‘What is truth?’” (John 18: 37 – 38) 

   We live in a world where truth is whatever someone wants it to be.  In that world truth changes from generation to generation or year to year, or even sometimes day to day.  If it is changeable, it cannot be the truth.  What is true remains true; otherwise, it is merely opinion.

   That fact seems to have been forgotten in the modernist agenda.  In the eyes of society truth is simply what one chooses to accept as truth.  My truth may not be the same as yours, but both are truth because truth is an individual decision.  The contradiction in that concept is incredible; it supposes that there is more than one truth and that each of us is capable of knowing and defining truth.

   What is true is that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1: 1).  What is true is that “God so love the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believed in him might not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3: 16).  The Word, Jesus Christ, became man and lived among us.  He taught the truth of God, a truth that has always been and always will be the truth.

   The world continues its slide into chaos, a world totally devoid of truth.  We, as Christians, cling to the truth that never changes.  Jesus came to spread the truth and the truth is that Jesus is the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14: 6).

 Rejoice in God 

   “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” (Luke 1: 47) 

   These words of Mary should be our words as well.  We are also to proclaim the Lord’s greatness and rejoice in God our Savior.

   Mary knew the miracle of bearing her son and Savior, Jesus Christ within her womb.  No one before or after has been so honored by God as to give birth the one who would bring salvation to the world.  Imagine her joy and her wonder as the newborn Jesus nursed at her breast and snuggled deeply into her arms.  The Son of God totally dependent upon her loving care and that of Joseph.

   We will never know the kind of joy that our Blessed Mother was privileged to know, but our Savior wishes to dwell within us as well.  When we open ourselves to Him, He will come and live in our hearts and our souls.  Our joy will never match that of Mary as she carried Jesus in her womb, but the joy of knowing Christ within us is the greatest joy we can know in this world.

     Lasting happiness can't found in the desires and wants of a corrupt and sinful society; the joys and happiness of the world are fickle and quickly fade.  True joy and happiness is found in God alone.  When He lives within us, our soul will then proclaim the greatness of the Lord and our spirit will rejoice in God our savior.

 Unconditional Love 

   “Do not forget that love sets no conditions; it does not calculate or complain, but simply loves.” Pope St. John Paul II 

   In a few days we will celebrate one of the greatest examples of unconditional love known to man; the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  The Son of God became man in order to save all humanity because of His love for us.  He willingly gave up His glory for a while to become one of us.

   The life of Jesus was one of love for all, even sinners, and even those who rejected Him.  He admonished and warned of the consequences of evil, but He did so out of love, hoping to bring about a change of heart to those who would not believe.  He forgave the sinners, healed the sick, gave sight to blind, hearing to the deaf, and raised the dead.  He loved and He is love itself.

   In our life we can never love as God loves us, but we must try.  Our imperfections cause us to misuse many of God’s gifts, and love is no exception.  God never says, “I’ll love you if….”, but we often place demands on others before we will give the our love.  God never says, “I won’t forgive”, but we are prone to holding grudges and developing hate for those we feel have wronged us.

   Jesus even loved those who nailed Him to the cross praying, “Father forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Luke 23: 24).  We are to love as He loved; to love without demands or conditions, but simply to love.  For it is in love that salvation is be found; love of God and love of others.

 Repeated Prayer 

   I find myself repeating the same prayers over and over.  I begin each morning with the same prayer, thanking God for the rest He has given me through the night and asking for His strength through the coming day.

   Throughout the day I find myself repeating the same prayers that I’ve been repeating for as long as I remember.  I’ve asked myself why I keep praying for the same things all the time?  I finally realized that I repeat my prayers not to remind a God who knows all and never forgets but to remind myself of all His blessing and that without Him I am nothing.

   They remind me that I must always seek Him in every aspect of my life.  I pray that I may belong totally to Him to remind myself that I am His and must live my life accordingly.  I pray that He will make me holy to remind myself that holiness is only from God; there is nothing I can do to earn it.  I pray for peace of heart because there is no peace without Him.

   God knows my prayers even before they are on my lips or in my heart, but I sometimes need reminding that I am His alone and need Him in all things.  He never forgets, but I sometimes do.  So I will keep repeating my prayers to Him.

 Finding Silence

   I love the quiet times; they are such a blessing.  In the serenity of such times is the opportunity to be with God in a most personal way, just me and my Lord.  Sadly, silence is harder and harder to find.

   Especially at this time of year with the hustle and bustle of preparing for Christmas, silence is even harder to find.  Our life seems to be filled with so many demands that there is no time to simply sit in solitude with the Lord.  And yet, being with Him is what is most important.

   I’ve often thought about the Christmas carol, “Silent Night” and wished there could be more quiet times as we prepare to welcome the birth of our Savior.  But I wonder – was the night of His birth really a silent night?  As I read St. Luke’s account of that night it seems there was a lot of activity rather than so much silence.

   Angels appeared to shepherds proclaiming the birth of the Lord.  The shepherds went to the stable where Jesus lay to see this miracle the angels had told them of.  Along came the Magi, perhaps kings from the middle east, to present gifts to the new-born king.  It sounds as though Mary and Joseph would have probably needed a bit of silence that night, time to comprehend the incredible miracle they had been called to be a part of; to simply gaze upon their precious child and Savior.

   We too spend far too much time with all that Christmas has come to involve.  There are so many things that detract us from why we are to be celebrating.  The infant Savior desires only one gift, our love.  If we take the time to just sit and contemplate His birth and life and all the blessings He has given us we can perhaps have that “Silent Night” with the Lord.

 Stressful Times 

   As Christmas nears there is always a danger of becoming stressed out.  Having too many things to do and not enough time to do them causes frustration and many times makes Christmas a chore rather than the blessing it should be.

   One of the biggest causes of stress is over-promising; both to ourselves and to others.  There are gifts to buy and wrap, decorations to put up to make the home more “Christmassy”, gatherings with family and friends and many other supposed necessities of the season.

   In all the chaos that often accompanies the Christmas season many forget the reason we celebrate it.  Our focus is on all we think we must do, and we don’t take the time to just take a breath and remember that Jesus really is the reason for the season.  Far too often He gets left out of our plans.

   Christmas is about a baby, born in a stable and placed in a manger.  It’s not just about the gifts under the tree or how many decorations we put up this year, or how many parties we go to, it’s about our Savior, the Son of God being born.

Finding Joy

   “I learned from experience that joy does not reside in the things about us, but in the very depths of the soul, that one can have it in the gloom of a dungeon as well as in the palace of a king.  “St. Therese of Lisieux 

   If we are looking to be happy in this world we will often be disappointed.  The things of this world are not the true source of happiness; they are artificial and, in most cases temporary.  True happiness and joy comes only with the love of God.

   I believe happiness and joy are two related, but very different things.  Happiness comes and goes, sometimes on a daily or even hourly basis depending on human wants and desires.  Joy, on the other hand, is in the knowledge that regardless of our earthly woes and troubles, our Lord is with us always, to strengthen and comfort us.

   St. Paul wrote, “We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.” (2 Cor 8 – 10).  There is the source of joy; Christ within us.

   The happiness of this world is most often fickle and does not last.  But the joy that comes from the knowledge of God and His presence within us conquers all, promising the true happiness of eternal life in His kingdom. 

 Give Thanks to the Lord 

   “Give thanks to the Lord, who is good, whose mercy endures forever.” (Ps  106: 1) 

   It’s Christmas time, a time to get away from the madness of the world and take the time to celebrate the birth of our Lord.  It’s time to let go of the angst of everyday life and give thanks to Him for His many blessings.

   This is the season for joy regardless of the mess the world is in.  To give thanks that Jesus loves us so much that He would give up His glory for a time to be born as a helpless baby placed in a feeding trough for a crib.  Fully human and fully God, He struggled as we struggle; He was tempted by Satan as we are tempted.  He suffered rejection by those He came to save, betrayal by one of His apostles, and desertion by the rest.  He was hung on a cross and died for us.  He did all these things from the depths of His love.

   Now is the time to celebrate His birth and life.  In a few months we will recall His passion, death, and resurrection.  These two celebrations are eternally connected.  Without His birth, there could have been no crucifixion; without His crucifixion and death, there could have been no resurrection; without His resurrection and ascension, there could be no salvation.

   So let’s take this time to celebrate our Lord.  Let’s put aside the presents, the parties, and the family gatherings for a little while and take the time to sit with Him and tell Him how much we love Him and how much we treasure His love for us.

 To Save Sinners 

   “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.  I did not come the call the righteous but sinners.” (Mark 2: 17) 

   My salvation rests on the words of Jesus quoted above.  He came to save sinners and I am one.  If He had chosen to remain aloof from the sinners as the religious leaders of His time often did, there would have been no hope for the sinners.  For truly we are sick and need a physician.

   It took several years for me to come to my Lord.  Without the influence of my wife I’m not sure it would have happened at all; He brought her to me, and she brought me to Him.  Perhaps I would have answered His call at some later point but the beauty of His call to me through love of my wife will remain one of my greatest blessings.

   Those who find God after they have lived without Him sometimes seem to appreciate Him even more than those who have known Him all their lives.  I wish I had experienced my Lord earlier in life but finding Him a bit later helped me understand how far I had been from Him.  As St. Augustine wrote in “Confessions”, “Late have I love you, beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you.”

   When Jesus called Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, he was overjoyed.  He stood before the Lord and said, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything for anyone I shall repay it four times over.  (Luke 19: 8).  The Pharisees and priests could not understand, but the sinners who were called knew quite well the incredible gift of forgiveness of their sins and salvation.

   Jesus came to save me, a sinner.  The most remarkable thing I’ve learned from my faith is that He loves me so much that He would have become man and died on the cross to save me even if I were the only sinner in the world.  He would have left the ninety-nine in the desert and would have come to find me, the lost sheep (Luke 15: 1 – 7).

 The Lord is Coming 

   “For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is the Messiah and Lord.” 

   As we grow closer to celebrating the birth of our Lord we need to stop and take the time to consider the preparations we are making.  Are we preparing to welcome Jesus or we more concerned with what gifts are under the tree and which parties we plan to attend?

   This year, as every year, Christmas seems to be more about the gifts and the money it takes to get them than for celebrating the birth of Jesus.  Stores put up decorations, but few of them have anything to do with Christ.  People decorate their yards, but rarely is a nativity scene present.  It’s all about Santa Clause and the gifts.  I wonder how many know that Santa's origin lies in St. Nicolas.  He was known for his generosity and helping the poor as well as his unwavering defense of the faith.  From his charity, Santa Claus was born.

   It used to be that the spiritual and the secular sides of Christmas were somewhat complimentary or at least they weren’t antagonistic.  Today, employees at stores don’t wish customers “Merry Christmas” for fear of losing their job.  My response to the ridiculous “Happy Holidays” is to always reply “Merry Christmas”.

   Not too long ago those who didn’t believe didn’t try to eliminate those who do.  Now, even the mention of Christmas brings cries of offense and “triggering”, whatever that means.  I would never try to force others to celebrate Christmas in my way, but I will not stand for them trying to steal this blessed time from me.

   Christmas is one the high points of my year.  At Christmas I recall and celebrate the birth of my Savior.  I give thanks that God loves me so much that He would become a man, a baby born of women, in order to give us eternal life.  I take the time to express my gratitude for all God has done for me and offer Him all I am or ever will be as my gift to Him.

   For those who don’t believe I wish a “Merry Christmas” and pray that they come to know the true meaning of the day.

 Heavenly Joy 

   “Joy is the serious business of heaven.” C. S. Lewis 

   Heaven, what is it?  Time and time again my thoughts come back to this question.  The problem is there is no real answer in this lifetime.  Heaven is love, heaven is happiness, heaven is joy, heaven is seeing our Lord face to face, heaven is eternity.  All of these concepts are expressed in human terms.  Will they mean the same thing in heaven?

   I suppose my thoughts of heaven and their frequency come from the fact that I’m getting older and that I look forward to a reunion with my wife when this life is over.  It really should be in our thoughts all the time as a means of encouraging us to prepare for our inevitable departure from this life.  We should consider our mortality each and every day.

   I believe we will be reunited with our loved ones in heaven, but even that is not fully understood in this life.  Jesus tells us that there is no marriage in heaven, “At the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven.” (Matt 22: 30).  Still, I look forward to being reunited with my wife, though I’m not sure what that means except that it will be part of the joy of heaven.

   “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” (Heb 11: 1).  Life as a Christian means believing and looking forward to many things that are a mystery to me in this life, heaven being the greatest mystery.  I don’t fully understand it and never will in this lifetime, but my faith tells me that getting there is the purpose of living.

 The Tyranny of Evil 

   “These are the times that try men’s souls; the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands now, deserves the love and thanks of men and women.  ” (Thomas Payne, “The American Crisis”) 

   We can learn many things from history when we study it honestly rather than trying to eliminate or rewrite it.  The tyranny Thomas Payne was addressing was political, but his warnings apply equally well to the tyranny of evil.

   There appears to be no end to the evil that continues to grow in society.  We kill our children in the womb and sex has become a recreation rather that the expression of Godly love between one man and one woman in the bonds of a sacramental marriage. Virtually any evil is acceptable and even condoned if it appears to benefit the one perpetrating it.

   Even in the churches sin is accepted and by acceptance, promoted.  The truths of God are seldom mentioned, and the wages of sin are rarely spoken of.  Pastors refuse to confront the evils of society, failing to properly shepherd the flock of Christ.  They are putting their soul and those of the laity at risk by their meekness in confronting evil.

   Far too many professed Christians cower in fear of the retributions that may come from confronting the evils.  Better to “go along to get along” seems to be the attitude.  Christ warned the church at Laodicia that he would vomit them out of His mouth because of their lukewarm faith (Rev 3).  He will do no less to the timid, lukewarm Christians of today.

   St. Paul tells us, “Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.” (Eph 6: 11).  That is our task, to join the battle against the tyranny of evil, always remembering that we must act with love and forgiveness in our heart.

 Feeding the Soul 

   "One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” (Matt 4: 4)” 

   We feed our bodies quite well most of the time.  In fact, many of us feed our bodies far more than they need.  On the other hand, we tend to let our soul go unfed for days on end.

   Think about how much time we devote to eating each day?  Preparing meals, eating, and cleaning up afterwards takes time.  Going out to eat usually takes even more. This doesn’t include the time for snacks and treats that we consume throughout the day.  We probably spend three to four hours a day ensuring our body has all the food it needs, if not more than it needs.

   Now consider how much time we spent feeding our soul.  Some attend Mass each day.  Others read to enrich their spirit.  Many set aside time to simply be with the Lord in prayer and solitude.  Those who properly feed their soul can tell you that it makes a big difference in their life.

   Sadly, many feed their souls for an hour or two on Sunday and spend the week rarely thinking of God.  Just as our body would suffer great harm if we were to feed in only once a week, our soul suffers when we fail to feed it properly.

   When praying the Our Father we ask, “Give us this day, our daily bread”.  That daily bread isn’t just for the bread our body needs.  We also need the bread of life, Jesus Christ.  We need the word of God, we need to spend time with Him each day if we are to feed our spirit as we should.  We talk of eating a balanced diet.  Let’s make certain that diet includes proper nourishment of our soul as well as our body.

 A Troubled World 

   “The greatest obstacle in the apostolate of the Church is the timidity or rather the cowardice of the faithful.” St. Pope Pius X 

   St. Pius X was Pope from August of 1903 until his death in August of 1914.  The statement above would indicate that confronting evil was as much of an issue in his time as it is today.  The boldness of the statement, referring to the “cowardice of the faithful” emphasizes the seriousness of the problem he saw in a timid faithful that was afraid to speak out against evil.

   Things haven’t changed in that respect even until today.  Very few of the faithful will even consider bringing up the evils of the world in polite conversation.  However, those who support those evils don’t abide by the same rule.  They will force their views on others at every opportunity.  When only one side is heard the other side can only lose the argument.

   To justify their support for many of the evils of today's society a bishop in Germany recently said that the German bishops want to remain Catholic but a different kind of Catholic.  There is no different kind of Catholic or Christian.  The truths of God are not subject to the whims of society and to pretend that they are is heresy.  We need religious leaders who will strongly condemn these heresies and a laity that will speak out against them.

   Society is losing its struggle against evil, and a big part of the reason is that so few will join the fight.  They simply smile and keep their mouth shut.  Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen said, “The refusal to take sides on great moral issues is itself a decision.  It is silent acquiescence to evil.”  Evil cannot be defeated if we refuse to engage the enemy.

 Now is the Time 

   “Now is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It won’t last forever. We must take it or leave it.” (C. S. Lewis) 

   Our God is not only a merciful and forgiving God but also a patient God.  He will wait for us to come to Him and rejoice when we do.  But, like they say in the commercials, this offer will not last.

   We have every moment of our life to turn to the Lord.  Some make that decision very early in life while others take many years to realize that they need God in their life.  Some finally understand at the very last moment and turn to Him with their dying breath.  God welcomes each of them to His heavenly kingdom.

   One of the events recorded in scripture that I find most hopeful is that of the so-called “good thief” hanging on the cross next to Jesus, “Then he said ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’  He replied to him, ‘Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23: 42 – 43).  As long as life remains in our body and we express our sincere desire to come to the Lord, He will forgive us our sins and welcome us to paradise.

   In his second letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul wrote, “For he says, ‘In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.’ Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor 6: 2 -3 ).  Amen, now is the time, don’t wait until it’s too late.

 Pray in Faith 

   “Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will be moved.” (Matt 17: 20). 

   When we pray we must first ask that our prayers be in accord with the will of God and secondly, we must have the faith that God can and will answer our prayer.  Without these two things our prayers may be of little use.

   But what about when we have sincere faith and desire that our prayer be according to God’s will and still it seems our prayer isn’t answered?  I’ve written many times that I believe there are three ways in which our prayers may be answered: yes, no, and not now.

   God will answer our prayers, but it may not be the answer we seek.  Of course, we expect an immediate yes to our requests.  But we do not know the mind or the will of God.  What we believe to be beneficial and right, may in fact be harmful to us or others.  In these cases, God’s answer to our prayer may be “no”, and rightfully so.  God will not give us what is evil or harmful.

   At other times the answer may be “not now”.  St. Monica prayed for many years for the conversion of her son St. Augustine.  Through her faith and perseverance her prayers were eventually answered; Augustine became a great saint.  Sometimes we also need to persist in prayer, remaining confident that God will answer our prayers, but in His own time, not ours.

   Faith requires that we are willing to accept God’s answer to our prayer whatever it may be.  If it is “yes”, let us give Him our thanks.  If it is “no”, let us recognize that God knows what is best for us and thank Him for protecting us, even from ourselves.  If the answer is “not now” may we continue to pray with the faith and persistence of St. Monica, always trusting in God.

 Foolish Pride 

   “Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matt 23: 12) 

   We are a prideful people.  We take pride in so many things; our appearance, the car we drive, the house we live in.  The more money we have the bank the prouder we become.  At some point our pride will bring us down for as scripture says, Pride goes before disaster, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16: 18).

   Even in our spiritual life pride can become a problem.  Do those who serve at Mass or proclaim God’s word as lector, or sing in the choir do so to give glory to God or to gain recognition?  Do they humbly acknowledge the blessing of being able to serve or seek the recognition and adulation of others for their efforts?  No matter our ministry, there is a danger of becoming prideful rather than offering all to the glory of God.

   In my own life I often struggle with pride.  If I seem to be growing closer to God in my spiritual life it’s quite easy to take the credit, and pat myself on the back.  However, the truth is that whatever good I do is strictly by the grace of God.  If I fall into the trap of pride my focus shifts to self and away from God.

   St. Paul wrote, “Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.” (2 Cor 17)  If I have done well in life it is by the grace of God.  If I am healthy and happy it is because of His blessings.  If I grow in grace it is only by the grace that the Lord has given.  There is nothing that is not of God; for me to boast otherwise is to steal the praise and glory due Him.

 The Right Path 

   “God, examine me and know my heart, probe me and know my thoughts; make sure I do not follow pernicious ways, and guide me in the way that is everlasting.” (Psalm 139: 23 – 24) 

   I am blessed to know that God is with me always.  In good times and bad He is there.  He lifts me up when the troubling times come and blesses me in so many ways.  But there is another reason that I treasure the knowledge that He is with me that is even more important.

   He knows me through and through, so He knows my weaknesses and my faults; He knows of my sins even before I have committed them.  I sometimes struggle to stay on the right path, but He is there to help me when I wander, in my thoughts or in my actions.

   There are times when I become aware that I have strayed in some way.  Perhaps nothing of real significance, but then anything that takes me away from God is significant, no matter how minor.  These are the times when I desperately need God too correct my course in life.  Always He is there, gently, or even not so gently, guiding me back to the path that will lead me home.

   Life is a mystery.  God gives me great blessings, but also crosses to bear.  I find myself straying though I want to remain on the right path.  I don't have the answers and never will, but I trust in God.  In the next life maybe the questions will be answered, but until then I will continue to rely on the Lord to guide me on the right path.

 Never Alone 

   “Remember that  you are never alone.  Christ is with you on your journey every day of your lives!” (Pope St. John Paul II) 

   I titled my blog “Journey of Faith” because I believe that life is a journey home to God.  It gives me great comfort to know that I don’t have to walk this journey alone, that Jesus is with me always.

   As with most people my life has been one of ups and downs.  Life is like that; everything seems to be going along fine and then tragedy strikes.  Or maybe times are hard and suddenly a great blessing comes my way.

   During some of the darkest times of my life, times when I felt I couldn’t go any further God has been there.  He lifts me up from the depths and gives me hope for the future.  I’ve come to see the hard times as something of a blessing, as strange as that sounds.  What I mean is, when I’m down, and God lifts me up it brings me closer to Him and helps me realize that He is with me always.

   I have no idea how much longer the Lord will leave me on this earth, but I am certain that it will continue to be somewhat like a roller-coaster, with all the ups and downs.  But with God I can do all things; enjoy the blessings and withstand the trials and tribulations.

   The key to happiness in this life is knowing that, whether in good times or bad, I am never alone, the Lord is with me always.  He has overcome the world and He will help me overcome whatever trials I must face in this life and, when it is over, He will take me home to Himself.

A Child is Born 

   “She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2: 7) 

   When I reflect on the birth of Christ there are so many things that come to mind.  First and foremost is that the Son of God deigned to become man, born of woman.  He willingly gave up His glory for a time to offer us salvation.

   I consider the infant Jesus born in a stable and placed in a manger, a feeding trough for animals.  I believe this was to be a foreshadowing that He would give to us His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist; the bread of life.

   Magi, wise men from the orient, came to worship the new-born King of the Jews, to offer Him homage and gifts.  This too is an indication of things to come.  Jesus came not just to the Israelites, but the whole world.  His truth would spread to the ends of the earth.  Salvation for all mankind.

   Shepherds who were tending their flock in the area came to see the infant Jesus, the one who would save the world.  Angels had appeared to them saying, “For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.” (Luke 2: 11).  Jesus came not only to kings, shepherds, the rich and the poor, but to you and me as well.

   As we decorate our homes and plan our holiday festivities let’s keep in mind the real reason to celebrate Christmas.  It's not to get great deals on “Black Friday” or have outrageous parties and feasts.  It's not to put ourselves in debt to buy gifts we can’t afford because that is what is expected.  It is to welcome the birth of the new-born King and to make of ourselves a gift to Him.

 Time 

   “Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day.  Fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way.”  (“Time” by Pink Floyd) 

   The time we have is not ours, it belongs to God.  He has given it to us because there is a purpose to our life; one decided by God long before we were born.  He will help us understand that purpose and fulfill it if we ask.  But we must ask with the willingness to listen and to follow the way He puts before us.

   Far too often we waste the time God has given us.  We sit and do nothing or do nothing of value.  We spend hours in front of a television, soaking up the worthless drivel.  We read all the wrong books and go to see all the wrong movies.  We allot an hour or so to God on Sundays and go our own way the rest of the week, squandering the time He has given us.

   We could put our time to so much better use if we would look to God and ask for the wisdom to understand His purpose for us and the determination to achieve it.  We will at times fail in our efforts, but our efforts will be pleasing to God.

   Jesus told His disciples that, “Even all the hairs on your head are counted.” (Matt 10: 30).  The same is true of each of us.  There are a limited number of hours that have been allotted to us and we have a responsibility to use them wisely.  If not, we will truly “fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way.”

 Love Is the Greatest Gift 

   “Remember that nothing is small in the eyes of God.  Do all that you do with love.”  (St. Therese of Lisieux) 

   St. Therese referred to herself as the “little flower”.  She considered herself to be too small to do great things for God but determined to do all things with love.  She knew that love makes even the smallest gift great in the eyes of God.

   Especially with Christmas coming soon many are occupied with finding just the right gift for that special person.  Many take great pride in giving costly gifts to family and friends.  There is nothing wrong with that, but I think it’s important to remember what really matters.  The size and the cost are not nearly as important as the love with which they are offered.

   Many make big donations to charities and churches at this time of year.  That is a wonderful thing and many benefit from their generosity.  However, it is the love with which they are given that pleases God.

   Newlyweds are many times on a tight budget and can’t afford the gifts they would like to give to each other, so they give what they can.  Those simple and often quite inexpensive gifts are some of the most treasured.  Not because of their worldly value but because they were given with great love.

   “It’s not the gift, but the thought that counts.”  There is great truth in that statement.  Even the smallest gift, when given with love becomes great.  It is not the size or cost of the gift that matters, but the love with which it is given.