Let's Be Saints!

The culture of death flows from a culture of fatherless patriarchy. “The LORD draws near to the brokenhearted.” Fatherhood is first received. “The One Who sent me is true.”

Memorial Mass for Fr. Arul Carasala: Do I testify on my own, or do I acknowledge the One who testifies on my behalf? “You do not want to come to me to have life.”

What is the most important relationship in your life? Hint: it's NOT your relationship with God?!

“Do you want to be well?”

“The man believed what Jesus said to Him, and left.” Do I know what Jesus says to me? Do I believe it?

Perhaps the parable of the Prodigal Son could be better known as the parable of the Merciful Father. Jesus has come to find us, and to show us the way home!

“We shall say no more ‘Our God' to the work of our hands.” Do I live underneath the Nazi spirit “work makes us free?”

Our first and greatest responsibility is to LISTEN. “This is what I command my people: listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people.”

“Do not forget!” “A prophet like me shall come…to him you must listen.”

The renewal and restoration of fallen humanity began with listening to God. The same holds true in our own time and in each of our own lives: listening, trusting, responding to God.

What am I being called to do—and how much am I willing to work—in order for me to become well? He comes to help even us lepers become saints!

There is much in a name… “Let all the earth cry out to God with joy!”

“Take off your shoes.” God reveals Himself as being itself; and He wants to give us even life! Will we take off our shoes? “Repent! Or you shall perish.”

POLAND PILGRIMAGE: Mass in the private chapel of the Archbishop of Krakow; site of the priestly ordination of Pope St. John Paul IIHistory was changed because of what transpired on this floor. A young man who knew his identity as a beloved son chose to bet his life on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Karol Wojtyla lived free from fear and concern for what others think. He lived free from the spirit of the world, because he lived the song of the World Youth Day celebration which he himself started: “Jesus Christ, you are my life!”

POLAND PILGRIMAGE: Mass at the Shrine of Divine MercyIt is mercy that speaks the final word in creation. All history belongs to Him. “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.” Am I listening to the witness of the prophets who I met today; prophets of Truth, of Love, and of Mercy?

POLAND PILGRIMAGE: “It is good that we are here.” Peter notices in whose presence he is; there is nowhere else he would rather be. Do we strive to imitate the saints, or imitate those who live in the spirit of the world? “Listen to Him.”

It is easy to often live in SELF-made aloneness. But self-made aloneness is not real, because God has come; Emmanuel is with us.

“Prompt our action with your inspiration, O LORD…that all we do might always begin from you, and by you be brought to completion…”

When someone loves you, they will tell you the truth. “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” “Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

When we choose the LORD, we do not lose. Unlike Simon Peter, God does not have a scarcity mindset. He loves in a spirit of generosity and freedom. Do I? “The just one's offerings enrich the altar and rise as a sweet odor before the Most High.” “You will receive a hundred times more now in this present age…and eternal life in the age to come.”

The rich young man is looking at himself. St. Katherine Drexel looked at Jesus. Who/what am I looking at?

“Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?” We do not follow “enthusiasts” to the heights of Heaven. We follow saints and the Church who has formed them in every age. “When fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.”

“Kind mouths multiply friends and appease enemies”…do I lend my voice to the giving or taking of life? God stands with the vulnerable; first and foremost children. God wants His children to see life-giving love lived and modeled in marriage.

Does my soul matter as much to me as it does to Jesus and to His Church? Am I willing to cut off the things hurting me from becoming a saint? Saints do not rely on their own wealth and power. They rely on Him. Do I?

Wisdom and knowledge are not the same thing. “We tried to prevent him because he does not follow us…” but the governing principle of the Church is not “us” but Jesus Christ. Unity and uniformity are NOT the same thing. Christ does not call us to uniformity but rather to unity.

Do I ponder spiritual things as we prayed for at the beginning of Mass? Or do I ponder worldly things? Who (or what?) is the great governing principle of my life? The greatest philosopher in history knew wisdom and made Him the great governing principle of her life. May we do likewise.

Parish mission at St. Therese parish, KCMO. Loving people who love you; what's praiseworthy about that? “To those who hear, I say…” Can you hear? Are you listening?

Our mission is to disappear. We proclaim not our story but His; the greatest story ever told in which we all have a part. The people of Babel say “come let us build FOR OURSELVES a city…and so make a name FOR OURSELVES.” But the saints do not proclaim themselves or build for themselves. They disappear into Him. “Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.”

Human beings often think with the enemy of love…we need Jesus to show us the way of love! Love is not cheap, easy, or safe. Real love is self-giving and self-forgetting. Jesus comes to show us who God is and how God thinks.

Noah and his family receive new life through the branch of a tree…the blind man knew he was blind, and he lets Jesus take him by the hand and lead Him… “outside the village.” Do I?

“Guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” The disciples are in the boat with the Bread of Life…and they fail to recognize Him! “Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Do you have eyes and not see; ears and not hear? Do you still not understand?”

“This generation seeks a sign…” is the sign of Jesus enough for me? Do I offer a sacrifice of presence or a “sacrifice of praise” to God? That we may learn from the sacrifice of Abel!

The foundation of our hope IS NOT us! Christian hope stands on a fact of history. Do I LIVE belief in the resurrection of Jesus and in the life of the world that is to come? “Cursed is the one who trusts in human beings, who seeks strength in his own flesh…‘woe to you!”

Adam fails in his mission, and Eve has forgotten her identity. This reveals they have already stopped living in relationship with God…relationship, identity, mission. Jesus “does ALL things well.” Do I put relationship with Him first? Am I still grasping for apples, or does He come first?

Today God has heard Adam's cry and “crowned” creation with Eve. Woman is the being that holds the greatest dignity in creation. In the gospel, Jesus is conquered by the trusting confidence the Syrophoenician woman places in Him.

“The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it.” God's expectation is that men “father” creation by caring for it and reverencing its truth, goodness, and beauty. Am I doing this? Do I acknowledge that Jesus shows us how to do (and receive) this?

We are made in the image and likeness of love. Love is our identity, and love is our mission. But we have forgotten this! “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

“He made the stars too.” Creation reveals the incredible power of the Creator! What He cares most about, is YOU. Does He get to touch you with His love and redeeming power tonight?

Jesus came first and foremost to save souls. Is saving souls the first motivation of my life? We often care more about our personal comfort and gain than the salvation of others. Who can Jesus send into the world of 2025 to bring His people home?

“Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.” God is incapable of change; He can't love you more than He already does! Interior freedom grows in people who live in the unchanging presence and love of God.

Talk to parents of students preparing for confirmation.

Saints don't carry parachutes! Mission is never done in “ones.” Mission flows from relationship; communion.

The two women of the gospel show us how to be healed: “She fell down before Jesus and told Him the whole truth.” “The child is not dead but asleep'…and they ridiculed Him.” Talitha koum!

“The man went off and began to proclaim what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.” Am I a witness to hope like this man, or am I a spiritual pansy?

The mission of every Christian is symbolized by the candle we received the day we became followers of Jesus. Be light!

“Grant we pray, that, aflame with the same fire of love, that we may seek out souls and serve you alone.” The love found in John Bosco is offered to us as well.

How do I measure the value of a human life? “The measure with which you measure will be measured unto you.” The Church is at her best in the face of death.

Real sacrifice requires real presence. Real presence requires real priesthood. It is the great privilege of our lives to have these gifts in the Catholic Church. This makes real worship possible.

Thomas was arguably the most brilliant theological mind in history. But he did not just know ABOUT Jesus. He knew Him and loved Him. “Thomas, you have written well of me. What shall you have as your reward?”

Kingdoms that are divided cannot stand. He comes to bring communion to our division and to plunder the strong man's house that we might be set free!

Jesus has happiness figured out! Do I believe this? I said that His words are “spirit and life” and I am reminded that a body with no head cannot live. St. Luke wrote his gospel for me. Do I have certainty in what he reveals Jesus comes to give me and all of humanity?