Welcome Advent 2014

First Sunday of Advent

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Gospel of Mark 13:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples:“Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his own work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch. Watch, therefore; you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

Last night, my mother and I attended Dallas Arboretum's The 12 Days of Christmas" special holiday  night exhibit.  I've never been to the Arboretum after-dark, so this was quite a treat!  What a great start to the Season of Advent: Spending time with my mother and sharing our love of the gardens together.  

I found out a few years ago that the "Twelve Days of Christmas"  carol was written in England during a turbulent time period when Catholics were unable to practice their faith openly.  The song was used as a catechism for young children.  The partridge in the pear tree symbolizes Jesus Christ, the son of God.  (Click here for an explanation of the other symbols in the song.)

At the time this carol was written, I imagine all of the Catholic children singing and dancing around with delight.  They giggled among themselves knowing they possessed hidden knowledge little Protestant children had no clue about!

Welcome Advent  In today's gospel from Mark, Jesus commands his disciples, "Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come."   In our busy schedules, we can become lazy and indifferent toward our faith.  We may not mean for this to happen but it does.  (Yes, no excuse!)  We get so bogged down in life that we forget about the creator of life.  We need to be literally shaken back into Christian reality.  The Season of Advent helps us do just that!!  The main theme throughout these four weeks is watchfulness, alertness, and preparedness.  

Be watchful   Look around you. What do you see?  Do you notice others around you or are you knee deep in your own business?  Be watchful! Observe your surroundings.  Does someone need a helping hand?  Do your children need guidance?  Does a coworker need someone to talk to?  Are you looking after your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ?  By remaining watchful, you observe life's finer details.  These details are often overlooked, yet they can be life savers for those who suffer.

Be alert   I see billboards along the freeway advising drivers to "Don't Drink and Drive" and "Don't Text While Driving."  These messages alert us of the common dangers that lead to traffic accidents.  Do we alert others to dangers of the faith?  The Catholic Church is on attack 24/7 with negative propaganda and misinterpretation of church teachings.  Are we aware of this or do we turn a blind eye to it?  Be alert to attacks against the faith, and alert others of the Christian truth!

Be prepared   Treat each day as if it were your last.  Be kind, forgiving and loving toward others.  Focus on the good qualities in people rather than on the bad.  Make a conscience effort to pray more and dive into the Sacraments with a new fervor and vigilance! 

Let us embark on a new Catholic "Liturgical Year " resolution:  To strive toward holiness by being mindful  and caring of others; love God with our whole mind, heart and strength!

-J.

Be Vigilant at All Times

Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

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Luke 21:34-36

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.  For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength  to escape the tribulations that are imminent  and to stand before the Son of Man.”

I know what anxiety feels like.  I live with it on a daily basis.  Some days are worst than others....

I recently went through my annual review at work.  It was not so great.  My boss was very negative and threw a couple of accusations at my face.  The boss said a coworker complained that I called her an idiot and was condescending towards her.  Turns out the coworker was complaining about another employee!  I was absolutely livid!  I do a good job for the company and don't appreciate a boss who says to my face, "You have a bad reputation here."  What?!  What a blow!  

I've come to the conclusion that I must be vigilant.  Stay as positive as I can in this job; do my tasks well; and start looking for alternative work.  My retirement funds are fully vested now, so I can move on with a new company.  

I've tried not to think about work over this holiday weekend.  It's been tough! I've prayed to God, " I thank you, dear Lord, for the blessing of employment. Please  free my mind and heart from all of work's anxieties and burdens.  Give me  the confidence and calm to go into work on Monday with a smile on my face.  We all receive criticism. Give me the strength to remain composed and not worry so much of what others think of me. Amen."

This is the last day of Ordinary Time.  The season of Advent begins tomorrow.  Are you ready?  Are you prepared?  Advent is when we anticipate the birth of the baby Jesus and reflect on Christ returning at the end of time.  Vigilance is an important component of the process.  Here are a few questions to think about during this beautiful liturgical season:

• How strong are we in our faith?
• Do we make prayer a priority in our busy lives?  
• How do we avoid falling into temptations?
• How do we currently handle our tribulations? 
• In what ways can we better serve Christ and others?
• How can we improve our relationship with The Lord?

Don't allow holiday stress get the best of you.  Don't overindulge and over consume in an effort to hide from your troubles.  Turn to the Lord with a renewed strength and vigilance.  Pray with the scripture readings of the day.  I guarantee the Lord's words will change your perception.  Life isn't as bad as it seems.  We go through highs and lows, becoming bruised by unfairness at times.  However, in the end God is looking after us.  Difficult situations always have a way of working themselves out.

Happy Advent!

-J.

The Attitude of Gratitude

Thanksgiving Day

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Luke 17:11-19

As they were going they were cleansed.  And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan.

A couple of weeks ago I ordered a used set of "The Liturgy of the Hours" from a third-party seller on Amazon.com.  Inside the pages I discovered several prayer cards left by the previous owner.  "What I wonderful, personal touch." I thought to myself.   "I'm so blessed to receive these books in such excellent condition and with an added bonus.  No way I'd find such prayer cards in a new set."  As I thumbed through one of the volumes, a small piece of cellophane dropped on the floor.  Sealed inside the cellophane was a real four-leaf clover! The previous owner used it as a bookmark for years.  The clover showed age, yet remained beautifully preserved. I didn't know this until recently, but a four-leaf clover symbolizes "God's grace."  I felt a wave of gratitude inside my heart, thanking the Lord for connecting me with these books.  He continuously pours out his grace through the little things.  I never thought an old used set of books along with a four-leaf clover would bring a smile to my face.  I plan to treasure these Liturgy of the Hours volumes for years to come.

The Attitude of Gratitude   Today is Thanksgiving Day in America.  It's a day of turkey comas, football mania, and shop-until-you-drop pre-Black Friday sales.  Sadly, I see more people stressed out around this time of the year than at their jobs.  Thanksgiving has certainly become commercialized with the whole "buy, buy, buy" mentality.  We still get together as a family to eat and drink, but it is often short lived. Within just a few hours we're in front of the television cheering for our favorite football team or buying Christmas gifts at the local store.  Do we thank God for all of  the blessings he's given us? Do we pray together as a family? Do we  thank our loved ones and friends, letting them know how much they mean to us? Do we thank the Pilgrims and Indians who started the Thanksgiving tradition?  The big question lingers:  Do we adopt an attitude of gratitude?  
An attitude of gratitude creates an environment where we become more aware of others. Simply put, we get out of our own selfishness and see a whole other side of humanity.  In today's gospel reading, only one of the ten lepers thanks Jesus for being cured.  He's even a foreigner! Why is this?  Is it that the other lepers aren't as grateful?  Perhaps. However, I think it's more of an act of ignorance. These lepers just don't realize the precious gift of healing given to them by Christ.  They go on through their life, relieved of the painful symptoms but completely oblivious to the source of relief.  This is how faith is.  Some people believe and others don't.  Faith and gratitude go hand and hand.  When we have faith in Jesus Christ, and set our minds to follow his teachings, gratitude is a welcomed side effect.

On this day, while enjoying a Thanksgiving feast with family, take a few moments to remember all of your blessings.  Go around the table and say one thing you are most thankful for.  Cherish the family moment together and remember God's grace touches the lives of everybody in subtle, unique ways.  Adopt an attitude to gratitude!

"Thanksgiving is good but thanks-living is better." 

(Matthew Henry, 17th Century Welsh Non-Conformist Minister) 

Happy Thanksgiving!

-J.

Buyer Beware

Tuesday of the Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

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Then they asked him,“Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections,  do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.”

Buyer Beware  Yesterday afternoon, I was at the dealership getting my car serviced. While sitting in the waiting area, I overheard a conversation between a service adviser and a customer.  The young couple complained that the car's transmission was no longer shifting properly. The car was purchased only a couple of months ago. They filed a claim with the extended warranty company but the insurance refused to cover the cost.  The lady was worried the transmission would fall out of her car is she kept driving it!  The couple was very frustrated with the situation, and the service department didn't do much to help their case.  Sadly, I think these people were taken advantage of.  Buying a ten year old car with 100 K miles and being sucked into purchasing an extended warranty is normally a bad sign!  

Unfortunately, rip off artists are everywhere.  Some of the worst use their sneaky practices at car dealerships, auto repair shops, mattress stores, and electronic stores.  I feel terrible when people get taken advantage of, paying for overpriced services of little benefit.  

One thing for certain:  God never rips us off!  We may think he does when things go wrong, and we don't get what we want, but it's simply not true.  Sometimes we have to endure the pain of being scammed to learn a huge lesson: Buyer beware!  We must do our homework and use our God given intellects to say "No!" to the junk people try to sell us.....

Most importantly, we should say "No, thank-you!" when people want us to violate our consciences or disobey the Church's teachings. 

Do not follow them  I think we are all afraid of the future.  Things don't look so peachy right now.  We have the Ferguson riots, the Ebola outbreak, ISIL threats, economic uncertainty, and legalization of everything under the sun (gay marriage, pot, assisted suicide).  Families are falling apart. Prescription pill abuse is rampant.  Obesity is affecting the health of millions of children.  The sex trade is exploiting women all over the world.  It's crazy and scary, to say the least.  We may think to ourselves, "All of these horrible things are happening.  Are these signs that the end near?  Are we all doomed for destruction?"

Keep calm and do your homework! The Catholic's homework assignment is not too difficult; it just takes discipline: attend Mass and confession regularly,  read scripture, pray the rosary, and most importantly, pray for the betterment of our world.  Yes, things are nutty all around us. We can choose to follow the chaos, worried and frightful, or we can choose to follow Christ, understanding that the world as we know it won't end in one big "Poof!"  God has a plan for the universe and it will be realized on his own time schedule.  We can't sit around worrying about "signs".  Enjoy life and live it to the fullest with Christ!

Mockingjay  This past weekend I went to see The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1.  I thought it was very good.  This movie, along with the other two, follows the books closely, and the acting is excellent.  In many ways, I'm relieved this is a fantasy story.  I can't imagine living in a world with the "Capitol" exploiting individual "districts," treating people like common slaves.  I can't imagine year after year watching people kill others for entertainment.  I can't imagine having so little rights and freedoms under the command of a horrible president like President Snow.  I think The Hunger Games really helps us stop and think about how our government is run and how we treat our citizens.  Furthermore, it qualifies the need for God in society.  

Let us fear the Lord, as in love and worship him, following his ways and his Truth.  Advent begins this coming Sunday.  Are you ready?  Don't forget to do your homework assignments!

-J.

Christ Our King

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

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Matthew 25:31-46

Then the king will say to those on his right,

   ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father.

Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink,  a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.'

What does it mean to be a King? We think of a King as head of a monarchy with tremendous wealth, power and prestige.  People bow down in homage to a king.  Sometimes people despise a king.  Think of King Herod who authorized the murder of innocent children.  Or, simply a King loses his title.  I think of Tiger Woods who used to be the "King" of the golf world, but slowly fell from his status after indiscretions with women cost him a very public divorce....

A "King" is a status for a lot of things. We call Elvis as the "King of Rock and Roll". Then there is the old sitcom "King of the Hill."  We play the "King" of Spades in a deck of cards.  Then we grab a charbroiled burger at Burger King!

When the word "King" comes to mind, do we remember Jesus Christ as King of the Universe?  Probably not!  This is sad because Jesus is King over all mortal Kings.  He is the supreme ruler over all of us.  We wouldn't have kings of monarchies or symbolic "kings" if it wasn't for Christ himself, dying on the cross, resurrecting from the dead, and then ascending into heaven.

I love this quote from Pope Benedict XVI:  "By his sacrifice, Jesus has opened for us the path to a profound relationship with God:  in him we have become true adopted children and thus sharers in his kingship over the world.......We invoke the kingdom daily in the prayer of the 'Our Father' with the words 'Thy Kingdom come'; in effect we say to Jesus:  Lord make us yours, live in us, gather together a scattered and suffering humanity, so that in you all may be subjected to the Father of mercy and love."

As adopted children of Christ, how can we share in his kingship?  First and foremost we must make him the #1 King in our lives! Remain loyal to the Kingdom of God, keeping our baptismal promises.  Feed the hungry, give food to the needy, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, take care of the sick, and visit the imprisoned.  Concentrate on supporting the whole Body of Christ.  Not one individual is "king" over another.  This outlook stems from sinful pride and vanity. Let us not worship ourselves, or others, but Christ the king of the universe!



-J.

The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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Gospel of Luke 19:45-48

Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.”

Today, we celebrate the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the temple.  Most of us are more familiar with Jesus' presentation in the temple, as recited in the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.  But, we forget that the Virgin Mary underwent the same Jewish ritual.  I'm sure Joachim and Ann presented two doves in exchange for the high priest's blessing.

The canonical scriptures do not document the presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  It's become  more of a Catholic tradition.  Since we cannot find the story in scripture, I wonder if Simeon performed the ceremony.  He was an old man by the time Jesus was born.  Mary was 13-14 years of age when she gave birth to Our Lord, so it makes sense Simeon would've been alive.  Hmmmm.....

When praying my rosary, I sometimes venture away from the standard Mysteries and customize my prayers in a different way.  I think adding the Presentation of the BVM as one of the meditations is an interesting adaptation......

Today, my co-worker showed me a gorgeous rosary one of assembly ladies gave to her as a present.  It was handmade of large brown beads and a beautiful crystal crucifix.  I rubbed it in my fingers feeling the heavy weight of it.  I asked my co-worker, "Have you ever prayed the rosary? It is such a great way to relax and contemplate."  She answer, "No, not at all.  I'm not Catholic.  I have absolutely no clue what to say!"  So I offered to teach her some time.  She accepted the invite and actually looks forward to learning how to pray the mysteries.

I know praying the rosary can have a powerful, healing effect..... About fifteen minutes later, after we spoke, my coworker came back to the lab with tears in her eyes.  "Jennifer, you won't believe what happened!  One of the guys who works in the warehouse spoke to me for the first time in over 2 years!  We had a falling out, and I never understood why he was mad at me.  Now he wants to talk things out!"  WOW...All of this happened within only an hour after receiving the rosary!!  I told my coworker that the Holy Spirit was definitely working miracles today!  Of course, I think the Blessed Virgin Mary was doing her part, too.  I don't think it's a coincidence all of this happened on today's feast day!

God works miracles, most of the time in unexpected ways.  I pray that my coworkers can make amends and let pass hurts be gone.

Hail Mary, Full of Grace!

-J.

Seek N' Save

Tuesday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time



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But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,

“Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone

I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him,

“Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”

 "Zacchaeus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he!......"   This song comes to mind every time I read the familiar story of Zacchaeus in the Sycamore tree.  I remember as a child spending summers at a Baptist day care center, sitting through boring Wednesday chapel service.  My repetitive yawning and occasional roll of the eyes kept me more fully engaged.  I somewhat enjoyed singing songs like "Zacchaeus was a Wee Little Man" or "Jesus Loves Me" but the preaching was automatic tune-out material.  At the end of the long sermon, we'd be invited to stand up at the front to "Be Saved!"  There was the normal uncomfortable, dead silence.  Most of the kids were saved anyway, so I didn't understand the reason for a weekly invitation.  Every now and then a brave young soul ventured up to the front.  I understood the "real" reason why.  If a kid proclaimed that Jesus saved him, he received tons of attention!  In fact, other kids would smile and pat him on the back; kids who never paid attention on a normal day suddenly noticed him.  It was a clever attention-seeking mechanism.  Of course, stardom was only short lived....  

I often wondered how many kids were truly "saved" and believed in Jesus Christ or just pretended to be "saved" in order to get brownie points with the staff.....

I felt somewhat like Zacchaeus -- a wee little girl.  Too short in height, I climbed up the tree trying to see Jesus.  I just couldn't find him!  I climbed higher and higher.  Where are you, Jesus?  I know you are here!  All I could see was a fog of fakeness and a sea of hypocrisy in the child care center I was "dropped off" at each day.  Jesus was in my heart; I knew that for a fact.  I believed in him; however, I couldn't quite see the Lord among the haziness of memorized scripture verses and uinspiring sermons by non-ordained ministers. I trembled in fear on top of the Sycamore tree's wavering branch.  Would I ever feel connected to the Lord like all of these others who acknowledged "saved"?  Would I have the courage to seek the Lord out? I always had a funny feeling that the Southern Baptist faith just wasn't for me.

 I hate to admit this, but I resented my mother for making me go to that daycare every day.  Later I understood she simply had no other choice as a single mom.  It was her best option.. She never found out, until I became an adult, about the bullies.  If kids weren't bullying me then they just ignored me.  Most of the children played sports.  I lacked athletic ability, but I could definitely beat them at board game!   

Short in stature but big in heart  Some of the smallest people have hearts of gold.  They may be short in stature, quiet and shy, but they love big.  They see the good in everybody and everything.  People may snub them because they aren't as tall or sophisticated.  They may even be hated  because they stand for things that others don't like.  Certainly, Zacchaeus wasn't a very popular guy around town.  Tax collectors were known to charge higher rates and then pocket the difference.  They accumulated vast wealth at the expense of the poor. 

Zacchaeus knew he wasn't well loved by the people; yet, he was curious about Jesus.  If I sought him out would he save me?  Would he forgive me where others just shame me? I'll stay up in this tree, away from the people.  I fear what the Lord will think of me.  Will he recognize me and call me out?

Low and behold, Jesus discovers the wee little man up in that Sycamore tree.  Not very many grown men just hang out in a tree!  Jesus calls out to him and he immediately repents!  He's so impressed with the Lord that he's willing to give up all of his possessions and redistribute his wealth to the poor.  What if Jesus had never recognized Zacchaeus and offered to dine with him in his home? We wouldn't have such a rememberable bible story!

Seek N' Save!   Kids of my generation (the good old 1980's) played with Speak N' Spells.  Our parents shopped and bagged their own groceries at neighborhood Sack & Save supermarkets.  It never occurred to me until I was much older the need to Seek N' Save.  Seek out God on a daily basis; seek Him out in our homes, work places, and places of worship.  When we seek God, we will rediscover bits and pieces of our lost selves.  God saves these fragments in hopes that we will utilize them as we grow wiser in the faith.  For me, I've learned to forgive the daycare bullies and love them as children of God.  I've learned to respect those with different religious viewpoints.  Best of all, through years of seeking out God, and finding the Catholic Church, I finally understood the true meaning of being saved.  Christ died on the cross for our salvation.  God forgives us over and over again; he loves us that much!

-J.

Have Pity on the Homeless

Monday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious

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Gospel of Luke 18: 35-43

As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!”

The Homeless Child  While driving to work this morning, I heard on Catholic radio disturbing statistics.  Child homelessness is on the rise in America with over 2.5 million children homeless at some point in 2013. One in 30 children do not have a roof over their head. How can this be?  Children as young as 6 years of age living alone on the streets??   What's going on here? It's hard to believe this is happening in the wealthy U.S.A.  

The ABC news article (click here) blames America's high poverty rate, lack of affordable housing, and domestic violence on the highest homelessness rates in years.   I think there is much truth in this assessment.  However, could it also be related to the growing disparity between the rich and the poor?  So many of the middle class are living on stagnant wages, barely able to afford rising costs in food and commodities.  Will these families be forced to send their children to live on the streets because that's one or two less mouths to feed?  Frightening to think about.....

Even more frightening is if the pro-abortion industry begins to use this devastating trend to encourage more women to abort.  I can see the campaign slogan now:  "Are you pregnant and  in poverty?  Do you want your child to live out on the streets? We have a solution for you here at Planned Parenthood.  Just give us a call for a confidential consultation."  YIKES, Not good!!!

As for domestic abuse, I'm sure many of these children rather live on the streets than be anywhere near their abusers.  They will risk the heat, rain, cold and chill to avoid being repeatedly beaten and raped by caretakers.

Furthermore, we cannot forget the thousands of illegal children displaced into this country who have escaped deportation.  They travel from town to town, not even fluent in English, desperate for a hot meal and a warm bed to stay in.

I'm sure if Saint Elizabeth of Hungary was alive today she'd start  a grass root effort to get our children off the streets and back into homes.  As patron saint of the homeless, we can call on her intercession!

The Blind Man  A blind man on the streets of Jericho begged for help.  He needed food and shelter; yet, because of his "condition" he was simply cast away.  In fact, the people commanded him to be silent as he asks Jesus to have pity on him! Sadly enough, the way people think of the homeless isn't much better today.

Many people recoil at the site of the homeless; the person smells bad and looks filthy.  They turn and walk down another street.  They walk pass the homeless with the head down looking at the sidewalk.  But, when it comes to a homeless child it's a whole other story.  I don't think children choose to be homeless!  They are forced to live as "mini adults" losing innocence way too soon. A child may be attending school, but most likely they don't.  I'm sure if they do make it to school they are made fun of by their wealthier peers who do live in homes.

What can we do with the rising rates of child homelessness?  First and foremost, pray for their safety!  Pray that they will receive the resources to help them through a difficult time.  Maybe as a part of Advent, make a donation to a homeless shelter or volunteer to work at a soup kitchen.  Advocate for the plight of the homeless in your area.

There's no excuse for children to be living in the streets.  America is not a third-world country!  We must remember this and fight to protect our children.

St. Margaret of Hungary, Pray for Us!

-J.

Invest in a Future with God

Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

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Gospel of Matthew 25:14-30

For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

When we see the words "investment for the future" we think of our 401 K or IRA retirement portfolios. Moreover, we think about investing in our children's college education funds.  Both investment strategies involve earning and saving money.  Unfortunately, money does not grow on trees, and it doesn't grow out of sand.  Some people are blessed with inherited money, but for the most of us we must work for a steady income.  Investment for the future is a daunting task considering the rising cost of everything from commodities to taxes.

Why don't we consider investing in a future with God?  It's much easier than we think!

 We can sometimes make bad investment decisions with our money.  We squander it on Ponzi schemes or shady business practices.  We waste our money donating it to unethical or immoral causes (i.e. the abortion biz, pay day lending, etc.). We invest more time in our jobs than our families; or more time in unhealthy addictions versus healthy practices..  

When we invest in a future with God, he will gives us the investment "tools" needed to live life abundantly.  We become rich spiritually.  This is much more important than becoming rich materially.  Why? It's counter cultural.  It goes against society's obsession with wealth and prosperity. The one who grows rich in material wealth will see it vanish at the end of time.  Poof!  Gone!

We place our daily prayers in God's piggy bank.  We watch the fruit of our prayers just like the stock market.  When a prayer is answered, yeah! The heavenly stock market makes huge gains.  On other days when we feel like our prayers go unanswered there's a sudden dip in the providential average.  We become disillusioned, think investing in God is a huge mistake.  Not so!!  We don't become spiritually rich overnight, but over the course of a life time.

The next time we deposit money into our retirement or college accounts, thank God for such fortune. Not everyone makes a whole lot of money to invest in sizable portfolios and company ventures.  However, we are all capable of investing in a future with God.  It takes determination and a willingness to say to ourselves, "Yes!  I need God in my life!  He is my past, present and future.  He will help me invest in ways that benefit the Kingdom."

Don't push God away but consider him a part of your spiritual investment portfolio!

Saint Margaret of Scotland, Pray for Us!

-J.

Spiritual Snippet -- "Jesus, Help Me!" Prayer

Yesterday, I was excited to open a package I ordered from Amazon - a full volume set of "The Liturgy of the Hours."  I've always wanted one but couldn't afford to buy a new set, so I found a used one at a good price. 

As I was flipping through the pages of each book, I noticed the previous owner had inserted several prayer cards.  I considered this an added "bonus" knowing a crisp clean new set of books wouldn't contain such cards.  

One prayer card really struck an accord with me.  On the front is a black and white image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, similar to the picture above.  On the back are the words to the prayer:

JESUS, HELP ME!  

IN EVERY need let me come to Thee with humble trust, saying † Jesus, help me! 
In all my doubts, perplexities and temptations † Jesus, help me! 
 In hours of loneliness, weariness and trials † Jesus, help me! 
In the failure of my plans and hopes; in disappoints, troubles and sorrows † Jesus, help me! 
When others fail me, and Thy Grace alone can assist me † Jesus, help me! 
When I throw myself on Thy Tender Love as Father and Savior † Jesus, help me!  
When my heart is cast down by failure, at seeing no good come from my efforts † Jesus, help me!  
When I feel impatient, and my cross irritates me † Jesus, help me!  
When I am ill, and my head and hands cannot work and I am lonely † Jesus, help me! 
 Always, always, in spite of weakness, falls, and shortcomings over every kind † Jesus, help me and never forsake me!

This prayer could not be more applicable to my own life and the life of so many others.  I'm disappointed when things don't go the way I expect them to causing irritability.  My crosses, shortcomings, weakness, and constant falls wear me down.  I so want to be perfect in God's eyes; yet, I can't seem to quite get there.  I figure I won't ever in this short time on earth.  All I can do is keep trekking through the waters of suffering, praying  Jesus, Help Me!

-J.

The Scientific Method of Faith

Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

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Book of 3 John 5-8

Beloved, you are faithful in all you do for the brothers and sisters, especially for strangers;

they have testified to your love before the Church.  Please help them in a way worthy of God to continue their journey. For they have set out for the sake of the Name and are accepting nothing from the pagans. Therefore, we ought to support such persons, so that we may be co-workers in the truth.

Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Albert the Great:  Universal Doctor of the Church, Bishop, and Patron Saint of Scientists.  I first learned about this brilliant German while pursuing my biology and chemistry degree at Texas A&M.  I adopted him as my career patron saint, mesmerized by his scientific genius.  While in college, I was in a "religious denomination hopping" phase.  Looking back I think St. Albert the Great influenced my final decision to become Catholic!

St. Albert believed science was an important component of God's creation, and the "experiment" an integral method for new discoveries.   As a Dominican, he became a co-worker in the truth, blending together the truths of science and the Christian faith through logic and reason.

 In his treatise "The Compound of Compounds" Albert the Great wrote:

.....What worth is a concealed science; what worth is a hidden treasure? ....Every science and knowledge proceeds from God.  Saying it proceeds from the Holy Ghost is a simple way of expressing oneself.  No one can thus say Our Lord Jesus Christ without implying Son of God our Father, by work of the grace of the Holy Ghost.  In the same manner, this science cannot be separated from the One who has communicated it unto me.

St. Albert, as a prolific author, wrote over 38 volumes on a variety of subjects including physical geology, biology, zoology, chemistry, astronomy, botany and mineralogy. He proved the earth is round; classified many types of botanical material; and even dabbled in alchemy.  When he wasn't traveling as a preacher he taught at universities across Europe.  His most well-known pupil of all time is Saint Thomas Aquinas.  Interesting St. Albert outlived Thomas Aquinas way into his 80's. Toward the end of Albert's life, his genius suddenly failed.  Tradition describes how the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Albert as a youth, promising him vast intellectual expertise if he persevered in God's work.  However, she warned that such knowledge would vanish in old age.

The Scientific Method of Faith   How can we use the scientific method to grow spiritually?  Our faith development goes through a process similar to a lab experiment.  Spiritual growth involves questioning why faith in God is important; how we can remain steadfast in the faith; and by what means faith is best expressed. It involves trial and error to see what works and what does not in our spiritual journey. We analyze our fruits of contemplation, regularly examining the conscience, to see if we are living moral lives. We experience spurts of growth followed by periods of dryness; however, with each new "faith discovery" we bind intimately with Christ, more fully aware of his presence in our everyday lives.

 Here's a "scientific method of faith" we can use in response to our call to be Christian witnesses:

1. Question our faith and immediate threats to the faith.
2. Research our faith and become knowledgeable in scripture, the Catechism, and Church teachings.
3. Explain and propose sound reasoning behind our faith when challenged (i.e. apologetics).
4. Test our faith and discover new ways we can better connect with God and others.
5.  Analyse our faith and recognize our strengths and weaknesses.
6.  Evangelize the faith!

Coworkers in the Truth When we evangelize, we become coworkers in the Truth.  We may think it's up to our priests, bishops, and the Vatican to keep Catholics spiritually nourished and satisfied.  But, the responsibility also lies within lay communities.  We work together for the glory of God using our talents to spread the message of the Truth.  It's vital we support one another.

Unfortunately, people always have some sort of "problem" with the Church.  They don't like an arrogant pastor.  They feel rejected because they are divorced or single with children.  Maybe they are simply tired of the Church "meddling" in their bedrooms. 

 Let's do a little experiment, shall we?  The next time we feel the desire to complain about the Church, her teachings, or even other parish members, take a moment to think about Jesus Christ hanging on the cross.  He died a painful and horrific death for our salvation.  Our own personal grievances against the Catholic Church are sometimes relatively minor compared to Christ's own suffering. 

When we intelligently question Church teachings that bother us, and research into why the Church believes things a certain way, we will better understand our faith. 

Saint Albert the Great, Pray for us! 

-J.

Unprofitable Servants

Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week of Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop

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Gospel of Luke 17:7-10

When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants;we have done what we were obliged to do.’”

Today, the United States celebrates Veterans Day.  2014 marks the 100th anniversary of World War I and the 75th Anniversary of World War II.  I thank our fantastic armed forces for keeping our country safe.  They've literally gone through hell and back protecting our liberties and freedoms.

Each year on Veterans Day, I think about my grandfather who served in the Navy during World War II.  He worked as a radio operator on naval air craft.  He was at Pearl Harbor the day of the Japanese invasion.  It was quite a traumatic experience for him. To this day he doesn't talk much about the war.  I think he witnessed a few of his close friends die, and even at the age of 88, silently remembers just how horrific war can be.  Furthermore, my mom believes nearly half of the males in her high school graduating class died during the Vietnam War.  What a tragedy considering America should never have gotten herself involved in the civil war to begin with (...in my humble opinion).

While mediating on today's gospel reading, I think of the veteran as an example of an "unprofitable servant."  The disciplined soldier goes through months and sometimes years of training in preparation for combat.  He never knows when he will be deployed to battle.  When the time comes, he is obedient, ready to serve his country to the best of his ability.  He knows being a regular soldier isn't a very lucrative profession. It involves much sacrifice and time away from family.  Furthermore, he understands he's risking his life going out to a foreign land armed with guns and artillery.  Yet, despite the low pay and risk he takes pride in serving his country.  What's even more special is when a soldier is proud to serve God  as well as our country.  Amen! 

God Bless You, Dear Veterans!  We are proud of you! Thank-you for your dedication and service!

Saint Martin of Tours, Pray for Us!

-J.

Infinite Forgiveness

Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

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Gospel of Luke 17:1-6

Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

And if he wrongs you seven times in one day

and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry', you should forgive him.”

On Netflix, I've been watching old episodes of "Forensic Files."  It amazes me how medical examiners and forensic specialists find clues to a person's killer from unusual sources.  In one episode, forensic scientists identified the murderer 20 years after the incident thanks to new advances in DNA technology.  With the right amount of evidence, many crimes considered "cold cases" can be solved today.  

Jesus calls us to forgive those who have wronged us-- seven time seventy-seven.  I term this infinite forgiveness.  We may not mind forgiving a friend or family member who's a little absent minded or jerky on occasion. We understand them and love them despite their irritation.  However, when it comes to people we don't like, forgiveness doesn't come so easily.....

How can we forgive someone who has killed a family member in cold blood?  How can we forgive someone who took away a friend's life?  This is when forgiveness becomes extremely difficult, if not impossible.  I've heard of families forgiving a perpetrator who killed a child, and victims forgiving their abusers.  All of this takes a whole lot of courage and trust in the Lord.  It takes a willingness to let go of the pain, the anger, and the temptation for revenge.  I'm always amazed when I hear of a family forgiving someone for committing a crime against their loved one.  I just don't know if I could do the same thing!

With the Advent Season drawing near, we should examine our inner selves.  Do we need to make amends with someone?  Do we need to forgive a person?  Do we need to let go of years of resentment and anger? Peace wraps itself around a forgiving heart! We feel closer to Christ when we learn to forgive, let go, and move on in a positive direction.

“We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.”  -Martin Luther King, Jr.

Saint Leo the Great, Pray for Us!

-J.

The Temple of the Body

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

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Gospel of John 2:13-22

He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen,

and spilled the coins of the money-changers

and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here,

and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me.

Today is the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome.  Why does the Church celebrate a basilica?  Seems odd considering it's a building and not a Saint.  However, the Lateran Basilica in Rome is one of the first major churches (ca. 324 A.D).  The building withstood many natural disasters, including earthquakes, and rebuilt over and over again.  It is considered the "mother" church of the Catholic Christian world.

The gospel reading from John describes Jesus' classic cord whipping  in the temple.  He pitches a "hissy fit" when he sees the temple area converted into a marketplace.  (Can you imagine the odor and the filth around this beautiful place of worship? Watch your step! Animal dung on the floor.  Yuck!....)  Merchants sold animals for ceremonial sacrifice.  They marketed to the pilgrims who traveled many miles to the temple, often unable to carry with them an unblemished lamb.  The temple-area market place reminds me of concession stands at movie theaters, concerts, and sporting  events.  The products "for sale" are often expensive.  Merchants know people will buy such items for convenience sake.

Jesus cleanses the temple of animal sacrifices in preparation for his own sacrifice on the Cross.  He wishes for followers to have zeal for God and not zeal for material goods.  He desires the temple to be treated as a holy and sacred place, not defiling it with extortion and greed.

As I meditated on this gospel, I couldn't help but think of Catholic churches comprised of living stones.  These living stones are made up of the faithful.  We go to mass each week, celebrating the Eucharist, in remembrance of Christ crucified.  We are all one body, one spirit in Christ Jesus!  As members of the Christian community, we are called to sacrifice for one another as the Lord sacrificed.  These "sacrifices" don't involve animal sacrifices but spiritual sacrifices.   We help the sick and the needy through ministries such as St. Vincent de Paul.  We teach our children as volunteer catechists. We serve as liturgical ministers.  We give our tithes to our parish. We help prepare for the celebration of the liturgy.  Each one of us are important members of the Church community. When we fail to care for our fellow members, one by one living stones become loose.  Cracks begin to form when we fight among ourselves on what we should or should not do as a parish.  Our pastor is in charge of keeping the "living stones" in full working order!  If we allow all of the stones fall out, then our church no longer remains a holy place.

There is so much to glean from this Sunday's mass readings!  I encourage you to take the time to read through them slowly and carefully, discovering new insights.  How is the Holy Spirit speaking to you personally?

-J. 

Faithful Citizenship

 Friday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

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Philippians 3:17-4:1

For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach;

their glory is in their “shame.” Their minds are occupied with earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven,

and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified Body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself.

Fed up with endless political phone calls and junk mail, I had made up my mind not to vote in the mid term elections this year. "Why bother?" I said to myself. "My vote isn't going to change anything. Our government will still do a poor job regardless of whether a Republican or Democrat gets elected."  

Then I prayed about it.... I remembered how often the Church talks about faithful citizenship, especially when election time rolls around.  It is my duty as a citizen of the United States, and as a Catholic Christian, to exercise the power of the vote.  Vote for candidates who affirm life, help build a better community, and secure our nation from harm.  If I don't vote, then I miss out on the opportunity to help shape the society I live in.  If I don't vote, then I have no right to complain, pure and simple.

 This quote from Pope Francis gave me further clarity:  “People in every nation enhance the social dimension of their lives by acting as committed and responsible citizens, not as a mob swayed by the powers that be. Let us not forget that “responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.”  

Despite the rain and the chill, I left early from work and headed over to my polling place.  Afterwards I felt proud to cast a ballot.  I knew not everyone I voted for would win; however, at least these people had a constitutional right to election.  So many countries ban democratic elections. Citizens are left helpless with limited choices for their nation's political future.

St. Paul writes about our citizenship is in heaven.  With this idea in mind, we can better handle social and political policies which contradict the Church's teachings.  We have Christ as our governor, our leader, and our best supporter!  In fact our "dual" citizenship -- in the country where we reside and the heaven we look forward to -- gives us an even greater responsibility to voice our concerns and influence decisions.

Pope Francis explains further, "I believe that Catholics involved in politics carry the values of their religion within them, but have the mature awareness and expertise to implement them. The Church will never go beyond its task of expressing and disseminating its values, at least as long as I'm here."

Faithful citizenship doesn't invite us to sit around waiting for someone else to change the world.  Faithful citizenship calls us to become world changers.  Get out there and become another Christ despite living in a secular world where religion is attacked on a daily basis.  Those against God rather see religion die; religious persons vanish into obscurity; and religiosity turn into a wasteful existence.  We must fight this mentality as stewards of Christ.

 It's unsettling to witness society slowly degrade into a sea of selfishness; a fog of ignorance; and a landfill of perversion. It's frightening to think what the world will be like 20, 30, or 50 years from now.  Will our children remain in the faith?  Will our nation remain "under God"?  Will our communities value life?  Will our freedoms remain viable?  Will the names God, Jesus, Mary, and Christ become profane words nobody is allowed to say much less believe in?

This morning I couldn't help but laugh when I that the Wendy Davis Campaign blames massive defeat on Ebola. She secured less than 39% percent of the vote against Attorney General Greg Abbot.  Anyone living in Texas who has followed Ms. Davis knows her strong pro-abortion stance along with her distasteful "wheel chair" campaign advertisement.   Blaming Ebola for an election loss is ludicrous.

Should we blame Ebola for the decline in mass attendance?  Should we blame Ebola for people disobeying Church teaching? No way!  This is just another excuse for people to push away the faith.  

Another aspect of faithful citizenship is to encourage others to participate in the political process.  Don't just make your voice heard on election day but every day.  One thing I've started following, along with Catholic Pro-Life causes, is the USCCB Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development website. I challenge Catholics to keep abreast of the Church's social justice activities throughout the world and support her causes through prayer and action.

Do you want a passport to heaven?  Remain a faithful citizen to Christ and his Body, the Church!  

-J.

In the Face of Jesus

Monday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

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Gospel of Luke 14:12-14

“Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Today's gospel reading reminds me of when Pope Francis invited 200 homeless people to dine at the Vatican in July 2013.  They ate a catered dinner outside Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto.  I'm sure the homeless were appreciative of the hospitality.  Not every day do common people, much less homeless people, receive a dinner invite from the Pope!

As Americans it's difficult for us to fathom the number of families who go hungry each day.  We think in a land of plenty everyone has access to food.  Look at the obesity epidemic.  Isn't that evidence that we have more people over eating than under eating?  No.  It means we have people eating the wrong kinds of food. There is still a large population of families, especially young children, who go hungry every night.  I get sick to my stomach when I think about the food we waste every day.  I wonder how many meals we can donate to the homeless from the perfectly good food we throw into our garbage disposals?  How many meals can people glean from restaurant and grocery store trash bins?  How about left over produce from Farmers' markets?  We could have enough wasted food to feed hundreds of families!  I recently read an article in the September 2014 issue of Vegetarian Times about modern-day gleaning cooperatives forming across the United States (See article here).  The ancient practice of gleaning, highlighted in the Book of Ruth, has been revived,  showing signs of success across the United States.

I can see Jesus inviting the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind to dinner.  He'd welcome them and feed them until their bellies were stuffed!  He would NOT look down at them; snub them, or turn them away as if they were diseased.  He'd invite them to the banquet table without an ounce of regret or remorse.  This is quite opposite from what people do today.  You'd never hear of a person inviting a homeless person to sit at their expensive $10,000 table of ten at a gala event!  You don't hear of a person giving  a McDonald's Happy Meal to a homeless person on the street.  It's just not the "cool" thing to do. We turn a blind eye to the homeless, the poor and the needy as if they do not exist.  We rather not look at them.  It reminds us too much of our frail humanity.  It reminds us too much of that fact that we could be homeless someday, too.  We just happen to have a good paying job, a roof over our heads, and food on the table.  These poor people are not so fortunate; yet, we have a responsibilities as Christians to invite them to Christ's table - not only for physical food but spiritual food.

We should see the face of Jesus in the poor, the needy, the hungry, and the homeless.  We should love them as much as we love the Lord.

"To love God and neighbor is not something abstract, but profoundly concrete: it means seeing in every person and face of the Lord to be served, to serve him concretely. And you are, dear brothers and sisters, in the face of Jesus.” (Pope Francis, Address during Visit at the Homeless Shelter “Dona Di Maria,” 5/21/13)

-J.

The Faithful Departed

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day)

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Book of Wisdom 3:1-9

The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace.

On Facebook, my sister shared an article showing archived Victorian Era photographs of deceased people.  They looked very much alive with their eyes open, "posing" next to their living relatives.  One young lady was dressed in her First Communion gown holding a rosary.  Other pictures showed mothers holding their dead infants.  In some of the photographs, it was difficult to determine the living versus deceased person.  I found the photos creepy and disturbing.  Why would anyone want a picture of their dead child?  Why not take their picture while living?  I figured back then, with photography not readily available, people only took photographs on special occasions (including weddings and funerals).

We may think taking a photograph with a dead corpse, dressed up as living, is morbid.  But, back in the day the photographs honored the person.  Families often mourned for months at a time, wearing all black clothing, special "mourning" jewelry, and even locks of hair around the neck tucked inside a locket.  I find this remembrance of the dead a solemn reminder of the shortness of life.  We don't know when or where the Lord will take us into eternity.

Praying for the dead has a long history in the Catholic Church.  We don't know the state of someone's soul when they pass on, so we pray on their behalf.  If they made it to heaven, most likely they are in the stage of purgatory.  Purgatory is a time of cleansing; a time of purging ourselves of the sin we held on to during our lifetimes.  I think the only people who go straight to heaven are the Saints!

During the intercessory prayers at mass, I always pray for the souls in purgatory.  I hope their cleansing process is short lived, and they are released into the full beauty of heaven.  As for people going straight to Hell, I pray for them, too, understanding the eternal damnation will not be pleasant.  (I hope the Devil doesn't take away the soul of anyone I know and love...)

On this special feast of All Souls, I think about all of my loved ones, friends and acquaintances who've died.  Years have passed but the memory still remains....

-A friend from high school committed suicide our freshman year in college.  To this day he is buried in an unmarked tombstone.  However, his family did plant a Red Oak tree.  Sadly it's grown so large now that it blends with the remainder of the landscape.  After so many years I don't remember where he was buried....

-My middle school orchestra teacher who tragically died from a staph infection around Valentine's Day in 1986.  She would be my mother's age today.  I always remember her for her kindness.  She saw talent in me as a violinist and helped nurture it.

-A friend of the family who used to baby sit us when we were little.  She died of ovarian cancer at the age of 55. She was the sweetest, dearest woman.  I know she's in heaven now!

-My good church friend who recently passed from cancer this year.  She was so funny!  I will forever  miss her.

The list of loved ones goes on and on.  All I can say is that I miss each and every one of these beautiful people!  I hope my death isn't looming anytime soon because I have so much more preparation to do.  When I think about how short life is, I see the importance of prayer, the Sacraments, reconciliation, and virtuous living.  I have so much more cleaning and shaping to do in my life so I can be ready for the next!

Prayer of St. Vincent Ferrer

Lord Jesus Christ,
You do not will that anyone should perish
and never is a prayer made to you without hope of mercy.
You have promised:
"All things that you ask in my name, shall be done for you."
Therefore, I ask you, O Lord,
for your holy Name's sake,
to grant me at the house of my death
full consciousness and the power of speech,
sincere contrition for my sins,
true faith, firm hope and perfect charity,
that I may be able to say to you with a clean heart;
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit:
you redeemed me, O God of truth,
who are blessed for ever and ever.  Amen.

-J.

Supper with the Saints

Solemnity of All Saints

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Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14

All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures.

They prostrated themselves before the throne, worshiped God, and exclaimed:“Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

While preparing this meditation, I thought of an interesting scenario:  What if I hosted an "All Saints Day" Dinner party with some of my favorite Saints?! Who do I put on the invite list?  What kind of food do I serve for supper? What will the Saints be like in person? 

 Let's see.....I'd invite my confirmation saint Mary Magdalene (patron saint of converts ) and my career saint Albert the Great (patron saint of scientists).  Saint Paul would receive a personal invitation delivered via Damascus Camel Express.  As patron saint of writers, and an advocate for the single life, I'd have a zillion questions for zealous Paul.  Of course, I can't leave out Saint Dominic who'd humbly walk barefoot to the party, preaching and praying along the route to my house.  St. Francis of Assisi, St. Monica, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Ignatius of Loyola, and St. Benedict would join as guests.  Maybe Saint Pope John Paul II would stop by for dessert. The blend of personalities, along with different theological and philosophical perspectives, would encourage meaningful spiritual conversation.  I can see all of the "saintly crowd" eating, drinking and sharing stories long into the wee hours of the morning. What a fun experience!

Revelation  I love the scripture readings on the Solemnity of All Saints.  We do not read from the Book of Revelation at Mass very often. I find it sad many people are turned off by this beautiful book, even frightened by it.  One thing I learned in biblical school was how Apocalyptic literature, which includes The Books of Daniel and Revelation, used symbolism to represent what was happening socially and culturally during the period in which the author lived.  Many people erroneously believe The Book of Revelation predicts the future of the end of time.  With such literal interpretation, some people may believe catastrophic events, such as the current ISIS situation or the Ebola outbreak, mean the apocalypse is on its way.  Personally, I don't think God intends to take mankind away from this earth any time soon.

Relax. Don't worry about the future!  Live in the present, enjoying what life has to offer! Practice virtues and strive for holiness just like the Saints who preceded us!

No one really knows how The Last Judgment will plan out.  We may see flames, creatures, and angels dressed in white robes playing trumpets and harps while God and Satan battle one another.  Or, we may simply fall asleep for eternity, never witnessing the end of the world.  When we wake up, we will be in heaven or hell.

The right "saintly" attitude   I think of The Beatitudes as following Christ's teachings with the right attitudes; even better the right "saintly" attitudes.  We encounter saints every day.  Some will be officially recognized by the Catholic Church whereas others will not.  But, one thing for certain saintly people love Christ and their fellow brothers and sisters.  They are humble, joyful, and peaceful. They strive for goodness and holiness in their every day actions.  They follow The Beatitudes with a steadfastness and perseverance, becoming role models for others.

I think some people are born to be Saints.  It's in their genes and upbringing.  Sometimes choosing to serve Christ occurs at a young age. The teenager Blessed Chiara Luce Bandano, who tragically died of bone cancer at age of 18, is an example. We just celebrated her feast day on October 29th. At other times, religious proclivity develops over many years.  I think of St. Augustine's conversion.

God planted blossoming souls on earth to do amazing things.  Yes, these saintly souls suffer from temptation, disease, pain, heartache, and tragedy.  However, they turn to God for healing and strength. The Lord remains their central life-beating force.

We may not be "born" a Saint; however, there's always a chance we can become one. On a monthly basis, I read about the life a Blessed or Saint I don't know much about.  I find his or her story as motivation to stay away from sin and strive toward virtuous living.  I take what I've learned and apply it to my every day life.  I reflect on the question:  How can I become a better Christian?  

This weekend pray The Beatitudes in celebration of All Saints Day and All Souls Day.  Remember and pray for the repose of the souls of all who've passed on before us, both Saints and non-saints alike.

In conclusion, I'd like to share a poem I originally wrote on All Saints Day 2013.......

An Ode To All Saints

When the Saints go marching in;

With the heavenly gates open, purged of earthly sin.

Trumpets blast with melodies, delighting angels afar;

Excitedly announcing the entrance of Christ’s Super Stars.

Stars on earth who loved God above all else;

And ministered to His people; with faith, a loving pulse.

How can I become a saint like the others years before me?

It will take awareness; I so aim to please!

Please the Lord in following, His way, truth and light;

Emulating the work of Saints, who intercede with Holy might.

Thanks to Saints like Dominic, Francis, Paul, and Ann.

I hope one day to see you in heaven's glorious land!
Amen.

-J.