War is bad…mkay.

What were you talking about on the way?

Who is the greatest? Probably Peter started the fight, which is why we hear about it. Us guys do this kind of thing.

But let’s put it into context. Let’s say you’re on your death bed. And I’m taking this from Fr. Tyler. He said, “No one has ever told me, I wish…I had… played… more golf! <croak>.” This life is a pilgrimage, from being a part of Satan’s kingdom, to the womb of the Church, through this life to heaven.

I was talking with someone at the gym today. “I don’t know about those popes,” she said. And its like well, actually, Rome isn’t the promised land. Jesus just promised that the gates of Hell wouldn’t win against the Church. Rome needs a renewal, a cleaning up, she hinted. Sure does! But you know what…. don’t we all! Don’t we all get bogged down with things that don’t matter one bit?!?!

Isn’t this why St. James writes what he does?!

James 4:1–3 (NABRE)

Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

I played a lot of baseball. Did that get me closer to Jesus? Actually no. It didn’t address these wars within my members, but actually increased my jealousy of those who were better. I asked the Lord to show me the way, and then at the first time I saw what I wanted, I left God’s road to go chase the romance, the dollar sign, the fame, the party, the fun. How much baseball, as fun as it was and yes it did allow for me to grow as a man and a person, but it never got to the underlying issues of what was I made for as a man, and it didn’t get me closer to my vocation as a priest.

And we can all get caught up in different things. We can and should use the things of this world to relax from the tribulations of this life, but never to make them the reason for our living! I like golf, its just a game and its just for this earth. Another loves going out to enjoy the night life. Its fine every now and again, but be careful, there are wolves out there. Another loves going to national parks and being out in nature. Good! Don’t forget to take God with you. Let the good things of this world lead you to God. And take God with you as the companion of your journey. Another one likes to watch Hallmark movies. The tv probably won’t lead you closer to Christ. The teenager likes scrolling through all the entertaining things online. Put the phone down, you’re a beloved child of God, don’t waste your youth!

“I know I should pray more…but Im just having too much fun right now!” We will be asked this question, “What were all those conversations you were having amongst yourselves along the way?”

Wars

Now let’s talk wars for a second. I don’t like wars nor have I ever been involved in one. My grandfather went out to WWII under Patton but towards the end of the war, he was drafted. My father was a Canadian so his family wasn’t involved in the same way. Nor do I have much personally taken from my family during Vietnam or Korea. But I think its fair to say that some people love war and profit much off of war. We as Catholics pray, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, where there is hatred let me sow your love.” Mother Teresa prayed this prayer every day. You don’t think there are people who want to go to war? You don’t think that the war mongers of our country don’t want certain people to get into office and keep others out who want to end these conflicts around the world? You and I, we’re like the child in today’s Gospel. We have no power. We are insignificant. The gal at the gym also said, “You think the powers that be, the media, the government, you think they tell us what’s really going on?!” Yet we fight with one another as if that’s going to change the world. Love the person that is right in front of you, especially if they think different than you! Especially if they are “OTHER.” Love your enemy, right?! But we can love people we disagree with. I struggle with this. And one person can be wrong while another is right. Remember this, Both of you can be wrong, but one of you must be! We aren’t going to get where we need to be with more war, we would never kill them…right? this world doesn’t get closer to the coming of Christ if we just go to war with all those who disagree. Our Lady of Fatima said that if you want the world to be at peace, say your rosary, and go to nine consecutive first Saturday Masses.

The love of receiving the nobody.

2nd Prediction of the Passion

The miracle of prophecy, I could tell you that this first reading from Wisdom came after the crucifixion and you would be apt to believe me.

Jesus predicts the passion again, and his disciples asked nothing. What could have been added to this Gospel if the disciples weren’t “afraid to question him.” And that’s what fear does to us. It turns us in on ourselves and makes us afraid to ask questions because we’re thinking about how to save our own skin. “If my teacher is handed over…I too might be next!” And they were.

And yet, our time will all come. We meditate that not only Christ suffered and died for us, but that he knew he would suffer and die and went through with it anyway. This is some God we have. And what does he ask of us? To carry our crosses next to him, think of ourselves second, that we serve one another, especially looking out for the children and the least of us, and getting the war out of ourselves, lest we be like the people who killed Christ, “Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us…let us try his patience, with torture let us put the just one to the test!”

Today is St. Matthew’s day. He was one of these guys arguing about how great he was. He died by being stabbed by a servant while saying Mass. He said that the Ethiopian King could not marry his own niece. We must say many “No’s” to the world. The world, even our friends won’t like it, but we do so for that even bigger “Yes” that we owe to our God.