What is in it for me?

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees. He said to the host who invited him, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. 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.” - Luke 14:12-14

Give freely not expecting anything in return! This is the message of the Gospel today. We often use as criteria for our decisions, "What is in it for me!" The Lord challenges us to think differently. We respond in faith because God first loved us! We are called to do what is right and just. We are called to act with charity and mercy. We cannot limits our actions to the belief, "What is in it for me!"

We do not earn God's love nor do we earn salvation by our works. In recognizing and accepting God's gift of love and grace, we make the conscious decision each day to live out our faith through our words and actions. Don't be a believer in name only. Don't simply give the Gospel lip service. If you really have faith and you are conscious of God's love, then with that same love, do the works of Christ.

Faith calls us to respond in works. 'I was hungry and you gave me food' (Matthew 25:35). In faith, we place our hope in the promise of the King, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world' (Matthew 25:34).

Don't be caught asking who, what, when, where, why, how! You might just hear the King say to you, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life (Matthew 25:46).

Video On Demand

Many of us have come to appreciate Video On Demand. Imagine all those movies just waiting for us to watch when we want and when it is convenient for us to do so! It's wonderful to have especially as life has become so busy. Sure its great for movies, but what happens when do the same with God? When we use God On Demand!

Unfortunately, many times we can turn to God On Demand, only when we want and when it is convenient for us to do so! God help me here! God get me through this! God it would be great if you were here with me right now! We cannot turn to God On Demand. God is much more than a simple service provider!

God is a living and loving reality. God seeks a relationship with us at all times. I heard recently, do you know why God speaks to us very softly instead of yelling at us? The answer is because God is always close to us! God doesn't need to yell as if He was far away. No matter how far we may think we run away from God or our decisions keep us away from God, God is always there!

God is there because He desires, seeks, yearns to share His love, forgiveness, mercy, direction, and strength with us. God wants a relationship that is more than an On Demand service. So make a choice today. Focus on a relationship with God. A relationship that is more than On Demand, rather a relationship lived In Love!

Why do I do what I do?

"If there is no mercy in our hearts, if we do not experience the joy of forgiveness, we are not in communion with God, even if we observe all the commandments, because it is love that saves, not the simple observance of rules." -Pope Francis

I have tried to challenge people to reflect on the question, "Why do I do what I do?" Everyday we make decisions, take steps, and perform tasks. We do it with the family, at work, in school and within our walk with God. At times we make decisions with much thought and other moments with little or no thought at all. Certainly there are things in our daily life that do not need much reflection nor consultation before we make a decision or take a step. However, there are other things that desperately need us to take more time for discernment, reflection and then action.

When it comes to our walk with the Lord we must reflect more on the question, "Why do I do what I do?" If we allow our walk with the Lord to be routine, normal, expected and without thought, we can lose sight of what our relationship with God is truly all about. We can take the focus off things that matter more and simply become robotic or emotionless. We can even convince ourselves we are doing right and good because we are doing the things we are expected to do. 

As Pope Francis reminds us our walk with the Lord is more than a simple observance of rules. Yes, observance of rules is necessary and good, however, what is it that drives me in the observance of the rules? Is there love? Is there joy? Is there a true desire to be in communion with God? You see it is not one without the other. God is not calling us to throw out the rules and live the way we desire to live. At the same time God is challenging us not to simply observe commandments without knowing why and without love in our hearts! We need to seek balance. We need to understand why we do what we do.

One example:

Do I go to Church uninterested because it is only a commandment and I am expected to do so?

or

Do I not go to Church because it is only a rule and besides God loves me anyway?

or

Do I go to Church because God invites me into His presence and I do so with love and gratitude in my heart to worship and adore His presence?

And so when it comes to important things in your life like relationships, commitments, and sacrifices, take an extra moment before you act and ask yourself, why do I do what I do?

What if?

"At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it." -Hebrews 12:11

I often do not like to speak about the trials in our lives as a "test" given to us by God. Nor do I often share with others that they should see their challenges as God's discipline. For many the mere thought that God is testing or disciplining us in this life can give a wrong impression of our God. In our spiritual immaturity, we could get stuck on that wrong impression and thus not be able to overcome how a loving merciful God would care to test or discipline us. However, as I continued to reflect on this notion I was led to the thought, what if?

What if God is testing us? Does that mean God doesn't love us? What if God was challenging us in order to discipline us? Does that mean God has no concern for us? Should we get stuck and angry or should we accept and evaluate how we are enduring?

Do we have the faith and courage to see our obstacles, challenges and sufferings as an opportunity to put that same faith into practice? I am first to say that it is far easier to live out our faith in God when all is well. The faith journey is great when I have peace in my heart and I am experiencing so much love. My faith is so alive when things seem to be going my way and everything seems to be clear! However, what happens when the journey is not easy? What happens when I do not have peace in my heart and I am experiencing everything but love? How do I go forth when things are not going my way and I do not have clarity?

Is faith only for the joyous moments? How does my faith guide me when I'm lost or discouraged? Can I muster the faith to say "I do not understand, but Jesus I trust in you!"

Due to the presence of sin in our own life and in the lives of others there will be pain and sufferings. There will be moments to quit and run away. We will be tempted to get angry and get even. This is not the way! Sure it is easier, but deep down inside we know it is not the answer and it will not give us the peace that we seek.

Evaluation time!

So when difficulties come how do you respond? Do you get angry and look to run away? Do you blame your sufferings on God and others? Do you run away from God and shy away from Your faith? Do you fall into depression and drown in your sorrow? If you answered yes to any of those questions then you are not alone. It is a temptation of all of us to do the same. However, as people of faith we must respond differently. I challenge each of us to see our pains and sufferings not as misfortunes but as a test of faith! An opportunity to use our faith to see us through. Not a time to say why me, but to ask what now and where do we go from here! A moment not to question God's presence but to see where God is and reflecting on how God is calling you to act.

When God looks to us in the midst of our suffering, does He find an obedient, joyous, and faithful child awaiting His direction? Or does God encounter a disobedient, down trodden, unfaithful lost soul?

Strive as a child of God to grow in faith and have the courage despite the test to be an obedient, joyous and faithful child awaiting the counsel of our Lord!

Remember there is a TEST in every TESTimony!

Keep the faith! Keep going! Be not afraid!

Christian Witness

What is our response, as Christian witnesses, to a divided and fragmented world? How can we offer the hope of peace, healing and harmony to those “stations” of conflict, suffering, and tension…unity and reconciliation cannot be achieved through our efforts alone. God has made us for one another (cf. Gen 2:24) and only in God and his Church can we find the unity we seek. –Pope Benedict XVI, Message to the Youth, 2008

I pray that we have not yet forgotten the wonderful words that Pope Emeritus Benedict shared with us throughout his papacy. He continues to aid the Church through his prayers. May we also pray for him!

Recently the youth gathered with our Holy Father Pope Francis. He is a powerful witness to the Gospel and causes us to reflect on our walk with the Lord. Living World Youth Day 2013 through the powerful images and words shared by Pope Francis caused me to reflect on the past World Youth Days with Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Despite how amazing the images and words are, the question remains, are we living our faith with Christ? We can undoubtedly be powerfully enriched by an experience in the Church like a World Youth Day, Steubenville, ACTS, Marriage Encounter, Cursillo, but how are we being Christian witnesses every day?

As Pope Emeritus Benedict stated at World Youth Day 2008, “What is our response, as Christian witnesses, to a divided and fragmented world?” How are we offering hope of peace, healing and harmony to those areas of conflict, suffering and tension through the world?

As Christians we must do our part to put an end to the conflicts, suffering and tensions throughout the world. However, to truly put an end to those things around the world, we must first look to put an end those things in our own lives! We must, where possible and within our reach, make a choice to end those conflicts, sufferings, and tensions between members of our families, our friends, and within our communities.

Often times it seems impossible and thus we may want to give up. We sometimes believe we have to do it all alone. Pope Benedict says that unity and reconciliation cannot be achieved through our efforts alone because God has made us for one another. Do we hear those words? We were made for each other! Do we live as such?

Conflicts arise and tensions will be there, but are we the cause of those conflicts or tensions? Are we building walls? Are we allowing challenges and sin to get in the way of seeking and living for the other?

We all too often want things our own way. We choose to stay angry or upset. We find ways to separate rather than seek opportunities for togetherness. This is by no means easily overcome. It is only when we turn to God and to the teachings safeguarded by the Church that we will have the tools to remember that we are made for one another! We need to support each other with prayers and words of encouragement.

Stop looking for reasons to divide and separate. Stop looking to put up walls and barriers. Stop choosing words that cause battle and actions that lead to war. Remember at the end of the day despite our differences we were made for one another! Be a Christian witness always! Each and every day!

Principles

I thank God for any wisdom He graciously has granted to me and I hope to pass it on through my words and by example. Here are a few principles that I strive to live in my life. They have helped me through the challenges and continue to guide me in my walk with others. Each of us will ponder it in our own way. I can only hope they may be a source of grace for you as well.

1. Take the time each day to see the blessings of God. God is always at work and so do not focus solely on the problems and obstacles. Rather, see where God is at work in other areas of your life.
2. Don’t waste the time questioning “why me” rather ask yourself“ what now” and “where do I go from here”.
3. Always move forward. Learn from the past, strive to make the changes in the present, but always keep going.
4. In every action seek to do it for the glory of God and always with love in your heart.
5. Give people the benefit of doubt! Don’t presume to know everyone’s situation. Take the time to minister to everyone even those we may find difficult to love.

Year in Review

I wanted to share a video I made recently about my year in Rome. I will soon be returning but I wanted to share my adventure with so many of you who have supported me along the way. God bless. Enjoy!