Entitlement. Many of us take on the idea that we truly believe we deserve what we have. Often, it doesn’t stop there. We often find that once someone buys into the idea of entitlement, it quickly turns into pity: self-pity. We slide down that treacherous slope, moving from thinking we deserve what we have to thinking we deserve more. We unknowingly train ourselves to think what we have, even though we might deserve it, is simply not good enough. We complain about the way our day “should have gone,” rather than thinking critically of what choices we (really, I myself)could have made today to create a healthier and happier life… a life where we look at our challenges and difficulties as a way to build ourselves into a faithful and hopeful people.

I have met some pretty unhappy people. Most of the time (listen for it) their lives would be “happier” if they had just “one more thing”. Rather than concentrating on what we do have and counting those blessings, we often choose to think of “the more” that we could have…or… “deserve”. And why is that? We are some of the most fortunate people in the world. Are we trained to think this way? I would say “yes.” But there is hope. As much as we have been trained to view our world as something that should be handed to us on a golden platter, we can just as easily un-train ourselves. And I believe me, it’s simple. (Read more)

Picture it: The rich man encountering Jesus Christ face to face. As they look into each others’ eyes, the people around them inch closer and closer. Can you feel the tension? The rich man, feeling quite sure of himself asks Jesus if there is more.

"You follow the commandments, you say? You are a good person, you say? That’s great. But it’s not enough…" (Read more)

Recently I was speaking with a friend who had left the Church and converted to another denomination of Christianity.  Growing up Catholic and having a firm faith in the Lord, I asked him why he would convert to another faith.  His answer: “My relationship with Jesus was hurting and I needed a faith where it could be strengthened.”   I did not understand.  We are the one true faith - the faith that Jesus handed on to Peter,  the Church that Christ married upon the cross.  This faith, the faith of all the martyrs and saints, a faith of billions over the last 2,000 years… was not feeding a soul? 

Of course, in my mind I was panicking.  I love my faith, it means the world to me, and it hurts to see people walk away from it.  I wanted to speak of our tradition, our many saints, our Mother Mary.  I wanted to tell him about the faith of the martyrs and that our Church’s mission is nothing more than to bring all hearts to the un-failing love of Jesus Christ.  But I didn’t.  I stood there and wondered where I went wrong.  I thought of the many people in my own life who have done the same thing.  “Am I not holy enough?”  I wondered.  Are we, the Body of Christ, not fulfilling our mission to go out unto all the world and proclaim the Good News, first by living it?    (Read more)

“Holiness, whether ascribed to Popes well-known to history or to humble lay and religious figures, from one continent to another of the globe, has emerged more clearly as the dimension which expresses best the mystery of the Church. Holiness, a message that convinces without the need for words, is the living reflection of the face of Christ.” - Pope John Paul II 


The quote speaks for itself…  eh?  Holiness, as John Paul II reflected, is the way in which we bring the living Christ to the world.  Last article I reflected on the call for all of us, no matter who we are, to “go unto all the world and proclaim the Good News.” I began by speaking about the little ways in which we are called to bring this ‘New Evangelization’ to the world.  I wrote about my parents, who by their profession of faith (simply taking me to Mass each Sunday) instilled in me a love for God.  In this article, I will speak on the most important form of evangelization of all, holiness.   
 (Read more)

We believe, oh yes, we do believe. And it’s a beautiful thing, isn’t it? It’s an incredible gift of faith, given by a God who wants nothing more than to spend eternity with us. Despite our unworthiness, despite the many times we have turned away, we have a God who continually fills our hearts with this ‘need’- a need that begs us to live as we were created to live. And with this precious gift of faith we are also given something else. Responsibility – a responsibility to go "unto all the world and proclaim the Good News." A responsibility to "not be afraid" and to "cast out into the deep" with our very lives. So, the question at hand is… are we fulfilling this call? Are we, a people entrusted with this hope, in turn, sharing it with others?

When someone asks me ‘why’ I believe in God, I answer it quite simply. "It’s because my parents do." This might seem shallow, and "not deep enough," but when I really think about it, it’s the main reason. Sure, I have had many moving experiences with God. I have experienced him in the riches of prayer in ways I cannot describe. I have seen Him transform people so lost, so broken, into the most hopeful people I have ever known. But that is not the core reason I believe. The core reason I believe is simply because my parents did. And that is not a bad thing! In fact, I would venture to say that this is the reason for many. If not our parents, than someone who we came to know, affecting our lives in a way that allowed us to experience, first-hand, the love of our God.  (Read more)

"To Toil and not seek for rest. To Labor and not ask for reward, except for knowing that I do your will."

Peace to all! I hope your Labor Day was full of both rest and family fun. Labor Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. It is short and non-commercialized, which for me, propels it right to the top. The physical and mental labor that each of us do on a day by day basis in our schools, jobs and homes should not be ignored, being rightfully rewarded with a day to "catch our breath."  (Read more)

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