Tied With a Bow - Reflection 1st Sunday of Lend

(Readings)

Julian of Norwich was 13^th Century Catholic Theologian and Mystic. (Link) During a vision of Christ’s pain and suffering, she wondered why sin and evil happened. The world would be better without it.

“But Jesus, who informed me of all that is needed by me, answered and said: ‘It was necessary that there should be sin; but all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.' ”

There has always been evil in the world. In Genesis it is the reason given for the flood:  The earth was corrupt in the view of God and full of lawlessness. The LORD saw how great the wickedness of human beings was on earth, and how every desire their heart conceived was always nothing but evil….

As always, a good and holy person can make a difference. Noah found favor with the LORD. Noah walked with God.

Because of His love for Noah, God saved us by the Ark and efforts of a good and holy man. Noah listened and followed the word of God.

God made a promise to this faithful man and his descendants.  It was a sacred blood promise, a covenant - tied with a (rain)bow.

The Gospel of God was this, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants and every living creature that was with you. There shall not be another flood to devastate the earth

It was necessary, but all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.

But, there has always been evil in the world.

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan.

Jesus overcame temptation and proclaimed the gospel of God:  “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

To fight the evil that is in the world Jesus tells us to repent, to change our minds from the way of thinking of those around us.

But, there has always been evil and lawlessness in the world.  Evil still exist, it is all around us. School shootings, murders, human trafficking and slavery, violence and attacks on human dignity. Evil attacks all of God’s creation.

Evil has always found a way to attack us in the world. How do we fight evil?

Find a new way of thinking. Proclaim the Gospel as Peter did – repent and be baptized. Baptism, which saves you, is an appeal to God for a clear conscience.

Baptism calls us to a new way of thinking, a clear moral conscience found in the salvation of Jesus Christ. Proclaim the Gospel. Repent the kingdom of heaven is at hand, believe in the gospel.

How do we fight evil? Listened and follow the Word of God. Follow Jesus.

Jesus walked with God. Jesus Christ is the word of God. Christ Jesus is God. He is the new sacred blood promise, the new covenant tied with the bow of the cross. He is the promise of eternal life. Christ suffered for our sins, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God.

We will always wonder why there is sin and evil in the world. 

To that answer, Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser, President of the Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio Texas, writes, God, being so unimaginable in love and power, is able to draw good out of evil, happiness out of suffering, and redemption out of sin in ways that we cannot yet grasp.

It is hard to grasp how good can come from the evil we see in the world. Evil blinds us from knowing how truly great God is; but, Jesus Christ is God’s healing against all the sin and evil in the world.

God’s healing transforms human beings and all of creation that groans in the pains of evil in a world awaiting the salvation of God.  Repent and believe in the gospel and all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.

For each of us, all shall be well, tied with the bow of our baptism.

Be good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way your live and love. Amen.

Lent: A Quiet Secret Place - A Reflection to Begin Lent

Readings

Some people make amazing Lenten Penances. Two of my favorites are: I am giving up Facebook for Lent posted on Facebook. Another one, I giving up Coke, I’ll drink Pepsi until after Lent. These are funny but true.

The words that begin most of our Lenten journeys are these: "Remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return," as the sign of the cross is traced on our foreheads.

Calling attention to the temporary state of our body reminds us that Life is not about you, you’re about life.

Lent brings reality and humility to our lives - Life is not about you. "Take care not to perform righteous deeds so that people may see them.” Putting extra effort into a life of faith is great, but, don't advertise. Don’t brag of penance.

Lent is a quiet secret place. Keep secret our self-denial and self-examination. Keep discreet what has been missed and attempts to recover what has been lost.

Remember, you’re about life. Jesus says if you're going to fast, wash your face, look as if you're blooming, and smile - don't let on that it is a struggle.

If it's true about fasting, it's true about giving and praying - silence and study - reflection and meditation - compassion and encouragement - and whatever else helps develop and strengthen our faith.

Faith is not strengthened in outward bragging about our differences. Faith grows in the realization of our inward journey of intention, motivation, love, compassion and more. Inward things found in a good life shared.

These are not look at me - outward differences. Self-denial isn't self-denial if it’s an object of attention. “Do not let your left hand know what your right is doing.” Out-ward talk doesn't contribute to the truth of our inward self.  

If someone says, Deacon I loved your homily! I love it; but, talk does not make me grow nearer to God. Instead, talk feeds my ego; empty talk feeds a life about me.

In trying to live up to those words, actions can become an insincere performance. Growing closer to God is not a performance. So avoid doing righteous deeds just so people see them.

But, Jesus doesn’t say forget about it - 'don't fast' or 'don't pray' or 'don't give alms.' Life is not about you, you’re about life. He says, ‘give alms, pray, & fast.' Do these and more, but don't make a big show. Do these things from a quiet secret place.

Lent is a quiet secret place, maybe in the quiet, we find God.

This Lent be about life and do something. Take something on. Give something up. Give more. “Remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return."

Friends, we are about life; may God bless that life.

Life, Love, and Compassion – Made in the Image and likeness of God (Bishop’s Appeal Sunday)

Readings

(I heard this story on the radio as I was traveling this week.)

 A young mother picks her six year old daughter up from school. The little girl is in tears. Someone was picking on her at school and it totally broke her heart.

Her 3 year old brother is in the car and asks his mom, why is she crying. The mother answered “Someone was mean to her and now her heart is hurting.” The little boy then began to cry as well. The mother asked him, “Why are you crying?”

He answered, “My heart hurts because her heart hurts.”

A simple story that reveals truth; we are created in the image of God. Our inner self is the reflection of that image of God.  The image of God we are to show to the world is our life, our love, and our compassion.

The world screams against this. It doesn’t want us to believe it. There is no scientific study that proves this. Yet, for believers, the only thing needed to prove we are made in the image of God is our faith. Even the youngest of child can realize it.  “My heart hurts because their heart hurts.”

Moved by sorrow and compassion for the lepers suffering and misfortunes, Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him….

For believers, the fact that we are made in the image of God is simply a stepping stone to an awareness of God. Life is not about you; you are about Life.

The Bishop’s Appeal is about life. Bringing life to our family, not only our immediate family, or the immediate family of this community, but the entire community that is the Church in our Diocese, and even the community of the entire world, to which we bring the presence of Christ.

Just as Jesus did, reach out and touch someone…

The appeal supports our seminarians. Young men who have found the image of God in themselves and have pledged their life to Christ, to the Church  and to you and me for the next  40-50-60 years.

It is with compassion and love we take care of the retried and infirmed priest. These are men that have been part of our lives. In love and compassion, they have embraced us celebrating marriages, burying our loved ones, hearing our confessions, and sharing with us the Eucharist.  Supporting these men who gave their life to God and to us is a necessary responsibility.

This appeal brings the love of God through Christ to assisting the Poor (CC and SVdP), prolife ministries, and developing a strong catechist program for our children, new believers, and even us seasoned soldiers of Christ. We should never forget the importance of our Catholic Schools, the Catholic Connection, and Hispanic Ministries which are supported by this appeal.

The Bishop has identified these programs are the life blood of the Church. It is providing for our family in life, love, and compassion. “My heart hurts because their heart hurts.”

My brothers and sisters we are called to imitate Christ. Just as Jesus did, reach out and touch someone…

In the gospel the leper realizing his healing in compassion and love the man went away and told the whole matter. He spread the report abroad. When we share our life, love, and compassion through the Bishop’s appeal we spread the whole matter to those who need it.

I end all my homilies with these words “Yall be good yall be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live and love,” and this weekend that includes sharing. Amen.

Share Your Faith - Homily Reflection 5th Sunday OT

(Readings)

Church attendance is falling. In 2014, the Pew Research Group said that of the 32% who identified as baptized Catholics, 41% are no longer practicing. In 1965, 35% of the children born in the US were baptized Catholic; in 2014 only 18%.

This is true in one way or another in every denomination.

How do we stop this? Listen to what the scriptures tell us today. They tell us about preaching the Gospel. They tell us about sharing our faith. They show us that we evangelize in everything we do.

Paul writes, “If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me and woe if I do not preach it.”

Most of you may say I can’t do that.

In a meeting with Vicar General for the Diocese, Fr. Rothell Price, earlier this week, I apologized for my failures as a deacon. He said, “Deacon I have it on good authority you are a good deacon. Not perfect, there was only one that was perfect, but a very good deacon.”

Thank you all, it could have only come from you; but, let me tell you the secret of being a deacon. It is living your life and seeing God in the everyday and telling that experience to the world. It is the same for all of us. I’m just ordained.

If we live our faith then evangelizing the goodness of Jesus Christ in our life is not an option. Living a Catholic Christian life and being alive in your faith is sharing the good news.

Most active Catholics evangelize. It is prayer with and for others, visiting the sick, and visiting strangers. It is inviting people to mass or parish activities, speaking well about the Church, the parish, the priest, and even your deacon.

In all these scripture readings about preaching (Job’s words of lament, Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, and Jesus telling Simon let us go so I may preach for that is the purpose I have come) most will overlook the evangelizing and sharing the gospel of the mother in law.

Simon Peter’s mother in law was sick with fever. Jesus took her hand and helped her get up, and immediately her fever was gone. She waited on them.

She got up and preached to everyone by her everyday life. And, the story spread. It spread fast; by evening the whole town was gathered at the doorway of Simon Peter’s house.  Everyone was looking for Jesus.

Everyone was looking for Jesus because of the mother-in-law’s story and how Jesus touched her life. She fed Jesus. She fed all those who heard her story. She continued to serve Jesus by sharing her story over and over and over.  The mother in law was preaching the gospel and winning people over to follow Jesus before Simon, Andrew, James and John even realized the truth about Jesus.

Sharing your personal story about God in your life is preaching the gospel. It is the simplest form of evangelizing: telling how you were sick or sinful or lost; telling how the Lord came to you; telling how Christ took you by the hand and raised you up.

Sadly, most only want to hear the bad in life. If all that is heard is the part of Job’s story saying “man’s life on earth is drudgery.” And “I shall not see happiness again.”  Not hearing the good news, many surrender to misery.

This is happening. Less and less people sit in the pews.

Less and less people are in the world praising the Lord.

Less and less know our God who is good and gracious.

Less and less people are sharing stories giving glory to Gold and telling of His presence in their life.

Now is our time to preach. Now we must share and witness the Gospel by our lived lives and experience. We must share so others will say that reminds me of a time in my life. Tell the story of Jesus in your life so others can see Jesus in their life.

The truth is that like Job’s not all stories are going to be happy; but, people need to see God even in their suffering, just as Job did.

In our world, church attendance is falling and people deny faith and belief.  

My friends, it is for us all to preach the gospel. Share your story. Share your beliefs. Win over as many as possible to save at least some.

Do this by sharing our faith: Being good, being holy, and preaching the gospel, telling your story by the way you live and love. Amen.

History Teaches - 4th Sunday OT

Sometimes we need to look up.

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/012818.cfm 

I love history. One reason is from 6th grade through college most of my teachers and professors taught with authority. 

They taught with an authority of strength, conviction, knowledge, passion, insight, ability, and right. It was an authority in teaching history that gave them power over the subject.

I remember all my history teachers. I remember most of their names. There is one, however, whose name or face I cannot remember. She was a graduate assistant my freshman year in college. 

The first day of class she took attendance; then, she opened the text book and started reading. There was no inflection or passion in her voice; no conviction in her words. She just read and offered nothing: no insight or personal knowledge to the lecture. 

Reading, she never looked up. Soon after the semester started, people began walking out as soon as the role was complete. And still, the instructor never look up. She taught without authority. 

The midterm test had blatant cheating. Most of the class was content to cruise through. 

But at the final, the instructor challenged the class. You disrespected me and didn’t take this class seriously. She gave out blue books and said fill this with what you’ve learned. 

I was prepared. I had many a teacher before who had taught with authority. Those who taught with authority had prepared me.

Today, the Gospel tells us Jesus came with a new teaching of authority. 

As we were preparing for mass, Father said, “Deacon read the Gospel with drama. Read to emphasize how the unclean spirit attacks Jesus.”

What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God?

With authority Jesus said, “Quiet! Come out of him.”

Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit with power. Jesus’ ability came from strength, conviction, knowledge, passion, insight, and right as the Holy One of God.

All who witnessed it were amazed. All those who witnessed  came to the synagogue for teaching that simply reading the book, a scribe who read scripture. It was the normal way of teaching that did not upset anyone not even the unclean spirits in their midst.

Churches are like that today. Their message misses the authority that comes from Christ. Christ gave the Church, his mystical body lead by the apostles, the authority to teach the good news. We have the authority to make the unclean spirits uncomfortable and call out - What have you to do with us?

To teach with authority is not saying everything is OK. Teaching with the authority Christ gave is not agreeing with immoral life style choices or making harmful vices acceptable. To teach with the authority that is the Word of God as Jesus asks us is not what the world wants to hear. To teach with that authority, we have to look up.

History teaches that it will not be without challenges. 

In the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul taught and there were riots in the street. People wished to do him harm. It is also written that when the disciples shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it cut to the heart of all who heard. 

When we teach with authority, we challenge the unclean spirits alive in the world. They don't like it. The unclean spirits want the status quo. And, we become anxious about worldly things.

Brothers and sisters, we are all going to have to come for a final exam. All are going to be held accountable for our disregard of Christ’s teachings. We are going to be asked what did we learn? How did we live? 

At the final test of our judgement, hopefully, we will have had someone who taught us with authority. 

Sadly, there will be ones that will still challenge God. What if they were waiting for us to teach them with authority?

We have been given the authority to teach the Gospel. We are not to teach it as we wish to interpret it. We are not to be scribes of the worldly good. 

But instead, teach with the authority of the mystical body of Christ.  The authority found in the words of Christ that cause riots as Paul spoke. Speak in the authority of the gospel that cuts to the hearts of all who hear it.

Share the gospel with the authority and power of Christ in your life; give your testimony. Share it with passion, conviction, and knowledge found in the truth that is Jesus Christ.

Yall be good yall be holy and preach the gospel with authority of the way you live and love. Amen.

Our Will or God's Will - Reflection 3rd Sunday OTB

(Readings) You pray the way you believe so is it our will or God's will. 

I love the story of Jonah. He was just an easy going ordinary prophet going about his life. Then God asked him to do something extraordinary. It was more than Jonah wanted; so, he ran from God.

Jonah did Jonah’s will.  No matter how far he ran, he couldn’t escape God’s will; neither do we. We are just like Jonah except our story may not literally have a big fish that swallows us; but, we put so much effort in doing our will instead of God’s will, it swallows us whole.  

Wait!!! We all are trying to do God’s will. We pray our prayers. We go to mass. If we do everything to get to heaven, we must be doing God’s will.

Lex orandi est lex credenda -- “the way you pray is the way you believe.”

I’m guilty.

We pray, God may your will be done but especially in the good of our life. Bless us with things. Our prayers, God do our will so our life is easy and then send us to heaven.

If this is the makeup of our prayers, our efforts are in the wrong place.

The story of Jonah and the one from the Gospel tells us the right place to put the effort.  In the everyday ordinary world, God’s will may not be what we want. But by faith, maybe try to put what we want and what we are (our lives and works and prayers) in the place Jesus wants.

We can know what Jesus wants by knowing His life and His prayers. Jesus prays - Father thy will be done. Jesus entire life was about the Father’s will being done here on earth as it is in heaven.  

Living out the will of God the Father, Jesus told his disciples and Jesus tells us, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."

Jesus’ example to all those who followed him and those who heard him teach was how to live God’s will here on earth with other people.

He healed the living, those suffering in their bodies not just their souls. He raised the dead to teach the importance of life here in the present.

God’s will is active giving love at work in world. His will comes alive through us. To know this love, follow Jesus. Learn to give and do the Father’s will by the example Jesus gave us.

God’s will is for us to become like Jesus Christ, to love others universally. By that love of Jesus, the world in its present form is passing away.  Our contribution is following Jesus to change the world as he taught.

We can never separate ourselves from the will of God.  We can act like it; but, the result is sin. The biggest sin against the Holy Spirit is the delusion that our will is greater than God’s. It is the sin of putting self before the will and love of God.

God is not going to send a big fish to stop us from living the sin of self-delusion. He has done something greater. God sent Jesus Christ to teach us how to live God’s will.

My brothers and sisters, the question to ask is whose will do we follow.  Follow our will and run from God. Follow our will and continue to sit on the shore and mend nets.

Consider this; time is growing short. The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

So instead, God’s will be done, proclaim his word. God’s will be done, follow Jesus.  God’s will be done; Jonah changed the world. God’s will be done; Jesus and his disciples changed the world. God’s will be done and we change the world.

The simplest way to realize God’s will is to return to God. Repent, like the people of Nineveh who believed God and did His will.

If we truly live God’s will though Christ Jesus, our prayers should not be about self. But, we should pray – Lord, teach us your ways. Teach us your paths. Guide us in your truth for you are our savior.

Your life and the way you live is true witnesses that you are following Jesus.

Yall be good, yall be holy, repent. Believe and preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.

We All Need Someone to Get Us Started - Reflection 2nd Sunday OTB

Be That Someone (Readings)

We all need someone to get us started; like the person that helped us to obtain our first job or the one that encouraged that first date with a true love. It takes introduction to get us started.

Introducing others to Christ, it's what those who believe do.

John did. He saw Jesus walk by and told those around him “Behold the Lamb of God.”

Andrew did. He found Simon Peter and said, “We have found the messiah.”

Christians introduce Jesus Christ to others. Believers share the gospel. They bring the living word of God to the world.

It is more than just quoting the Bible. The Bible is an important part to our faith, but Christianity is more. It's bringing the "Word" of God that is not a written, mute word but an incarnate and living “Word” to the world today.

The “Word of God” asks, “what are you looking for?” And Christ speaks through the Holy Spirit to hearts, “come and follow me.”

Christians work in the middle between where people question and when Christ speaks to their heart.

It is the place of Christian witness that points to the Lamb of God. It is the time of opportunity to tell others about the messiah, the Christ, the savior of the world. Someone has to introduce Christ to others. Someone has to get it started.

Every day people are introduced to immoral things. Someone brings them to addiction, to abuse, to crime, and to other evils.  Many introduce immorality to our world. We are to avoid immorality to be temples of God; the place the word resides. “Those joined to the Lord become one spirit with him.”

Our faith is not to be lived only here today, inside the walls of this building. We are living temples of God; the place the word resides. 

Christians are to bring Christ Jesus to the broken, to the hurt, to the sick, to the ones in crisis, to those considering ending the life of an unborn child, to those considering ending their own life, and to those who question “what am I looking for?”

We are not to live a mute and written gospel, but to be the living and incarnate word of Christ; be someone that gets it started.

Yall be good, yall be holy, preach the gospel by the way you live and love.Here I am Lord, I come to do your will.

What Gift to Bring - Homily Reflection Epiphany

(Readings)

Father Job asked for the little drummer boy.

During the Epiphany, I think about what gifts I can bring. This thought reminds me of childhood song and TV show, “The Little Drummer Boy.”

It takes place at the time of Jesus’ birth. The little drummer boy had witnessed his parents death. The only joy in his life was a drum his father had given him and his traveling companions, a lamb, a donkey, and a camel that danced as he played.

The boy meets three kings traveling to find the infant Jesus. Soon after, the boy’s lamb is severely injured. Returning to the wise men, they tell him only the King of Kings can help, “Go and look upon the infant Jesus.”

Seeing the baby Jesus, the little drummer boy was moved to give the only gift his has, to play his drum for him.

Come they told me, parum papum pum- A new born King to see, parum papum pum.”

The baby Jesus smiled. In that smile, the drummer boy finds joy.

This story is not in the bible; but, it is the story of Epiphany. The finding of Jesus, realizing there is something more, and discovering Jesus our salvation.

The Gospel tells us the magi were foreigners to Israel. Yet, they realize the truth: Christ is for all - God’s salvation is for all. Lord all the nations shall adore you.

The Christ child smiled on many, the shepherds, the wise men, and if he was there, the little drummer boy. He smiles on us, even today. The world needs the gift found in the joy of that smile. What gift do you bring?

This past week, I met to discuss outreach programs with construction companies. These companies have adopted schools. One member questioned, “Do we Care About these schools or do we Care For these schools? He continued, “There is a big difference.”

If you cares about the outreach all you need to see is the company name on the billboard. If you care for the outreach you want to see it thrive.

What a great question to ask on Faith and Church, Do You Care About them or Do You Care For them?  I think there is a difference.

To care about something is to have an interest; but, if you care for something it is more about love. You want to see it thrive.

Herod cared about Jesus. He wanted to know who he was for his own reason. Mary and Joseph cared for Jesus. They loved him. They wanted to see him thrive. 

Herod’s priests and scribes cared about Jesus. They knew prophesy and where the messiah was to be born. The magi cared for Jesus bringing gifts so that he could thrive. They payed homage child then protected him by leaving another way.

God cares for & loves us. He protects us in adversity and defends those who put their trust in him. He is our refuge and our strength. He cares for & loves us to send his only begotten son.

Jesus went to the cross because He cares for & loves us. God cares for us.

As believers we want to care for & love the things Jesus told us to do, we care for & love the church and all she asks us to do, and we care for & love the things the Holy Spirit brings. We care for & love each other. 

About Faith and Church, Do You Care About them or Do You Care For & love them? What gifts do you have to share?

Maybe something as simple as the little drummer boy’s gift:

I played my drum for Him, parum papum pum  I played my best for Him, parum papum pum, parum papum pum, rum pum-pum-pum, Then He smiled at me, parum papum pum. Me and my drum.

My brothers and sisters what gift do you bring for the care & love of faith and for the care & love of church. What gift do you bring to care for & love each other?

Behold, We Are Children of God - Reflection for Wednesday Communion Service

 Readings

A TV game show emcee said, “Come up with the missing word at the end of the phrase and spell the word out to win our grand-prize. The phrase is, ‘Old MacDonald had a ------.’ Remember spell the missing word.”

Excited, the contestant answered, “Old MacDonald had a farm.” 

The emcee said again, “Spell the missing word to win the grand prize.”

That’s easy,” said the contestant. “Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O.” Oops

First John says, See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed* we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

The KJV says.... Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us that we should be called the sons of God; therefore....

Behold is such a dramatic word, so much stronger than see; Yet so we are is so much better than therefore.

Behold, yet so we are the children of God. The world does not know us because it does not know him. It is hard for us to accept that we are the children of God because we see ourselves as the world sees us.

Behold, yet so we are children of God. That is so easy to read, so easy to say, but not so easy to do.

Like in that game show. We know the answer. So close, but, we just can’t get there. Our light is not quite right, our righteousness does not quite shine with the right glory. We can’t quite get it right.

Behold, yet so we are children of God. We don’t have to spell the missing word.

Behold, we are children of God. It is our present reality and life to come. We are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed.

God is not Somewhere Else - Reflection for the Feast of the Holy Family

Readings

There is a popular movie series titled “God is not Dead.” The movie is about unbelief and comes from a quote of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. The proper quote is “God is dead. And we have killed him.”

As we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, consider Nietzsche’s quote. God is not dead, but are killing the presence of the LORD in our family and lives.

They took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord.

Parents are failing to offer their family and their children to the LORD. God is not dead; but, we have put God somewhere else than at the center of our family.

Many parents stop bringing their children to mass as they become teenagers. Parents have the misguided idea they shouldn’t force faith on their children. Children will learn through the actions of their parents. They learn it is unsettling to have God and Christian morals in their everyday, miserable, and many times sordid lives.

That is a wrong idea. Loving parents protect their child in a dangerous situation. Good parents intervene if their child is in danger of being hurt, or injured, or doing something unlawful.

Today’s parents are ignoring the most hurtful situation. They ignore faith, ignore hope, and ignore salvation. They are killing the presence of God in their family and their children’s lives. God is dead, but the ability to recognize the presence of God is dying in many person's lives. Many have put God somewhere else.

This is having a drastic impact on faith, the Church, and religion. We must never forget the faith of our families and especially of our children.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

The USCCB did a Survey of Youth and Young Adults on Vocations in 2012. In that survey, 12% of male respondents said had seriously considered becoming a priest or brother.  Ten percent of female respondents say they had seriously considered becoming a religious sister. This response was given by young people who said:

• They attend weekly Mass (now and in high school)
• They live in households where parents talked to them about religion
• They said faith is the most important part of their life
• They participate in prayer and devotional activities, Bible study, Eucharistic adoration, retreats, or prayer groups
• They pray the rosary at least weekly (alone or in a group)
• They belong to a group that encourages devotion to Mary

Many of these things, practices, devotions, beliefs, and life directions came from a place where God is at the center of the family; families where God is part of everyday life.

People will find it hard to believe God would come into our ordinariness. They do not want to believe that God enters the intimacies of our lives and our families.

When people let that happen, they are surprise to learn that God is not dead; God is with us and He always has been.

As the New Year comes and we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, make sure we have not put God somewhere else other than at the center of our family.

Yall be good, yall be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.