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When I was 17 and turned away from God, I still pretended that I was some kind of stellar Christian. However, I traded a relationship with God to feel comforted by my anger. That's weird to say, but the intense anger I felt was comforting to me. It wasn't real comfort, but it fueled me. But, also, I traded church for sleeping in because I was tired. I traded reading Scripture for watching, listening, and reading whatever secular trash the world could supply me. I traded prayer for doing whatever I wanted to do. All the while, I sat there and lived this barely existent Christian life, yet I had the gall to feign like I wasn't betraying my Lord. "Surely it is not I?" In fact, I did say similar things to Judas in my attempt to pretend like I wasn't one of the betrayers. "Me? Oh, no, not me?" Judas traded the Bread of Life for some money and nearly 2,000 years later we look back and say, "Man, look at him. Gave it all up for thirty pieces of silver. Idiot." However, many give up the Eucharist for even less and we fail to see it. For good music. For an inspiring sermon. For sports. For sleep. For simply the desire to sin while pretending God doesn't see us. There isn't a trade on earth that is worth giving up Christ, Catholic Pilgrims. Nothing could possibly satisfy us like He can. Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Wednesday of Holy Week.
Continue ReadingAt different times in Jesus’ ministry, He is in danger of people trying to arrest or kill Him. Yet, we always hear that He evades their attempts because His “hour had not come.” Today in our reading from John, I noticed the singular cue where Jesus acknowledges that the hour had come. Jesus says to Judas, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Then He hands him a morsel and off Judas runs into the night. He runs through the streets of Jerusalem looking for the Pharisees to betray His Lord. As he takes off, Jesus says, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.” It seems like an odd thing to say at the moment one of your disciples runs off to betray you. But, Jesus has just allowed His hour to come and things are now set in motion. In this, you know that God has been in control the entire time. It had to be the right moment and now Jesus will be glorified through His Passion and Resurrection. In the Garden of Eden it was a bite of food that led to the first betrayal of man. In the Upper Room, Jesus hands Judas a piece of food and off Judas goes to betray. This time, though, the Savior promised at the first betrayal is present. And He will set everything right and be glorified. Have a blessed Tuesday of Holy Week, Catholic Pilgrims. *Picture is an old street in Jerusalem
Continue ReadingWhile at my son's jujitsu practice the other day, I was talking with a lady who has a young teenage daughter. We talked about many things and at one point in the conversation, she mentioned that her daughter "believes there's a God, but she doesn't really know what she believes about Him." She continued, "She really has to figure that out for herself. I tell her as long as believing in Him helps her to be good and love people, then that's all the matters." I politely said, "Well, but actually, it's more than that. Jesus didn't come to just help us to be nice people, He came to save us from our sins and offer salvation." She cut me off and started talking about something else that I had to respond to, but I wish I had gotten in one more very important thing about Jesus. It is not enough to just believe that there's a God out there somewhere and that all He wants is for us to be good. In fact, if that is all you think about God, you will find that He completely fades from your mind and you will stop worrying about what is good and what isn't. Your only concern will be what is socially popular. Relationship. You must be in relationship with God. He wants a relationship with us, not just an acknowledgment. That relationship is built by worship at church, prayer, reading God's Word, seeking His will and receiving the Sacraments which give us sanctifying grace. Anyway, I wish I had gotten that in. Maybe I'll get another chance. There is no greater relationship to cultivate than your relationship with the One True God, Catholic Pilgrims. It is well worth the time and effort. Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Friday.
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