share your mustard seeds // 2022.01.28

I hated mustard when I was young, but have learned to love it as I grew up. So when Jesus used it as a metaphor for God's kingdom, it was fascinating for me. Imagine a small seed becoming a tree! Even a small gesture borne from your love of God can change the world! But we're afraid, aren't we? We might get judged and rejected. But just as I hated mustard and grew to love it to the point of not being able to live without it, trust that those who may hate your "mustard seed" at first, will grow with a love of God bigger than a mustard tree! I wouldn't have grown to love it had no one kept pushing me to eat one, right? Maybe that person looking for God, but hates Him right now, is just waiting for you to share God even in your own small way. Poco-a-poco!

a wager that wins exponentially // 2022.01.27

Blaise Pascal penned his famous wager... if God exists and you lived as such, you gain joy on earth and heaven in the afterlife; if God does not, but you still lived as such, you lose nothing. Today's readings give more perspective to Pascal's wager... if you give to God, you receive more than you gave, but if you give none, you lose even what you already have. There's a clincher though... that you give with love, and not merely as an "investment". Sounds like a tyrant to some, but when you give loving God a try, you'll find out it's the farthest from tyranny.

a backing towards bravery // 2022.01.26

How in the world could just a few people deemed unlearned stir the world and make Jesus' teaching influence it the most? St. Paul teaches St. Timothy, "God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord." He speaks to us, too! Speak up! Take action! You have God backing you up!

***

People immediately assume I'm one of the holy ones, but the first thing I did when waking up was check my phone, and go through all the notifications. To think my children call me old. Feeling like it's too late for you? Don't! Join me... let's do a better job at putting God first later and tomorrow!

go! go! go! // 2022.01.25

"Now, why delay?" was the next thing St. Paul heard when his eyes were restored and heard about Jesus. There are 1.34B Catholics and about 900K Protestants in the world who, in one way or another, have heard of Jesus and His call to evangelize the world. You're probably one of them. Have you started running with your faith, or are you still delaying? The 5B rest of the world are waiting to hear about God from you!

bigoted, outdated and selfish // 2022.01.24

The Church is bigoted, outdated and selfish. Even I thought that way when I was young. But as Fulton Sheen said, “There are not one hundred people... who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.” Sadly, a lot, including Catholics themselves, belong to this group. I dared to dig deeper decades ago, and what I constantly find is Truth and beauty. Riled up by a Catholic position or belief? Dig deep and find that there is actually love in what you find hateful.

crazy Jesus and crazy you // 2022.01.22

Jesus is a crazy man! That's what His enemies would shout even with miracles in front of them, and even with His message of hope and love. They knew what His claims were and saw the proofs. Yet He was still rejected because they refused to follow the teachings that came with accepting Him. Does the world think you're crazy for following Jesus and giving up everything? That's okay. Jesus experienced it, too. Instead, let your joy give witness to why it's all worth it.

the gift of fear? // 2022.01.21

Fear of the Lord. I have always wondered when I was young why that would be a gift. Who wants to have fear? As an adult, I realize fear prevents us from doing something stupid. I wonder how  many people threw away this gift. How about you? Pray that this gift stays with you, and keep you from doing wrong things.

God over your best // 2022.01.20

Saul was in front of David, like a lamb ready to be slaughtered. David's companions urged him to kill Saul, seeing it as God delivering Saul to him. But what makes David a great king is not letting his emotions and anger get the best of him. He spared Saul, and thus earned even the respect of his enemy. In a dilemma? Let God guide you, rather than the desperation of the moment.

from lousiest to greatest // 2022.01.18

King David was the lousiest choice for a king. He was the youngest, the smallest, and most of all, he was late! But he became the giant slayer,  and the king whose kingdom lasts forever! Why? Because his heart was for God, and this allowed God to work through him. Feeling small? Struggling with impossible challenges? In pain? Give your heart to God, and let Him slay your giants and regain the kingdom through you.

let go to get most // 2022.01.17

 Some people fail at growing in their faith, because they are unwilling to let go of what keeps them from moving forward. There is no chastity with a collection of porn, no honesty when you cheat at work or business, no prayer when you soak yourself in netflix or facebook... no love when you do not put others first. Jesus said new wine cannot enter old wineskins. You cannot receive God, if "you" is still in you. The good news is that the new wineskins are free, but we can only get them when we give up our old ones. When was the last time you "Marie Kondo'd" your life? As we move through 2022, let's let go to get more!