I am sometimes asked – how late can you come to Mass
and it will still count?
Our older priests would have told you – back in the
day, the priest would take the veil off the chalice – the bell would ring – and
that would be the cut off.
I was taught – you had to make the Gospel – after
that, you were out of luck.
Now – it is in your hands! Do your best to arrive and leave on time. And
remember, there’s a difference between being caught in traffic & checking
my email. Difference between getting to Marios 1st after Mass and the
baby getting sick all over you!
Do I do the minimum, the least amount that I have to
do -
or do I give my best?
Gospel is calling us to more.
1) You have
heard it said – thou shalt not kill. But
– whomever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment. There is such
thing as righteous anger – In Hidden Figures, Dorothy Johnson, a human computer
at NASA is asked – why do you go missing at times – there is no bathroom – no bathroom?
– no colored bathroom, have to walk ½ mile. She is angry and rightfully
so. Danger when anger turns to hate,
that destroys us and others.
2) You have
heard it said- thou shalt not commit adultery. But I say that everyone who
looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his
heart. That woman is someone’s daughter,
sister, even mother. There are made in the image and likeness of God. This lust
turns them into an object for my possession. Pornography is an awful
thing. Ruins lives and destroys
marriages. Do everything you can to be
faithful!
3) You have heard it said – do not take a false
oath. But – do not swear at all. Judge
Judy with dad. Take oaths – and half
would lie anyway. Let your Yes mean yes
& no mean no. Person of honesty and
integrity.
Can rightly say – too hard – how can anyone live up to
all these.
Who said living the Catholic Faith was easy?!
Bishop Barron – extreme standards – after all, the
church wants to raise up saints.
but extreme mercy.
How to do it?
Brother had dog – Yogi – my favorite dog – yellow lab. Beautiful.
Yogi loved to eat – eat anything. Tom taught him obedience.
Would put food in bowl and say NO
Yogi, of course, was dying to eat – but tried to obey.
He never looked at the food.
Like – if he did, the temptation would be too much.
He always looked at Tom’s face What a great lesson – keep our eyes on
Master’s face!
