Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did.”  Matthew 21:31c–32a

This statement of Jesus, made to the elders and chief priests, would have been hard to believe.  Were tax collectors and prostitutes really entering the Kingdom of God before these religious leaders?  Was Jesus really saying that the holiness of the prostitutes and tax collectors actually surpassed that of these religious leaders?  He certainly was!

It was especially the pride of these religious leaders that made it difficult for them to accept these words from Jesus as true.  They thought highly of themselves and expected others to think highly of them also.  They were convinced of their own self-righteousness and it was quite an ugly scene.

But Jesus cut through all of this by elevating the prostitutes and tax collectors to the Kingdom of God.  What a “slap in the face” this was to the religious leaders.  But it was a slap they needed for the good of their own souls.

The best reflection we can take from this is to ponder to whom we more easily relate.  Do you relate to the prideful religious leaders of that time?  Or do you relate more to the tax collectors and prostitutes?  Perhaps it’s hard to admit to relating to either group.  Perhaps the tendency is to want to identify ourselves as good and righteous people without admitting to any kind of weakness or personal failings.  But this is not a grouping Jesus gives us.

The truth is that we should all see ourselves in the grouping of the tax collectors and prostitutes.  Why?  Because we are all sinners.  No, we may not be guilty of the same sin as they were, but we are guilty of sin and we have to admit it.  And, in fact, if we cannot admit our weakness and sin, we are no different than the elders and chief priests.  We are also stuck in our own pride and our own self-righteousness.

Reflect, today, upon with whom you most closely identify.  If it’s hard to see yourself as a sinner like the prostitutes and tax collectors, then maybe you have the sin of pride that the religious leaders had.  Try to pray for humility.  Pray that you will see yourself as God sees you.  Only in the light of this truth will you find freedom.

Lord, please do fill my heart with humility.  And in that humility, help me to see myself as I am.  Help me to see my sin but also to see my longing for you.  Help me to turn to You in my sin and to experience the joy and freedom of those entering Your Kingdom.  Jesus, I trust in You.

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When Jesus had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things?  And who gave you this authority?” Matthew 21:23

This was a bit of a bold move on the part of the chief priests and the elders.  They clearly had an agenda and were clearly agitated by Jesus.  How sad.

Think about that for a moment.  Here is God Almighty, in the Person of Jesus the Eternal Son, teaching the Words of eternal life.  He is in the temple area and the chief priests and elders were agitated by Him.  Jesus spoke with power and authority and everyone recognized that.  But the chief priests and elders appeared to be angry and envious of Him, calling into question where He received His authority.  This is quite shocking when understood clearly and reveals how far the religious leaders of the time were off track.  They were clearly blind.  Their challenge of Jesus, in this context, shows that they were not open to the truth and were not open to God’s plan of salvation.  Instead, they were filled with self-centeredness, pride and envy.  

Try to put yourself in that temple area where Jesus was speaking.  What would your reaction to Him be like?  Would you ignore Him?  Would you be curious about Him?  Would you be agitated by Him or envious?  Or would you recognize His divine power, love and authority and seek Him out?

Reflect, today, upon how you encounter our Lord on a daily basis.  Though we are not able to literally go to that temple area and listen to Jesus speak, we do have the same opportunity all around us every day.  The truth is that God is still speaking in countless ways.  Reflect upon how easily you perceive His presence and His voice.  And when you do hear Him speak, how do you react?  

Lord, help me to hear Your divine voice every day.  Help me to recognize You everywhere I go.  And as I seek You out, help me to rejoice in finding You and react with complete confidence in all You say.  Jesus, I trust in You.

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John answered them all, saying, ”I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”  Luke 3:16–17

Again, this Sunday, we are given the glorious witness of St. John the Baptist. In this sermon of John, he says that Jesus will come and baptize “with the Holy Spirit and fire.”  The image of being baptized “with fire” is a good one to reflect upon.  It especially reveals to us the deep purification Jesus desires for our souls.  

What does it mean to be purified?  For one thing, purification of our soul hurts.  But it hurts in a sweet sort of way.  Turning from sin and growing closer to God requires great sacrifice and surrender.  And it requires that we allow God to do powerful things within us.  And the most powerful thing God wants to do is purify us.

Our Catholic faith reveals to us the reality of Purgatory after we die.  Purgatory is said to be a place of much spiritual pain, but again, in a sweet sort of way.  It’s painful in the sense that we are stripped of all that we hold on to that God wants us to let go of.  It’s painful in the sense that we endure a complete transformation of who we are and what we love.  We learn to love God and God alone.  And in the embrace of our love of God, we come to love all people.

It’s also sweet because, as we are purified, we grow infinitely closer to God and grow in holiness.  This lifts the burden of sin and frees us to love as we ought.  

But our purification ought not start only in Purgatory.  We are all called to enter into that process of purification here and now.  We are called to heed the words of John the Baptist today and repent of all that keeps us from holiness of life.

Reflect, today, upon the purification to which God may be calling you.  What is it that you hold on to that He wants you free of?  Commit yourself to the purifying fire of God’s love and let that love cleanse you in this Advent season.

Lord, I do long to have my soul purified by You.  I do desire holiness of life.  Help me to begin this process here and now so that I can begin to experience the joy and freedom You have in store for me.  Jesus, I trust in You.

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“I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased.  So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.”  Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.  Matthew 17:12–13

As we continue to reflect upon St. John the Baptist, we see that his role of being Elijah was missed by the scribes.  They failed to see him fulfilling Elijah’s role of preparing the way for the Lord.  

Though John had a unique and definitive role in preparing for the coming of Christ, so also do each one of us have a role in preparing for His continual coming.  Jesus came once many years ago, but He desires to continue coming into our lives.  And He can only come if we properly prepare for Him.

How do you “prepare the way of the Lord?”  How do you continue the work of John the Baptist?  You do so, especially in Advent, by heeding the main message of John.  And what was his main message?  His message was to repent of our sin.

Though we all struggle with sin as a result of our fallen human nature, we should never forget that our calling is that of perfection.  We are called to be perfect as the Father in Heaven is perfect.  We are called to recognize our sins, confess them, and strive to become detached from them.

Advent is one of the most important times of year to do this and it is especially important that we seek out the grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation during this holy season.  

Reflect, today, upon how ready and willing you are to preach to your own soul about the importance of repenting of your sins.  Embracing repentance in this holy season is the best way to prepare for the continuous coming of Christ in your life.

Lord, help me to see my sin as we enter more deeply into this Advent season.  Help me to be aware of the many things that keep me from You and to turn from them wholeheartedly.  Jesus, I trust in You.

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“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’   The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’”  Matthew 11:18–19a

What we have here is the ugly sin of calumny.  Calumny is the intentional twisting of facts so as to misrepresent the truth.  Basically, calumny is a lie meant to do harm to another.

Jesus points out that both He and John the Baptist were ridiculed and falsely accused of being sinful.  John, for example, fasted much which was quite virtuous.  But the Pharisees interpreted it as the work of the devil. Jesus spent time at many people’s homes as a guest and He was accused of being a glutton and drunkard.  

When someone gives into calumny, they often look at some virtue in another and twist it some way so as to deceive and misrepresent the truth.  And it is often done out of envy or jealousy.  

This sad situation should be an opportunity for each of us to look at how honest we are in our relations with one another.  When you see goodness in another are you able to rejoice in that fact?  Are you able to honestly give thanks to God for their goodness?  Or do you immediately start to interpret their virtue in a false way?

Reflect, today, upon the way you look at others around you and, especially, how you speak about them.  Look at their virtue and try to honestly honor them for it.  And if you see yourself falling into any form of jealousy or envy, surrender it over to our merciful God so that it doesn’t turn into the ugly sin of calumny.  

Lord, help me to see others in the light of humility and truth.  Help me to see their goodness and virtue and to rejoice in it.  Strip from me any falsity and calumny.  Jesus, I trust in You.


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“Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matthew 11:11

As we reflected upon St. John the Baptist this past Sunday, so also we are given his witness in today’s Gospel.   John was great first and foremost because of his humility.  But Jesus also makes it clear that John’s greatness as the greatest of the Old Testament Prophets is nothing in comparison with being a member of the Kingdom of Heaven! 

Heaven must be our goal.  It must be the purpose of our life.  What good is it if we obtain much greatness in this world and fail to make it to Heaven?

Interestingly, Jesus does not put down St. John in this statement since “Saint” John the Baptist is in Heaven.  Instead, He points to the fact that John was not only great because of his humility and all he did in this life, but he was even greater because he is now enjoying the rewards of eternal life in Heaven.

Too often we measure our lives from a worldly point of view.  We look for greatness here and now and fail to recognize that eternity is what matters most.  

Think about it.  What will you rejoice in for all eternity?  Will you rejoice in the fact that you accomplished this or that in this world?  That you made lots of money?  That you were praised by many in this world?  No, from Heaven none of this will matter.  What will matter is one thing: charity.  

The charity we live here and now will radiate from our lives forever in Heaven.  Even if our charity is not seen by others, it will be seen in Heaven.  Charity is the result of a life lived fully surrendered to Christ.

Reflect, today, upon the ultimate goal of getting to Heaven and look at the fact that daily acts of charity are the road to this goal.  Is this your focus in life?  If not, look at your priorities and recommit yourself to this eternal calling. 

Lord, I desire to be with You forever in Heaven.  Help me to keep eternity as my ultimate focus in life.  Help me to build a glorious life in Heaven through the charity I live now.  Jesus, I trust in You.

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Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”  Luke 1:38a

Happy Solemnity!  This is a day to celebrate!  Today, we honor the glorious and miraculous Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother, an act of God’s most profound mercy.

It is fitting that we see the Immaculate Conception as an act of profound mercy. Why is that so? What is it about this solemnity that is so closely linked to mercy?

Mercy is a gratuitous gift of God.  By “gratuitous” we mean that it is not merited or earned.  Mercy is not owed to us by God.  If it were, it would not be mercy, it would be our right.  But we have no right to mercy.  It is freely given by God and it is given in abundance.

As for this glorious Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, it’s important to look at it as a gratuitous gift from two perspectives.  First, the “Immaculate Conception” means that when God created the Blessed Virgin Mary, He created her without sin.  This was done through what we call a prevenient grace.  This grace given her is an act of God’s perfect and gratuitous mercy.  She did not earn it or merit it; rather, God in His goodness chose to create her without original sin so as to have a suitable instrument by which the Son could come into the world.  Mary, for her part, embraced this gift and chose to remain sinless throughout her life by a continual act of her free will.  

Second, in creating our Blessed Mother immaculately, God did not keep her to Himself.  He was not selfish with her. Instead, He chose to make this perfection of His creation our own mother.  The Immaculate Mother Mary is now our spiritual mother in the order of God’s grace and mercy.  This, also, is an act of perfect gratuitous mercy on the part of our loving God.  We do not deserve such a spiritual mother and protectress, but we have her and she is always there interceding for us and bestowing many graces from God upon us as a perfect mother would.  

Reflect, today, upon this twofold gratuitous gift of God’s mercy: 1) He created Mary Immaculate out of mercy, and 2) He gave her to us as our own mother and queen.  Seek her motherly care today and throughout the year!

Dearest Mother my Queen, I gaze upon the beauty and holiness of you who, though a mere creature, are perfect in every way. You have been granted this singular and gratuitous grace from God with which you perfectly cooperated.  May I always rely upon your motherly love and care and may I always allow you to bestow the grace of God upon me in accord with the Father’s plan.  You, dearest mother, are a gratuitous gift of Mercy to us all!  Mother Mary, I love you. Pray for me.  Jesus, I trust in You.

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“In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.” Matthew 18:14

Jesus makes this statement after telling the parable of the one lost sheep. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine and goes searching diligently for that little one. The parable goes on to state that, “If he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray” (Matthew 18:13).
We are all “one of these little ones.” At first, it may seem unfair that the shepherd rejoices more over the one lost sheep than over the ninety-nine. But if we understand that each and every one of us is that one lost sheep, it makes sense.
As we ponder this parable, it’s essential that we reflect upon the deep desire of the shepherd to find us. We must look at his concern, his tireless effort and his diligence in seeking us out. This is the care God has for you.
Reflect, today, upon you being that one lost sheep. Being “lost” in our sin is not a pleasant experience. Sin brings fear, despair, confusion, anger and the like. But if we can turn our eyes to the Good Shepherd in the midst of our sinfulness, we will regain hope. We will regain hope that our God cares for us so much that He will never stop searching for us. And when He finds us, His heart will be filled with the greatest joy!
Lord, in the midst of my sinfulness and confusion I turn to You. I trust that You will seek me out. May I always trust in Your burning love for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

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Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, “We have seen incredible things today.”  Luke 5:26

They were “astonished” because Jesus cured the paralytic after he was lowered through the roof of a house in which Jesus was teaching.  Jesus cured him and they were amazed.

But this was not what amazed and astonished people the most.  What was most astonishing was that Jesus also said to the paralytic, “As for you, your sins are forgiven” (Luke 5:20).  Jesus then confirmed that He had the power to forgive sins by performing this physical miracle.

True, most people went home that day speaking first about the physical healing.  But you can be certain that, as they pondered this experience, they were even more deeply moved by the forgiveness of sins.  Perhaps they did not fully understand what this all meant.  But, nonetheless, His words of forgiveness were quite powerful and transforming.

Reflect, today, upon your desire to receive God’s forgiveness in your life.  Do you long to hear these words spoken to you?  Do you long to experience the mercy and forgiveness of Jesus in your life?  The reason He came from Heaven to Earth was to offer you the forgiveness of your sins.  Miracles do not matter in the end.  What matters is mercy and forgiveness.  When you receive this gift of His mercy you will also glorify God with a joyous and holy astonishment as you see this incredible gift unfold in your life.

Lord, I do desire Your mercy and forgiveness in my life.  Help me to lower myself before You so that I can hear You say, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’  Jesus, I trust in You.

“A voice of one crying out in the desert.  ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’”  Luke 3:4

On this, the Second Sunday of Advent, we are given the person of St. John the Baptist to ponder.  What a gift he is!  Jesus Himself stated that “among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11).  What a compliment!

What is it that made John so great?  We can point to two things in particular.  The first has to do with his calling and the second has to do with his virtue.

First of all, John was great because he was the transition from the Old Testament Prophets to the New Testament.  He was the bridge that prepared for the new life to come.  His unique mission makes him truly great.

But John was great not only because of his unique calling, he was also great because of the virtue he had in his life.  And it is this gift that is worth pondering for our own inspiration more than any other.

The particular virtue that John had was that of humility.  He saw himself as nothing other than a “voice of one crying out in the desert.”  And the Word he spoke was Jesus.  

John acknowledged that he was not even worthy to stoop down and untie the sandal straps of Jesus (Mark 1:7).  He was praised by many and followed by many and yet he continuously said of Jesus that “He must increase and I must decrease” (John 3:30).  John was not in it for praise and honor; rather, his mission was to point everyone to the Savior of the World.  He could have sought the honor and praise of many and he would have certainly received it.  They may have even made him king.  But John was more than willing to fulfill his mission and then submit himself to the cruel sword of his executioner.  His humility was such that he was focused only on Jesus and desired only to point to Him.

Reflect, today, upon this humility in your own life.  Do you tend to point to yourself or to Christ?  Do you seek the praise of others or do you humbly point all praise and glory to God?  Humility is the path that St. John the Baptist took and it’s the path we must strive for each and every day.

Lord, thank You for the gift of St. John the Baptist.  May his witness of humility inspire me in my Christian walk.  Help me, Lord, to always point others to You rather than to myself.  Jesus, I trust in You.

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