Sunday Sermon

All are called to study of the Sacred Sciences, especially of Sacred Scripture. Let us consider the conditions needed for Sacred Study to be fruitful.

One of the greatest deceptions that Satan has ever deceived believers with is this - making them believe that a man can continue to live for himself and still be saved and go to heaven in the end.

By seeking this life of ease, pleasure and entertainment we prepare ourselves to commit mortal sin. We have established a habit of setting aside God's Law in small things, so when the big test comes we are likely to also set aside God's Law and commit a mortal sin. Ecclesiasticus warns us: “he that contemneth small things, shall fall by little and little.”

Even rich people may be deceived and robbed, as happened to the rich man described in today’s

Gospel, who was so unjustly treated by his own steward, who not only robbed him of his goods, but also

tried to make an unjust profit out of his debtors. Therefore, money and riches are not able to make one

happy, because those who strive for wealth and riches find nothing in them but vanity.

When I speak to the young men that I work with in the juvenile prison where I work as a counselor, I very often emphasize to them to recognize the importance of people who have "unconditional love" for us. In other words, as I point out to them, most of the people that they would consider their "friends" basically only use them. Whereas someone who has unconditional love only wants the best for you.

We hear in the Gospel of our Lord feeding over five thousand people with just five loaves and two fishes. Not only were the multitudes all satisfied, but there were left over twelve full baskets of fragments. We witness the great miracle wrought by our Lord! But we are also challenged by Him to do as the Apostles did. Our Lord did not simply materialize food to feed the crowds like a showman might. No, our Lord took the little that the Apostles could offer, and blessing it, He made it into something more than sufficient to satisfy everyone. Let us never think that what we have to offer is too small or insignificant. When offered to the Lord, He can work miracles.

Let us first consider that there are two propositions concerning this question. The first is that the majority of Catholics are saved. The second is that the majority of adult Catholics are lost.

We must face the fact that many today are notoriously careless in their living. This attitude finds its way into the church. We still have most of our liberty, we have money, we live in comparative luxury. As a result, discipline has practically disappeared. What would a violin solo sound like if the strings on the musician’s instrument were all hanging loose, not stretched tight, not “disciplined“?

Those false prophets, who are dressed in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves, are like those detractors and calumniators who, with smiling countenances and every outward show of friendship, outrage Christian charity in their conversation and take away from their neighbor the best and most valuable thing that he has that is, his good name. Beware of those false people, those ravening wolves, and pay no attention to what they say. “By their fruits you shall know them.” You will find out what they are, by what they talk of; but you will be compelled almost to avoid society altogether, if you wish to keep away from those who malign their neighbor, so common is this vice, and so little do people generally make of it!

We preach far more by how we deal with our suffering than we ever can with our words."

I have a friend who said that when you get over 40 every morning when you wake up something hurts....