We hear of the 7 brothers from the book of Maccabees, who were willing to go to their deaths rather that take a bite of pork against God's law. They understood that Heaven demands that we make decisions with eternity in mind. What are the 'little things' in our life that we need to avoid? One issue is abortion. Note that my statistic is wrong - there are annually 1.4 million abortions in America, Planned Parenthood performs 330,000 of these (the statistic that I quoted).

The live recording of our Cafe Series (an adult faith event in which a topic is addressed and questions raised - Catholics asking for faith explanations) on November 3, 2016. Topic was "Of Religion and politics". What issues do we as Catholics need to be must concerned about as we vote? Can we vote for a pro-abortion candidate? Why is abortion, euthanasia, and embryonic stem cell research a disqualifying issue. These and many more questions are addressed. Note - there is no candidate or party that is endorsed, though some are named and their stances addressed.

As we celebrate all Saints, we remember that we, too, are called to be saints. We won't be made saints in heaven unless we have sought to be saints on earth.

Zaccheus lived his life constantly looked down upon, that is until Christ looked up to him. He changed his life, and salvation came to his house. To follow Christ, we must not look down on others, but rather be a cause of their conversion. If we do, salvation will enter their house, as well as our own.

Do we play the game of just being better than the rest, or do we seek the Lord in humility, following the example of the Blessed Mother?

Jesus gives us the Parable of the widow and unjust judge to trust that our loving Father hears our prayers, but we must be persistent. Looking at the first reading, we also see that we can ask for intercession.

Doing ordinary things with great faith brings great results.

Naaman, after initially rejecting Elisha's invitation to jump in the Jordan, takes the plunge and is healed.

The 10 lepers, despite the Law not allowing them to go into cities, do so and are healed, but only one comes back.

The feast of Our Lady of the Rosary commemorates the Battle of Lepanto, recalls who the ordinary faithful praying the Rosary lead to the victory that saved the Church.

We are called to do two ordinary things - Consecrate ourselves to the Blessed Mother, and as men join together in the Catholic Watchmen Movement.

The daily Mass Gospels have been about prayer, and with the mention of a style of prayer, the Consciousness Examen, on Sunday, I discuss this style of prayer and walk the listener through it.

The Consciousness Examen's 5 steps

1. Thanksgiving - Being thankful for all the Lord has done

2. Intention - Why I come to Him now

3. Examination - walking through the day, were have I seen and responded to Him

4. Contrition - where did I fail to see Him or respond

5. Hope - asking for the grace to do better

Of Visions and mustard seeds: Are we looking for God in the small things? Are we sharing that vision with others?

The homily for the 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time, 2016. Jesus does not come to tell us how to live, but to give us the grace to live. The rich man does not understand that his failure to minister to Lazarus had consequences. We are baptized into Christ, and if we are blessed, we are to be a blessing to the less fortunate, and if poor, we are called to remind the rich of common human dignity.