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Today is the Solemnity of St. Joseph. Do you know what that means? Meat on a Friday in Lent!!! Yes, that is true, but it does mean more than that. I am going to use this as a semi-cheat day because I really enjoyed the message Bishop Barron shares with us today, but I also have so many stories that relate to today’s Gospel. 5 come to mind, so I’ll give the Readers Digest of them all.

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan,
they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple…

Story 1. Don’t remember how old I was, but our cousins from Texas were in for a visit and everyone had gathered at my grandparents house in the City. All the cousins decided to go for a walk and it wasn’t long before I was bored and tired of being ignored by the rest. Long story short – they took a right and I took a left knowing that I could find my way back to Grandma’s. Left turned to right, right turned to left, right turned to wrong and bam – I was lost in the Big City. A family saw me pass their house countless times and ended up pulling me into their yard and calling the police to come get me. Ended up at the precinct, was booked and arrested for jay walking – no, I wasn’t arrested. Yada, Yada, Yada, I’ve been teased ever since because of the way I answered three questions: What is your name? I replied “Messy Moto” because that is all my Dad called me. What are your parents names? Duh – Mom and Dad. What is your favorite cereal? Every kid in the world’s favorite cereal was Captain Crunch, but when you’ve been detained by the P.oPo, strange words come out of your mouth – so I told them Cheerios. To this day, I have no idea how my parents were able to find out where I so they could come get me. I’m sure St. Joseph interceded and led them to my rescue.

Story 2. Uncle Bob came to visit us while living in Decatur, IL. Decided to treat him to our favorite Chinese Buffet, loaded up the van and took off to the restaurant. Being the good parents Sarah and I are ;), as we were walking into the restaurant, IT WAS UNCLE BOB who was counting heads, Sarah and I were trying to get our plates. Turns out we were missing a child (do you remember this Cecilia). Uncle Bob and I jumped back into the van, headed back to the house and found a rather stern looking child sitting on the front porch waiting to give me a piece of her mind. In order to smooth things over with my daughter, I told her Mom was supposed to count heads and when she tapped Uncle Bob on the head as he got in the van, it threw her count off.

Story 3. We had moved back to St. Louis but headed back to Decatur over a Christmas Break to visit friends. We were staying in a hotel room (cheapskate here sprung for two room this time – boys in one, girls in the other. The time I rented ONE room is a story for another day.). Any who, we were going to meet all of the guys I worked with at Bodine Electric at a local sports restaurant. We had everyone meet in the boys room, we did a head count (after learning our lesson – see story 2 above), loaded up the van and headed to the restaurant. As we pulled in, my cell phone rang and strangely enough, it was the hotel calling me. Did I mention Grace brought a boyfriend with her? Guess what, tapped heads for the count and that extra one threw us off again. We left Ruth behind at the hotel; she worked up the courage to go down to the main desk and have them call us. I went back and got her. Turns out she was just as mad as Cecilia. I’m beginning to think kids don’t like being left behind.

Story 4. Two quick ones combined and Sarah and I can’t be blamed for either one. Well, we could be, but I’m trying my best to save face. Both involve our sweet innocent Mary. First one was at Walmart, where she strayed from the cart, got scared and dove into the inside of one of those round clothes racks. Sarah searched the entire store; I believe they did a child alert over the PA and someone ended up finding her in the clothes rack and was safely returned her safely to Sarah. Next Mary story was we had finished eating dinner one summer night (at our house on Union Street in Decatur). I went out to scrape paint from the house and Sarah was doing dishes. Kids were playing in the yard and Mary decided to hop on the big wheel. Sarah came out, did a head count and realized that Mary was missing. We started looking all over for her and word got out to the neighbors that Mary was missing. It was heart warming to see all of our neighbors stop what they were doing – some of whom we didn’t even know – and help in the search. Turns out Mary took a left out of the driveway on the big wheel and didn’t stop until she got to Eldorado. Well, maybe not quite that far, but she was about three blocks down when they found her. Again, I believe St. Joseph had to have intervened on Mary’s behalf because someone we didn’t know found her and brought her right back to us. Thank you St.Joseph.

Story 5. This has nothing to do with lost children. Correction, this story involves my brothers John Jeff, Jim and Jay, so it does have to do with lost children. We had all met at my brother John’s house in Phoenix to play some golf, drink some adult beverages, play a little trivia and pick out our fantasy baseball teams. We had decided to go to a restaurant for lunch but for some reason, Dad decided not to come with us. I can tell you the day – Friday, March 19, but I’m drawing a blank on the year. Anyway, my brothers knew it was a Friday in Lent. As we got the menu’s, Jim and Jay dared me to order a meal with meat in it and they actually made this promise to me. “Go ahead and order a hamburger or chicken wings – we won’t tell Dad on you.” I am a man in my mid-forties and my brothers are promising they won’t tell Dad on me for eating meat on a Friday in lent. You think you’re dad was tough? I am here to tell you, they would have told Dad. I am also hear to tell you that Dad would have whipped off his belt and put me over his knee. My saving grace was that is was 3-19 – The Solemnity of St. Joseph – and the obligation to abstain from meat is always lifted on a Solemnity. So I ordered a burger — and wings. When we got back, Jim and Jay told Dad what I did. He being an ordained deacon of the Church said “It’s the Solemnity of St. Joseph – Jerry can eat meat today.” And then he took his belt off and put me over his knee!!!

I hope I haven’t bored you with my stories that I’m reminded of whenever I hear this Gospel proclaimed. Now, for thoughts from Bishop Barron.

Reflect: Think of a situation in your life that is out of your control. How much do you trust God and let yourself be led by him through this situation? Where do you have difficulties acting as Joseph did in this Gospel passage?

Do something great for our Lord today – enjoy it. This day was made by the Lord. Celebrate St. Joseph. Watch some basketball – and be sure to count your children’s heads (all of them) if you decide to go out to eat.

I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy Grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.

Lord, if You wish, You can make me clean.

But you man of God chose righteousness (just as St. Joseph did), devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Compete well for the faith.

So what is it, or more importantly, who is it that you look up to? Do you aspire to be a person who is looked up to?

Last week and through last weekend, the readings had a lot to do with confession, coming clean with ourselves and those who we encounter.

Last Tuesday: His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?

Last Wednesday: Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.

Last Thursday: Thus says the LORD: This is what I commanded my people: Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper.

Last Friday: Let him who is wise understand these things;     let him who is prudent know them. Straight are the paths of the LORD,     in them the just walk, but sinners stumble in them.

Last Saturday1: Come, let us return to the LORD, it is he who has rent, but he will heal us; he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds. He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, to live in his presence.

Last Saturday2: Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.

Last Saturday3: But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’

Last Sunday1: All this was to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah: “Until the land has retrieved its lost sabbaths, during all the time it lies waste it shall have rest while seventy years are fulfilled.”

Last Sunday2: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; 
it is not from works, so no one may boast.

Last Sunday3: Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

I know that’s a lot of quotes to get to my theme for today, but again, who is it that you look up to? A friend, a co-worker, your Pastor? Albert Pujols? Yadier Molina? Take a second to think about this…I’ll ask again – who is it you should look up to? Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” Look up to Christ. Look up to a the perfect Son of God who died on that cross not for His sins, not for His wrongs – but He suffered and died for my sins; the wrong that I have done. Look at all those quotes from last week and hear what God is saying to all of us. Ask for forgiveness for your wrongs but more than that, FORGIVE all who have wronged you. I know it is not an easy task to get ourselves into the confessional and freely admit we are sinners in need of forgiveness. But I’m telling you from experience, it is that much more difficult to offer forgiveness to those who have wronged me; to just “let it go”. When we “look up” and see Jesus on that Cross – we are taught the true meaning of forgiveness. We see a Man who was willing to die to teach us that forgiveness is the ultimate sacrifice. We learn that from forgiveness, death comes to life again.

So now I ask you – are you someone who desires to be “looked up” to? Am I? If we answer yes to this, then we must follow the example that Christ gave us. We must learn to forgive all who have wronged us. We must be willing to die in order that their sins can be forgiven – not mine, not yours. If we are willing to die to offer them that forgiveness, then we too – as heirs to the Kingdom – bring life to others through our death to self. That is one tall order; I pray I have the courage to live a life that others “look up” to.

Do something great for our Lord today – forgive someone who has wronged you. Breathe “life” back into that “dead” relationship and share in the true joy of what forgiveness offers.

I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy Grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.

Lord, if You wish, You can make me clean.

But you man of God chose righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Compete well for the faith.

: a person who has wide interests and is expert in several areas

Ever know one of these? I have – still do. The man I am referring to this morning is an athlete (although some would argue bowling is not a sport), engineer, carpenter, gardener, coach, referee, Deacon, Father, Educator, Artist, Smoker (of meats – not tobacco), camper (now turned glampber), Husband and the most important – my brother in law. I am speaking of none other than Brett LePage.

I met Brett way back in 1978 when he started dating Janice’ (my sister will correct me if I’m wrong) and I believe they met through my Uncle Bob (Fr. Dorhauer), who was a priest in Brett’s parish at the time. Brett is good for my sister and you could see from the start, that they were put here on earth to be with each other “till death do they part”. Sunday dinners were the most important meal of the week and only important dignitaries were invited on that day to break bread with the family – Grandma’s, Grandpa’s, Aunt’s, Uncle’s. Let me give you an example of how important that meal was. The phone rang during one dinner and my Uncle Jim (Caruso) happen to answer it. After he asked who was on the phone he stated – “He’s eating dinner right now with his family and can’t talk.”; he then hung up the phone. I’m not sure which brother’s girlfriend called, but I’m sure that “date” never made it to a Sunday dinner. I digress. Brett didn’t make a great first impression on me or my brothers simply because he was the SLOWEST eater we had ever met. Growing up, we were allowed two “helpings” of food at dinner. The first one we were required to eat everything Mom made for dinner; the second we could chose what we wanted to eat. at the end of the second helping, dessert was served. So, when Brett joined us for his first Sunday meal, we said our prayers and devoured our two helpings of dinner and were ready to dive into dessert. One problem – dessert wasn’t served until everyone had finished their dinner. Mr. Brett Charles was still cutting his meat – from his first helping (and he, as a guest of the family, was allowed to have as many helpings as he wanted). So we spent the next 45 minutes staring at this wretch my sister was dating hoping the relationship would end before his fifth helping so we could have our damned dessert. Yes, that was my first impression of Mr. LePage.

What I have come to know about Brett since then is that the way he approaches his meals is the same way he approaches life. Slow and steady and enjoying ever last bite of it. Brett is one faithful compadre. He has been with my sister since 1978, marrying her in 1981. He has worked for McDonald-Douglas/Boeing his entire career; he has had a garden with strawberries, peppers, tomato’s, cucumbers, lettuce, etc., etc, etc. every year that I’ve known him. He made his own canoe for gosh sakes. He owns (and uses) a variety of smokers, grills and flattop grilles where he cooks briskets, chickens, pork steaks, pizza’s, breakfast’s, philly cheese steaks. He cans vegetables. He is an avid soccer buff, has season tickets for the St. Louis Blues; former bowler. But what impresses me most about Brett are not these skills and attributes; Brett has become a true man of faith over the years I’ve known him. He truly loves God and has dedicated his life for that purpose. So as I was reading the Gospel this morning, I came to the part where Jesus tells us:

Hear, O Israel!
    The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, 
    with all your soul, 
    with all your mind, 
    and with all your strength.

I thought of Brett Charles LePage, the Reverend Mr. Brett Charles LePage. My ideal Renaissance Man. A loving son; a loving husband; a loving father and I can honestly say – the only brother-in-law I will ever love. I am blessed to have Brett in my life.

Do something great for our Lord today – love Him with all your soul, with all of your heart, with all your mind and with all your strength.

I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy Grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.

Lord, if You wish, You can make me clean.

But you man of God chose righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Compete well for the faith.

Today will be another “cheat” day, but Bishop Barron is so good with his thoughts and reflections that I wanted to share them with you. I know there is a sentiment among people that the devil is a mere fiction of our imagination, but spend some time reflecting our Readings for the Day and then read this reflection from Bishop Barron. I see a Country divided these days over so many issues. What I need to ask of myself is what actions can I do, what attitude can I have that doesn’t add to the division but starts to bring us back together again? Please read and reflect…

Friends, in today’s Gospel, we learn of a person possessed by a demon. Jesus meets the man and drives out the demon, but then he is immediately accused of being in league with Satan. Some of the witnesses said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.”

Jesus’ response is wonderful in its logic and laconicism: “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?”
The demonic power is always one of scattering. It breaks up communion. But Jesus, as always, is the voice of communio, of one bringing things back together.

Think back to Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand. Facing a large, hungry crowd, his disciples beg him to “dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus answers, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.”

Whatever drives the Church apart is an echo of this “dismiss the crowds” impulse, and a reminder of the demonic tendency to divide. In times of trial and threat, this is a very common instinct. We blame, attack, break up, and disperse. But Jesus is right: “There is no need for them to go away.”

Reflect: What do you see in the Catholic Church today that is a source of division? What do you see that is a source of communion? How can you be an agent of communion in your own parish?

Do something great for our Lord today – practice bringing people together; pray for the division of the devil and his many companions. Be one with God and one with fellow man. To repeat the words of a President long, long ago – United we stand; divided we fall. Pray that we all stand together in communion with our loving and forgiving God.

I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy Grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.

Lord, if You wish, You can make me clean.

But you man of God chose righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Compete well for the faith.

Today’s post goes back to yesterday’s first reading. If you’ve already forgotten what that is, don’t fret, seems like most of the world has too. I’m going to post, for you to listen, Bishop Barron’s homily yesterday. It will bring you right back to what you listened to sitting at Mass.

Do something great for our Lord today – commit to His commandments. Not just today, but everyday.

I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy Grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.

Lord, if You wish, You can make me clean.

But you man of God chose righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Compete well for the faith.

Lots of good stuff in our Gospels this week. Let me highlight just a few for you to contemplate this weekend.

Sunday: Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son.  Listen to him.”
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.

Monday: Jesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.

Tuesday: Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Wednesday: But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Two days in a row we are told the greatest among us will be the least; the least among us will be the greatest. Those with ears ought to hear…

Thursday: Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Friday: Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’

Saturday: He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”

Now that is truly a week of Wisdom given to us in the Gospel. Take a few minutes today and tomorrow listening to what is being professed to us. We start the week hearing that we are to LISTEN to Jesus and then we spend the next 6 days being taught some remarkable things from the mouth of the Son of God. Humility, Service, Forgiveness are some of the simple yet oh so complex ways we are to live. Jealousy, Hatred, Death, Ignorance are some of the ways that pull us off that narrow path to eternity. So again, those with ears ought to hear. We have the gift to see what beauty comes from living a life following God. We have the words of those prophets; those who witnessed Christ and His mission of Mercy; the saints who have gone before us and the Holy Men and Women who lived marked with the sign of Faith. Let us not be like Lazarus who didn’t understand what the prophets foretold. Let us not seek forgiveness after it is to late to do so. Let us be humble; let us live to serve and not to be served; let us forgive; let us believe in the Gospel – the good news revealed to us by Christ Himself.

Do something great for our Lord today – live a life of service; live a life of forgiveness; live as if you are the heir to THE kingdom. Christ gave us the instructions and example on how this can be done – it is high time I/we follow them.

I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy Grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.

Lord, if You wish, You can make me clean.

But you man of God chose righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Compete well for the faith.

“If the serpent, the devil, bites someone secretly, he infects that person with the venom of sin. And if the one who has been bitten keeps silence and does not do penance, and does not want to confess his wound . . . then his brother and his master, who have the word [of absolution] that will cure him, cannot very well assist him” (Commentary on Ecclesiastes 10:11 [A.D. 388]).

I love the way the Holy Spirit is always present in my life – offering me guidance, wisdom, strength. I also find it appropriate that soon after the “celebration” of my son’s 21st birthday, how the readings this week really emphasize the need for the sacrament of confession. Heck, during my daughter’s district basketball game last night, my wife and my daughter got into the discussion with my two eldest sons about confession and how we shouldn’t take “advantage” of God and His Mercy as a way of doing wrong – purposefully – and saying “I’ll be alright – I’ll just go to confession.” I am still thinking about that this morning.

So I find it rather appropriate that I woke up to our readings that will be professed at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass today. I kept thinking last night that we need to take advantage of God’s great Mercy through the sacrament of Confession, that’s why it was given to us. I have conflicting thoughts about all of this because we are told, not IF you fall but WHEN you fall, get up and seek the Mercy of our EVERfogiving God. I also understand the point made that Confession shouldn’t be used to our advantage to justify debaucherous behavior with the understanding that “Hey, sin on Saturday, be wiped clean on Sunday – see you again next Saturday.”

With that in mind, I started researching the Catholic Churches thoughts and understanding of this Sacrament. I found a number of good links to go to, but wanted to share this one with you this morning. This link goes back to the earliest days of the Church and offers a number of quotes for our early Church leaders and what was taught to the first members of the Catholic faith.

What the early Church Believed about the Sacrament of Confession

Do something great for our Lord today – repent and believe in the Gospel. Get to Mass; get to Confession and get to living the life God has created just for you.

I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy Grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.

Lord, if You wish, You can make me clean.

But you man of God chose righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Compete well for the faith.

If I’ve been told once, I’ve been told a thousand times. Does that sound familiar? In contemplating on our readings for today’s Mass, that is the theme that I keep thinking about. It is written all throughout this morning. I am a sinner but I am not lost. If I am willing to repent and turn away from those sins, God will ALWAYS take me back…ALWAYS. But on the other hand…let’s see how many examples of this are given to me this morning…

Reading I

Ez 18:21-28

Thus says the Lord GOD:
If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, 
    if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just,
    he shall surely live, he shall not die. 

None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him;
    he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced.

But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed,
    does what is right and just,
    he shall preserve his life;
    since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed, 
    he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Responsorial Psalm

130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8

If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
    LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
    that you may be revered.

For with the LORD is kindness
    and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
    from all their iniquities.

Verse before the Gospel

Ez 18:31

Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD,
and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.

Gospel

Mt 5:20-26

Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.

It has been said once; it has been said a thousand times. I hear your message God. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy Grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.

Do something great for our Lord today – heed the message being proclaimed to you. Repent and believe in the Gospel.

God’s will, not mine be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.

Lord, if You wish, You can make me clean.

But you man of God chose righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Compete well for the faith.

My youngest son turns 21 today and some of the family is going to meet him in Rolla to celebrate. It will be an honor for me to buy his first beer?!?!? Surely, this is his first taste of an adult beverage. Anywho, I find it fitting that today’s first reading is from the book of Jonah because I find Jonah’s personality has a some similarities with my son Tony.

When first called by God to go to Nineveh, what did Jonah do? Took off in the opposite direction by sea, got caught in a big storm, got thrown from the boat he was on, got swallowed by a whale, lived in the belly of the big fish for 3 days and got spit onto the shores of Nineveh. First lesson Tony – when Mom implores you to go to Church on Sunday, don’t wait to be swallowed by the big fish and have to be spit out on the parking lot of Church – it’s much easier to just go!!

So as we read today, Jonah then sets off by foot through the big town of Nineveh (or say its Springfield) to proclaim the message of God that their town is going to be destroyed if they don’t repent. The people – including the king – heed the message immediately and begin their fast – even the animals were given sackcloths to wear. That’s what we read today – what we don’t read is where I really find the similarity between Tony and Jonah…

Jonah’s Anger and God’s Reproof (or Tony’s Anger & God’s Reproof)

Tony, much like my other two boys, would be the type to go through the City, tell them of their wrongs and how God is going to destroy them and when they repent, get upset when God forgives them and that destruction doesn’t happen. I blame myself – my wife doesn’t have an angry bone in her. Yes, my Tony loves to tell you how its going to be and doesn’t care whether you want to hear it or not. I can only imagine he has had many conversations with God to let God know what is right and what is wrong and how He should go about correcting that. Tony is not my shy child (we believe Mary saw that option, grabbed it and isn’t willing to share) and Tony has no problem voicing what’s on his mind. I pray that on his 21st that Tony realizes that it is God who gave him life, that Mom and I have done our best to bring Tony up knowing God’s ways, respecting them AND that the “gourd” that provides him shade is a gift from God and to be thankful for it (not deserving of it). Have a great day Tony, know that I love you and I’m proud of all you’re doing at MO State and we will see you at Alex’s tonight.

Do something great for out Lord today – repent and believe in the Gospel. Say a prayer for Tony if you don’t mind as a birthday present to him.

I firmly resolve with the help of Thy Grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.

Lord, if You wish, You can make me clean.

But you man of God chose righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Compete well for the faith.

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle

Lectionary: 535

Reading I

1 Pt 5:1-4

Beloved:
I exhort the presbyters among you,
as a fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ
and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed.
Tend the flock of God in your midst,
overseeing not by constraint but willingly,
as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
Do not lord it over those assigned to you,
but be examples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd is revealed,
you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Gospel

Mt 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply, 
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 

Today, we celebrate the birthday of the Church. I won’t waste your time telling you my thoughts on this because there is a homily out there that far surpasses anything I could express when it comes to the Chair of St. Peter. I would strongly suggest you take 30 minutes or so to listen to this man speak on the very feast we celebrate today. After listening, I doubt you’ll utter the words “Well, I wish I could get that 30 minutes back.”

Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen ~ Peter, Vicar of Christ

Do something great for our Lord today – stay on your Lenten path to righteousness. It is a great path to be on.

I firmly resolve with the help of Thy Grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.

Lord, if You wish, You can make me clean.

But you man of God chose righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Compete well for the faith.