My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?? Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last. (Mt 20:13-16)

If you discovered that Hitler, Saddam Hussein, Judas, various child molesters, murderers, or people who treated you unfairly were in Heaven would you be upset? Would you feel offended because it?s not fair? Don?t worry if you answer ?yes?, because you?re not alone. However, the point that Jesus is trying to make is that we shouldn?t be concerned about God showing mercy to others. We are all sinners and none of us deserve His mercy.

I?m sure that I would be surprised by some of the people in Heaven. My main concern is that I live my life in such a way that I?ll get to see for myself one day!

I received an email from a friend asking for urgent prayers for a 30 week old unborn child who is suffering from congestive heart failure. He is currently scheduled for in-utero surgery on Friday, August 21. The original note from the child?s father appears below. I ask you to please keep Christian and his family in your prayers and please spread the word!

Our son, Christian Raymond Campuzano, has been diagnosed with a severe heart defect at 30 weeks in-utero. The pregnancy due date is October 15, 2009. He is currently in heart failure and the doctors are offering us very little hope. We are praying for his complete healing through Blessed Brother Andre, a Holy Cross brother from Canada who is up for canonization to sainthood.

Prayer for the healing of baby Christian through the intercession of Blessed Brother Andre:
Lord, you have chosen Blessed Brother Andre, to spread devotion to St. Joseph and to minister to all those who are afflicted. Through his intercession, grant us the favor which we are now requesting, the healing of baby Christian?s heart. We also pray that the Church may canonize Brother Andre as soon as possible. Grant us the grace to imitate his piety and his charity so that, with him, we may share the reward promised to all those who care for their neighbor because of their love for you. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Today at Mass, as we sang Immaculate Mary, I was suddenly transported back some 40 years to Maternity BVM elementary school in Philadelphia. I saw my friends John, Cheryl, Jim, Emilio and Brian as we stood in line singing hymns to the Blessed Mother at the May Procession. Times were much simpler then and I had a whole lot less to worry about. I felt safe and secure knowing that my parents would provide for all of my needs.

It?s more difficult to experience that feeling of security today, although it can still be found. The key is to accept that my Heavenly Father, my brother Jesus, and my Blessed Mother will provide for all my physical and spiritual needs. While it?s easy to say, it?s sometimes hard to put into practice. I?m really going to try and do that today.

Incidentally, all of those classmates that I mentioned are among my Facebook friends. I think I?m going to reach out today and connect with a few of them?the Lord may have been trying to tell me something!

What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost. (Mt 18:12-14)

Is there a ?lost sheep? in your life? Perhaps someone who may have strayed from the Catholic faith? The words of Jesus are very clear ? that ?lost sheep? is very important to the Father. You may be the only one who can save the soul of that person. Maybe it?s time for you to talk to them about your relationship with Jesus. You could also invite them to go to Mass or Confession. If you don?t have the courage, then pray for courage. In the meantime, you can pray for that person. Your prayers may result in a softening of their heart and a return to the flock.

On the other hand, you could be the ?lost sheep?. Take this as a sign that the Lord is calling you home.

As I read the final chapter of Surprised By Canon Law ? Volume 2 (Pete Vere & Michael Trueman) last week, I was struck by the authors? closing words: ?If the Holy Spirit uses these books to lead even one soul closer to heaven, we will consider our efforts worthwhile.? It made me stop and recall how many times I get so caught up in the numbers (how many Twitter followers, Facebook fans, newsletter subscribers, etc.), that I forget the reason I founded the Catholic Truth was to reach ?one lost sheep??Well, maybe two, three, several hundred, thousands, etc?

Taking it a step further, the late Fr. Al Lauer, the founder of Presentation Ministries (www.presentationministries.com), used to say that if you?re doing the Lord?s work, you should be content to have an audience of ?One? (that?s right?the ?Big Guy?). If we?re really doing our work for the Lord, then the numbers shouldn?t matter because ?Our Father who sees in secret? will repay us (Mt 6:4). If we?re too concerned about the numbers, maybe we?re actually doing the work for ourselves and not God.

Lord, thank you for communicating this message to me through the book, through Fr. Al?s recordings and through my good friend, Jerry Kohlbrand, who has appeared in my life at ?just the right time?. May I always be content with an audience of You?and You alone!

I’ve always wanted to read The Confessions of St. Augustine, but found a myriad of reasons for not doing so. My main reason for avoiding this spiritual classic was a fear of not being able to understand one of the greatest theologians in the history of the Church. However, when the Tiber River Reviewer Program presented an opportunity to review this book, I decided to accept the challenge and I’m glad I did!