One of the biggest mistakes that many of us make when studying our Catholic Faith is to forget about Jesus! While it sounds crazy, it is actually very easy to do. We can get so wrapped up with learning the details about our faith, that we can forget that the main reason for learning it is to become closer to Our Lord.

Let me give you an example. A few years ago, I fell so much in love with the Mass that I couldn?t learn enough about it. As I studied more about it, I began to resent those individuals who didn?t respect the beauty of the Mass. I found myself becoming angry at priests who didn?t follow the approved liturgical texts, choir directors who chose ?bad? hymns and anyone who received Holy Communion unworthily. I rationalized my behavior with the idea that I was defending Jesus when, in reality, I had lost sight of Him! I eventually learned that some things are beyond my control. While I can continue to explain the beauty of the Mass and the importance of following the Church?s teaching, I cannot control the behavior of others. Above all, I must remember that the Lord?s command to ?Love one another? (Jn 15:17) also applies to those who don?t fully appreciate the importance of the Mass.

There are many other ways to neglect Jesus while learning the faith, including reading so much that you forget to pray (I?ve been there too, but that?s a story for another day?). Unfortunately, it is possible to know all the facts about the Catholic Faith and still not have a personal relationship with Jesus. As you strive to learn more about your faith, always make sure that you stay close to the Lord by following His commandments and speaking to Him frequently. In doing so, you?ll achieve your ultimate goal?becoming closer to Christ!

Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how (strong) the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” (Mt 14:29-30)

Many of us have felt the call to follow Our Lord to a greater degree. Just like Peter, our initial steps are filled with joy and confidence. After that, we often panic as the ?strong winds? of the world begin to blow. Once again, we imitate Peter as we begin to sink into the sea. While this is normal and shouldn?t upset us, it?s what we do at this point that is important.

Jesus never promised us a life with no worries (Lk 9:23), but he does want us to be at peace (Mt 11:28). While this seems like a contradiction, it is actually very possible as long as we remember Peter?s words of ?Lord, save me?! There is no problem or worry so great that Jesus cannot handle. He will either remove it from your life or give you the strength to deal with it. Just don?t forget to ask!

Have you ever noticed how many people grumble about Mondays? Around the office, complaints about the weekend being too short and cries of ?Is it Friday yet?? abound. Instead of being thankful for each new day given to us by God, many people ?sleepwalk? through the week and anticipate the start of the weekend.

Unfortunately, this lack of appreciation for God?s gifts is nothing new. In Numbers 11:4-6, the Israelites complained about the Lord?s gift of manna and lamented for the fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks and onions that they used to eat while still slaves in Egypt. Instead of rejoicing in their newly found freedom, they complained that their food didn?t taste good!

We have been freed from the slavery of sin by Our Lord, Jesus Christ. If that isn?t cause for rejoicing than nothing is! Every new day that is given to us by The Lord is a means for expressing our appreciation for that freedom.

Thank you Jesus, for the opportunity to serve You this Monday and every day!

Have you ever felt sad when reading the Gospel accounts of Jesus? agony in the garden? Did you ever wish that you could have been there to keep Him company while His Apostles slept? I have good news for you ? it?s not too late. If you visit Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament today or unite some of your suffering with His you?ll be doing just that. Want to know something else?

Jesus is God and knows all things. When He was suffering in the garden He knew that you were keeping watch with Him some 2000 years later? I bet that eased His pain a bit.

The story of Martha and Mary has always been a popular one, but it?s a little difficult to understand. After all, shouldn?t Mary have been helping Martha with the housework? Was Jesus saying that manual labor is wrong and that we should spend all of our time in church and reading scripture?

Pope John Paul II had some thoughts on this during his Angelus message on July 18, 2004 and I think it helps clear up some of the confusion:

On this Sunday, the liturgy once again proposes for our meditation the Gospel episode of Jesus’ visit to the house of Martha and Mary (cf. Lk 10: 38-42). While Martha is totally taken up with household tasks, Mary is seated at the Master’s feet listening to his word. Christ affirms that Mary “has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her” (Lk 10: 42).

When, through the action of the Holy Spirit, God takes up his dwelling in the heart of the believer, it becomes easier for him/her to serve the brethren.

A young woman at my office received a phone call today informing her of the sudden death of a 20-year old close friend. I expressed my sorrow and told her that I?d pray for her friend?s soul and for the family, but I really didn?t have too much else to say. I wanted to offer some profound comments or explanation, but nothing came to mind. Things like this ?aren?t supposed to happen? and when they do, we just have to trust God and know that some good can come out of the situation. For whatever reason, the Lord called this young woman home and we have to trust His judgment. When situations like this arise, I am reminded of the Lord?s words to the prophet Isaiah:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Is 55:8-9)

Sometimes that is the answer?

For many of us, determining God?s will presents one of life?s greatest challenges. How do we know if we are doing what God desires in our lives? Does God want me to switch jobs, end a relationship, pursue fertility treatments, etc? While I don?t claim to have all of the answers, I?d like to share a few suggestions that may simplify the process.

When making a major decision, the first place to turn is to the Church. What does the Church teach about the choices I?m faced with? If the decision involves the commission of an immoral act (living together outside of marriage, an invalid marriage, in-vitro fertilization, a homosexual relationship, obtaining an abortion, unethical business practices, etc.), you can rest assured that it is NOT God?s will. The Lord would never desire that you do anything against His commandments.

Many cases aren?t that simple. Trying to determine whether to switch jobs or terminate a chaste relationship presents a more difficult challenge. In these cases, I recommend the following:

Pray – Ask The Lord to help you make the correct decision. It would also be a good idea to ask Him for a sign. In my case, I always ask for very obvious signs. Don?t hesitate to do the same!

Analyze ? Take a step back and try to analyze the situation. Am I trying to control too much? Am I required to do too much to ?make this work?? I know someone who tried to modify her behavior and prayed for her fianc? to change, rather than call off an engagement. Finally she realized that it would have been wrong to marry this person and did end the engagement.

Be Subjective ? You read this right! In addition to being objective about the situation, we also need to be subjective. If you are married with children, God doesn?t want you to leave your family and join a monastery. If you are a priest, having made a promise of celibacy to God, it would be proper to honor that promise. Sometimes when we look at our situation subjectively, we discover we are pursuing our own will and not God?s.

Visit Jesus ? Make an attempt to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and ask for His help. If you have an idea of what you?d like to do, present it to The Lord and let Him speak to your heart. Remember, that most of the time Christ ?speaks? in silence and not by using words. If you get a ?feeling? or idea when you?re in His presence, there is a good chance that He?s giving you advice.

Try It ? Once you feel good about your decision, try it and see how you feel. If you?re truly doing God?s will, you should feel peace. If not, you may need to make some changes. Peace is a good indicator that you are doing the will of God.

While the above list is not exhaustive, it should get you on the right track. Always get into the habit of turning to The Lord when faced with any major decision. God doesn?t want to hide His will from us. Making an effort to listen to Him is the surest way to obtain peace!

I am asking all of our United States readers to please contact your senators and members of Congress to express your opposition to the “health care reform” bills that will be voted on shortly. Simply visit this page at the National Right To Life website and read the truth about the pro-abortion agenda hidden in these bills. Then enter your address and it will automatically email your representatives. It couldn’t get any easier!

National Right to Life says that passage of these bills “would result in the greatest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade.” Please express your opionion…our helpless preborn brothers and sisters are counting on us!

One of the biggest problems facing the Catholic Church is a lack of respect for the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Unfortunately, much of the problem comes from within the Church and not from outside. A great deal of the problem is brought about by the careless use of language when referring to the Precious Body and Blood of Our Lord.

As an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, I?ve lost count of the number of times my fellow ministers refer to Our Lord?s Body and Blood as the ?bread? and ?wine?. Some have even made ?drinking? jokes in the sacristy after distributing the Precious Blood to the congregation. While they are not being intentionally disrespectful, using this language gradually erodes respect for the miraculous presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. This problem is compounded by the use of the words ?bread? and ?wine? in some modern liturgical hymns.

Let?s just try to be careful when referring to the Body and Blood of Our Lord. The Eucharist is really Him?it?s not a symbol?He doesn?t exist along with the bread and wine…those elements no longer exist after the consecration. Even though our senses may betray us, we are actually looking at the Body and Blood of Our Savior, Jesus Christ. Let?s help ourselves and others to better understand by using the correct language!