Let's Be Saints!

Closing retreat Mass at SHRH for the Carmelites of the Sacred Heart. The women in scripture today know what we often forget. We are children and everything flows from relationship with our Father!

Sts. John the Baptist and John the Apostle point the Church individually and collectively to her fundamental identity and mission: to live in relationship with the FR. Our home is in Him; NOT in the world!

The goal is not safety. It’s freedom. I can’t be set free by Jesus if Jesus isn’t first.

“I will praise you, LORD, in the assembly of your people”…why?!

The goal is communion! But communion with Jesus flows from loving Him, and loving like Him. This always brings true renewal to the family of God.

The commands of today’s gospel are so powerful, that when they are lived well, they convert empires. We would do well to learn what converted Rome!

We can only serve one person first. Who/what do I worship?

Today we celebrate the true influencers of the world! They do not influence on their own power. They heard today’s gospel, and received God into their lives. Thus, they are blessed.

“Willingly serve the LORD and not men.” We do not serve elephants or donkeys; we serve the Lamb!

“Being subordinate” is NOT hate speech from St. Paul! It’s a beautiful invitation to acknowledge God’s unique and personal invitation to love and be loved.

Mission flows from relationship. We must be disciples in order to become apostles!

Bartimaeus gave a radical witness 2,000 years ago. We could use more of him in the world today!

Bartimaeus gave radical witness 2,000 years ago. We could use more of him in the world today!

He has come to set the world on fire, and how He wishes it were already burning! He gives us everything in giving us His Heart, but this Heart will not be put first by many.

“Much will be required of the one who has been given much.” Do I live with the awareness that the Holy One of Israel has been entrusted to me?

Pope St. John Paul II did not live as an orphan or a victim. He lived as a son. Jesus, help us to live in the freedom to love and be loved that this great saint did!

“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions…” what is possessing me?

James and John fail gloriously! Do I? Am I free to fail with Jesus?

“Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge.” The saints are the great keys to knowledge for the time in which we live. St. Ignatius of Antioch, the great early Eucharistic preacher, is among them!

You don’t have Jesus figured out…He has you figured out! The Enemy calls us by our sin, but Jesus calls us by name. His Heart is for all of us. Do I trust Him?

O stupid Galatians! Stop stalking the mailman and open yourselves to receive Jesus!

The rich young man in the Gospel needs some Eucharistic revival in his life! As do we. The Word of God is living!

It is our great privilege to know and worship God as Father. Does that change anything about my life?

Where the spirit of the Lord is there is FREEDOM! St. Paul in the 1st Reading and Martha in the Gospel reflect the freedom in which children of God are called to live and pray.

Victory comes through the most fearless mama bear in history!