Resisting Happiness PDF

RESISTING HAPPINESS…
Chapter 1
Happiness…do you know what it is? In our day and age, happiness is equated
with what-ever makes us feel good either physically or emotionally, but does it last?
Many of the things that our society says leads to happiness, often lead to frustration,
disappointment and pain. Drugs, alcohol, sex, money, fame, power…all these have a
strong attraction, yet none bring true and lasting happiness. The Catechism of the
Catholic Church defines happiness as:
Joy and beatitude over receiving the fulfillment of our vocation as creatures: a
sharing in the divine nature and the vision of God. God put us into the world to
know, love, and serve him, and so come to the happiness of paradise. (CCC 1720)
True happiness begins in relationship with a God who loves us, wants us to be close to Him, and gives us
everything we need to reach Him. “ Fulfillment of our vocation as creatures” begins with understanding our
vocation. At every Mass, we pray the Archbishop’s prayer for vocations, asking God to help us understand
what he wants us to do with our lives (Single, Married, Consecrated Religious, or Priest) and how we are to live
out that calling?
For fifteen years of my life, I ran from my vocation as a priest because I resisted His plan, His call to
happiness. It was only after working many different jobs and making a lot of money that I realized something
was missing. I wasn’t truly happy or fulfilled. What was missing was God’s plan for me! Entering the seminary
confirmed the path God had in store for me, but how that path unfolds is still a mystery. Three years of
teaching high school and now a year and a half as pastor was not my choosing but His. For this, I am eternally
grateful. Why? …because I am happy… I am fulfilled! I don’t always physically feel great and often I am
emotionally strained and I would never change it for all the power, money, or fame. This is my path to
happiness; this is my path to holiness and hopefully eternity with God! How are you resisting today?
Chapter 2
God wants us to be happy, not just in this life, but also in the one to come. This
means that we may have to struggle in this life so as to experience eternal bliss in the next.
Every day, we resist God’s call to happiness. As Matthew Kelly points out, we often don’t
even recognize when we are resisting. We think that the choices we make will make us
happy, not realizing that we are destroying our chance at happiness. St Paul takes this
struggle to the next level. In the Letter to the Romans he wrote, “I do not do the good I want,
but I do the evil I do not want.” (Rom 7:19). No one ever wants to think, do, or say things that will lead to
unhappiness for others or themselves. Yet, St Paul laments and we are forced to concur; that we think, do, and
say them anyway. This pulls us away from God’s plan of happiness and into a world of sin.
Resistance and sinfulness go hand and hand and it is hard to distinguish a difference. So how are we to
know what will make us happy and resist sin? I think that St. Benedict Joseph Labre said it best, “He who
knows what God is, studies to avoid sin.” St Paul agreed and argued to the Romans that when they study and
know God’s Law (Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition) then we are better able to recognize when we resist
God and fall into sin. The old Saturday morning cartoon commercial comes to mind that said, “Knowledge is
power.” The more we study, the more we are able to recognize resistance. Then we are more able to choose
the path of happiness and ultimately holiness.
St Paul concludes with the knowledge that because of our weak human nature, we will always need
the redeeming work of Jesus. It is through His Blood that we are saved. The institution of the Sacraments,
especially the Sacrament of Penance and the Eucharist, allow us to overcome our weaknesses and tendencies
to resist. It is then we are able to participate in Christ’s sacrifice and thus receive a foretaste of heaven where
resistance to God’s happiness comes to an end.
Chapter 3: Making Sense of Everything
Do you know someone who does not want to be happy? I sure don’t. In fact, we all
want to be happy and we seek whatever means we believe will help us achieve it. Yet, there
is growing negativity and anger in our world, it is all around us. Where have all the “happy”
people gone?
Who are the “happy?” You know them. They always wear a smile, have a friendly
word to say, and a warm embrace. Their happiness is infectious and you want to always be around them
because they make you feel better. Nothing ever seems to phase the happy, not even trials or tragedy in their
lives. If you are like me, I want what they have! That infectious joy, and peace! That sense that life is full and
complete. In essence, I’m happy. But how do you get it? How do you be happy? The answer is simple, right?
Fill the hole in your life with God!
We try to fill God sized holes with many things; after all who doesn’t like getting the latest FITBIT
delivered by Amazon right to your front door or eating a Cinnamon roll with icing straight from the oven. But
these things will not even come close to filling our longing, filling the hole in our lives. Only God can fill a God
sized hole and rarely does he do so in a hurry. It takes time and practice! All we have to do is turn to him. He is
there to fill our lives with love and peace. Opening our hearts through prayer, meditation, and service, God
converts us, fills our hole and fulfills our lives.
How confident are you that what God wants for you is what’s best for your happiness? Are you willing
to open your heart, try new things, pray and meditate in order to allow God to fill your God-sized hole? Only
he can fulfill all your longing for He is Happiness and can lead you to Himself.
Chapter 4: Resisting God
Matthew Kelly wrote “Only the insane and egomaniacal would resist God….” I guess I
am insane and egomaniacal. In my late teens to early 20’s, when I had fallen away from
Mass, I constantly had God calling me back. I remember every time that I would pass a
church or see a cross, I would feel my God sized hole, aching. Driving past my home parish, I
would look the other way in an attempt to not feel the pain of separation (though I didn’t
know that’s what it was), but that was to no avail. Once in our hearts, God never leaves! Through the ups and
the downs, the pains and the struggles, he is there trying to lure us back, lure us closer to His aching heart. We
often don’t think about how God feels when we resist His presence. It hurts and He wants nothing more than
our return to Him. After all, He wills our happiness, heaven, even more than we will it ourselves.
Wanting something for another more than they want it for themselves has dramatic consequences in
our lives, especially when it comes to faith and happiness. One of the greatest concerns of parents today is the
faith of their children. They often ask what they can do to bring them back. They tried to badger, guilt, and
even force their kids to go to Mass, and nothing seemed to work. As a former lapsed Catholic, these
techniques only exasperate the situation. What makes the difference? Witness! When parents grow in faith,
live their lives more like Christ, they become something their children admire and aspire to become. I
remember the day vividly when my mother and father, when off the cuff, first spoke about their personal
relationship with Jesus. To be honest, with 12 years of Catholic education, I had never heard anything like it.
They recounted the moments in their lives when Jesus humbled them, taught them valuable lessons about
what it means to be Catholic, and then changed them into someone better, someone I respected. I wanted
what they had and I never knew existed, a deep, personal relationship with a God who loves me
unconditionally. Their witness, their willingness to be vulnerable with sharing their faith, changed me! For the
first time, I wanted for myself what they wanted for me all along, God! Happiness Himself!
Chapter 5: Life Is Messy
Life is messy and pretty much uncontrollable at times. Just when your life seems
“cleaned up” and running smoothly; bang, a tire blows, you are laid off at work, the roof
starts leaking, your child gets sick and a loved one passes away. The righteous and beautiful
world is turned upside down and the trials of life become burdensome. Have you been
there? Welcome to the real world, where the sun will rise and fall each day upon a life that is
truly a mess in progress.
Matthew Kelly wrote, “The lesson I learned was that someone can look perfectly fine, but you never
know what is going on inside-and everyone has something going on inside.” I learned this lesson one Tuesday
night at Pizza Hut. It was an unusual night in that we were extremely busy and my cook, Brian, was having
some issues. Usually a reliable and hardworking employee, he was making mistakes and had a horrible
attitude. Finally, I had had enough, he was making my life “messy!” Sarcastically, and a bit angrily, I asked,
“What is your deal?” He shot a glance I’ll never forget as he screamed “My mom is dying!”
How easy it is to get stuck in our own mess! His mom had terminal cancer… a few weeks to live and I
was badgering him about a few messed-up pizzas. Honestly, I wouldn’t have even come to work. Shamefully, I
offered a hug of consolation and he melted in my arms like ice cream on blacktop on a hot summers day. As
he wept uncontrollably, I wondered to myself, “what am I doing?” I was so self-absorbed in my own mess, I
failed to ask or even care about his day. My tendency was to think that what I was going through had to be so
much worse than any of their “mess-iness.” In reality, my mess was nothing in comparison.
Have you selfishly put your mess before the people around you? Have you failed to share the
messiness of your life with others? This week, try to put others first. Ask about their day with sincerity. If you
are asked, answer with truthfulness. Don’t be afraid to share the messiness of your life. After all, we are all
agents of God’s love and mercy in the world. Perhaps, you just might be the bowl for melted ice cream!
Chapter 6: Something Is Missing
What was wrong? What was missing? During my college days, I always started
reading, writing, and studying in plenty of time, yet I never seemed to get anything done
until the last minute. I used to shrug it off, deflect the truth by claiming that I do my best
work when I am under pressure. While there is some truth to that in my case, it really wasn’t
the answer. There was always a nagging, a restlessness that prevented me from doing the
work I needed to get done. It wasn’t until my first year in the seminary that I began to understand the
restlessness; the reality God was calling me to something more. As I progressed in seminary, I came to realize
that this restlessness always appeared when two things corresponded, my physical and spiritual spaces were
both a mess.
This is really nothing new, this is what Jesus came to earth to remedy, our reconciliation with the
Father and the world around us. If one is out of balance, they are all out of balance. Therefore, if my physical
space was a mess, I was restless and if my spiritual space was a mess, I was restless. I know this sounds crazy,
but I would spend two, three, four hours cleaning my room, watering plants, fixing the vacuum cleaner, doing
my laundry, and anything else I could find before I could do anything. Then when crunch time came, I always
asked God, usually in an ejaculatory prayer (short, one-line prayer or scripture quote), to give me wisdom,
focus, strength, and endurance...and he always did! Now I know, if I have some big project, paper, homily or
decision, I make sure that my conscience is clear. Through sacramental confession, God removes the
interference of restlessness and instills focus. For when my spiritual space is clean, the physical space will
follow.
Chapter 7: The Big Question
“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you
love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ He said to
him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ He then said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love
me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’
He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was distressed that
he had said to him a third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know
everything; you know that I love you.’ [Jesus] said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’ John 21: 15-17
Witness! This passage from the Gospel of John is full of great spiritual lessons, but the one that I want
to focus on is WITNESS! Jesus wanted Peter to let go of the guilt that he felt for having betrayed him and
witness to the love that Jesus knew Peter had for him. “Feed my sheep” Jesus tells him…which means, go and
witness to Me! You have to DO something in order to show that you love Jesus. Therefore, Jesus sends his
disciples to “All the world” so that His name may be known and bring life.
Do you really have a love for Jesus? Do you share it? How much we love Jesus is translated and
completed by our action for Jesus; for to love, is to act, and to act, is to love. Without action, all we have are
unfulfilled, feel good emotions. Thus, our loving action for Jesus becomes our witness to “All the world,”
making God’s Kingdom present for all.
The witness in Matthew Kelly’s life was an old family friend who challenged him to form a daily prayer
routine that centered his day on God rather than on the challenges that he faced. He recognized that when he
started his day in prayer, he was more relaxed, focused, and in general, happier. Personally, I have had several
witnesses in my life that have had a huge impact. Ironically, I thought them all nags and drove me crazy;
especially the Thomas More janitor who refused to accept no as an answer to attend daily Mass with him. I
wonder, just as I am sure Matthew Kelly wondered, “Where would I be today without that witness in my life?”
Chances are, I would not be nearly as happy.
Quotes:
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I command?” Luke 6:46
“To be a witness to Christ is to be a “witness to His Resurrection.” CCC 995
“It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the
completion of baptismal grace. For "by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly
bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true
witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed."
CCC 1285
Chapter 8: Four Words
Theological integration, the ability to apply the scriptures and teachings of the
Church to our everyday lives and become a more Christ-like person, is difficult! When I was
younger, I remember walking out of church and within twenty minutes, start arguing and
fighting with my siblings (sound familiar parents?). Mom always said, “We don’t just hear the
Gospel, we live it.” Honestly, that didn’t mean anything to me at the time. I lacked the ability
to theologically integrate the Good News proclaimed and have it make sense in my everyday
life. I simply couldn’t relate. Then again, I didn’t try or even know I was supposed to try. As I have grown older
and ordained a priest, I would like to say that everything is different. However, on occasion, I still find the
busyness of life keeping me from allowing the Gospel to change me… to complete me! So how do we allow
the Gospel to take hold? …to become theologically integrated into the life of Christ? Personal reflection and
prayer!
One of the comments I often hear is that I have great life stories. The reality is that we all have great
life stories, but most of us have been too “busy” to do the work of reflection. Matthew Kelly wrote, “When we
are too busy to reflect on how we are living our lives, it is almost certain that we are not busy doing the right
things.” Theological reflection allows us to take the lessons of the Gospel and recognize how they make sense
in our own lives. For example, last Sunday we discussed conscience and conscience formation. Did you reflect
upon that in your own life? Has there been a time in which you (listened/ didn’t listen) to your conscience?
What were the consequences? This week, our Psalmist speaks of a kind and merciful God. Go home and
reflect upon experiences of God’s kindness and mercy in your life. Where have you been God’s mercy to
another or were the recipient of His mercy? Each and every one of us has a story to share, a life that is exciting
and full of God’s presence. Are you willing to work to recognize it? Reflect upon your life and see how the
scriptures we have just heard not only apply to your life, but actually give it meaning? When you reflect upon
God’s life in you, you have begun the long and arduous journey of theological integration; the process by
which we not only hear the Gospel but embody the Gospel by becoming the living, breathing Body of Christ.
With His life in us, our lives, no matter how boring they may seem to be on the surface, are quite
extraordinary.
“The Holy Bible is like a mirror before our mind’s eye. In it we see our inner face. From the Scriptures we can
learn our spiritual deformities and beauties. And there too we discover the progress we are making and how
far we are from perfection.” Pope St. Gregory
“Seek by reading and you will find by meditating. Knock by praying, and it will be opened to you in
contemplation.” St. John of the Cross
“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but
yourself.” St. Augustine
“Holy Scripture is a stream in which the elephant may swim and the lamb may wade.” Pope St. Gregory
“Men are like wine – some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age.” Pope John XXIII
Chapter 9: Are You Spiritually Healthy?
Am I spiritually healthy? That question is a hard one to answer and I guess it really
should be! After all, there is no surgery, pill, nor amount of money that can cure spiritual
unhealthiness. Only God, the physician, is capable. Thus, spiritual healthiness is a constant
journey towards and with God. Like never-ending flights of steps, we are constantly climbing.
However, every flight has a landing, a respite from the long and arduous climb. This is a time
to take stock of your spiritual health. Are you thankful for the journey, recognize your short
comings and ask grace to continue to climb? Do you think “Just look at how holy I am!” Do you say “I’m good
right where I am!” The first is spiritual health, the second is spiritual pride, and the third complacency or “luke-
warmness,” the worst of them all.
I would love to say that I fall into the spiritually healthy category, but depending upon the day, I guess
it really depends. How many times I have thought that I am doing enough for God; praying enough, serving
enough, and loving enough- thus complacent! It is then that I know that I need to do more. There have been
times, especially early in my seminary life in which I experienced spiritual pride. Recognizing the spiritual
growth that I had made and using it to judge others. St Paul’s admonition humbles me as he calls us to be
patient with the faults of others. After all, it’s not like my faults are somehow less offensive to God than
another person’s. When we recognize that we have our own issues, it’s much harder to blame others for
theirs.
So how do we obtain spiritual health? How do we obtain holiness? As I said last week, it’s not about
being perfect in the modern sense, but rather vigilant. The greatest Saints in history are not great for their
ability to not sin, but rather to recognize quickly when they do sin and seek forgiveness from God in the
Sacraments. Maybe one day we too can become spiritually healthy and perhaps one day Saints.
Quotes From Scripture
“Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but
spiritual exercise is much more important for it promises a reward in both this life and the next. This is true
and everyone should accept it.” (1 Timothy 4:7-9)
“Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will
have healing for your body and strength for your bones.” (Proverbs 3: 7-8)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the
will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name? Then I will declare to
them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’” (Matt 7: 21-23)
“I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because
you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Rev 3:16)
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I
will give thanks to him in song.” (Psalm 28:7)
Chapter 10: Get Busy Living
What does it mean to truly live? Often times the answer to this question is elusive.
One philosophical approach to understanding life is to contemplate the opposite…death. The
first time I read this book, I actually sat down and asked the question, “If I only have six
months to live what would I do?” Needless to say, this was a difficult task, but I finally
scribbled out the top 10 that came to mind. As I review what I had written, I have found a
formula for what truly matters in my life; a path by which to get busy living.
What is most important? What is
at the heart of my top 10? Relationship!
Maybe it is who I am, but I think that it
is part of the human nature to be in
relationship. As I look at the 10, I realize
that they meet the 3-dimensional
aspect of balanced relationship between
God, others, and self.
The relational aspect with God is
easy to see; prayer, scripture,
Adoration, Confession, and the
Eucharist. The relationship with others
is also easy to see; service, home visits,
and hugs (which I do believe are
nature’s greatest medicine for whatever
ails you). However, what I have noticed
the most is the balanced approach to
the relationship with myself that has
emerged. Singing, writing, reflecting,
hiking in nature, interacting, and
receiving hugs is who I am. However,
what also emerged was some of the
self-doubt that prevents me from truly
living.
Once I completed the exercise
and reflected upon it, I had to ask
myself, why do I need to wait till I only have 6 months to live to be truly alive? Why wait? God wants me to
live…today! ...and every day! Why not implement them…now! After all, life is meant to be lived, not
slumbered; enjoyed, not tolerated! Only with a balanced relationship with God, others, and self can we truly
live a life of happiness and joy…so get busy living!
Chapter 11: Ordinary Things
Amidst the madness of the final days of the renovations at Saints Peter and Paul and
the beginning of Lent, I didn’t have time for a “typical” day off. This meant that my 3 loads of
laundry were all still sitting in the basement waiting to be taken to my room. Being too
tired…ok, too lazy to retrieve my laundry basket on the second floor, I thought that I would
fold it all nice and neat, stack it, and carry it up to my room. However, on the way up, I
tripped on a step, my stack of socks exploded from under my chin, and 2 pair started to roll
off the front. In an attempt to catch them, I swung my arm around which caused an imbalance in my t-shirt
tower and they started to fall the other direction. After a raining down of t-shirts and socks all around and
then landing hard on my backside, I realized that the only things I caught were the 2 pair of socks that started
the fiasco in the first place. Tears came to my eyes, not from pain or anger, but because I was laughing so hard
my stomach seemed to burst. I thought to myself, “Some angel just won ‘Heavens Funniest Videos’.”
How many times throughout the day do we allow little, insignificant events pull us away from God
rather than use them as a chance to draw closer? …to see God in the ordinary? In my past, I probably would
have been angry, cursing and screaming as I stomped up the stairs; gathering my wardrobe as I went. Instead,
I just laughed at myself and said sarcastically, “Ok (God), I get it!” Who would have ever guessed that raining
laundry would be a “God moment,” a time of close connection with God? It was God’s little humility check-
up, for no matter how hard I work or try on my own, it is always God’s loving grace that inspires me, propels
me, strengthens me, and guides me. I guess that’s the wonderful thing about God, he is always there,
especially in the ordinary. We just need to have the patience and courage to look for Him. Perhaps today, he
will make it rain laundry for you!
Chapter 12: Soulful Living
One of my earliest memories as a child came when I was about 5 years old. I don’t
remember what precipitated the incident, but it’s effects still have repercussions in my life
today. I remember running down the basement steps crying and screaming, “Nobody loves
me! Nobody loves me!” I hid under the laundry table, in the shadows, sobbing deeply and
uncontrollably…hoping someone, anyone would come down, get me, give me a hug, and say
“I love you!” Nobody ever came! I not only felt unloved, but unlovable. After all, if my family
didn’t love me, how could anyone else? For years, I lived under this delusion; this fear. I shunned all attention;
especially when I was successful in sports, academics, or the arts. I feared attention because I didn’t want
anyone close…they might discover just how unlovable I truly am. When my girlfriend was killed by a drunk
driver my senior year of high school, I knew it was true, even God thought I wasn’t deserving of love.
Looking back, I know that I was and am loved by my family, my friends, and most especially by God. I
can see that my psychosis probably had more to do with the birth of my youngest sister who received all the
attention I was so used to getting. However, that didn’t change how I felt, nor its effect on my life. It was not
until God gave me a glimpse of heaven; one of those “Pentecost” moments that everything changed. Christ
said to me, “Through the ministry of the Church, may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from
your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Twenty years of sin, anxiety, pain,
suffering, self-pity, and self-loathing were washed away. I was loved for who I am, and loved unconditionally.
Reflect upon those moments in your life that caused you to say “aha, I get it!” How have they changed
you? Do you recognize God’s loving grace working through them? This week, give thanks to God for these
experiences and ask for His continued grace and unconditional love. Reach out and share that love with your
family and friends this week. Give them a hug (nature’s healing remedy) and let them know you love them.
Are you feeling down and unlovable like I did for so long ago? Seek God’s healing grace and power in the
Sacrament of Reconciliation where His unconditional love flows freely!
Chapter 13: Hour By Hour
Matthew Kelly writes, “Every activity can be transformed into prayer.” I disagree! I
think he has it a bit backwards! Every prayer can be transformed by activity! While Kelly’s
concept is correct and we can sanctify (make holy) our labor by offering up the trials,
successes, time, and effort for a particular cause or purpose, our activity or work does not
become prayer in and of itself. Rather, our activity/work, with the right intention, sanctifies
the prayer we have made.
I’ve heard it hundreds of times in answer to my question, “What is your prayer life
like?” Often, they respond with some form of “My work is my prayer” without any clue of understanding. This
is another lazy cop out response to refuse giving to God what is just, what he deserves…our prayer and
devotion! If our work is our prayer, then what need is there for going to Church each Sunday or spending quiet
time in prayer with God each day?
Our work/activity sanctifies our prayer. Let’s take an example. Let’s say that you are a secretary and
you decide to offer an hour of work for a colleague by praying, “Lord, I offer all the happiness, success,
burden, pain, and sorrow in the next hour for the healing of Mary.” A beautiful prayer, yes, but the next hour
determines how much you really believe in what you prayed. If you spend the hour gossiping, messing around
online, and in general shirking your responsibilities, what does that say about the authenticity of your prayer?
However, if you are cheerful, complete all your work in an exemplary fashion regardless of the struggle, and
do so with a smile, it makes the prayer itself holy. The prayer is sanctified by your sincerity of work.
An argument can be made that prayer and work are the same because they both seek to do God’s will,
and to a certain extent I would agree. However, the primary function of prayer and work are not the same.
Prayer’s primary function or end is a greater relationship with God. Even when that prayer is for others, it
ultimately shows your dependence upon and relationship with Him. The primary function of work is the
relationship with others and self with the benefit being other people and the environment around us. Even I,
as a priest dedicated to doing God’s work, do so for my community’s and my own spiritual well-being.
Finally, I know that throughout history Saints and Popes alike have made similar claims, that one’s
work can be prayer, but these were always within the context of a society that valued faith and devotion.
Unfortunately, for a time, I mirrored much of our society and proclaimed my work was my prayer so that I
didn’t feel guilty for my lack of prayer. Fortunately, I had family in my life that called me out of this delusion
and led me back to Church and the understanding of how work and prayer can never be the same, but at the
same time, can work in conjunction for my sanctification and the sanctification of those around me. Always
remember, both work and prayer are difficult and both take a lot of effort. Perhaps one day I will do both
according to the perfect will of God!
Mental prayer is nothing else but being on terms of friendship with God, frequently conversing in secret with
Him. St. Teresa of Avila
He who does not meditate acts as one who never looks into the mirror and so does not bother to put himself in
order, since he can be dirty without knowing it. The person who meditates and turns his thoughts to God who
is the mirror of the soul, seeks to know his defects and tries to correct them, moderates himself in his impulses
and puts his conscience in order. St.Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
As fire has to have continuous contact with an object to affect it, so an intermittent thought cannot bring
about passion in a heart; a certain amount of time is necessary. St. Basil the Great
"We do not get dignity from power or money or culture. We get dignity from work." He noted: "Work is
fundamental to the dignity of the person. Work, to use an image, 'anoints' with dignity, fills us with dignity,
makes us similar to God who has worked and still works, who always acts." Pope Francis
Chapter 14: Interesting People
The year prior to making the decision to enter the seminary was an amazing time in
my life. I had finally decided to trust God (at least a bit more anyway) and try to grow in
holiness. I started by taking the same advice that was given to Matthew Kelly, that is, to sit
down and read a Gospel all the way through without stopping. For reasons that don’t take
much imagination, I started with the Gospel of Matthew. After 4 hours and two naps (or
slayings by the spirit as my director once said), I finally finished! The result? …a whole new
appreciation for the teachings and examples in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and a whole new
desire to learn more about Him and my faith.
The first year in the seminary, I read the entire Bible cover to cover along with dozens of books on
prayer, the lives of the Saints, and the systematics of the faith. I wanted desperately to grow in holiness and
thus set out to learn as much as possible. However, by the end of the year, I found it difficult to even pick up a
book for spiritual reading…even the Bible. Every morning I read two chapters to reflect upon, but found the
desire to learn and grow fading. Upon describing the issue to my spiritual director, he asked me to rattle off
the list of books that I had read in the past six months. “There’s your problem!”, he said. “How many of those
books have you truly prayed with?” Looking back, the honest answer was none. I was so driven to learn, I
didn’t take time to pray and experience what I was learning. It was then that he recommended a schedule of
reading that I try to adhere to today. First, read 1-2 chapters of the Bible each day and spend a minimum of 10
minutes of prayer and reflection with it. Second, pick one book for spiritual reading and read 1-2 chapters per
week maximum. Third, rotate other books to read from the following general categories; classics, Saints/faith,
popular fiction, historical/biographical, science/technology, and prayer. What I have found with this advice is
that I get a good mix of reading, learning, reflection, and prayer that helps me relate the faith I profess with
the world around me. This in turn continues to fuel my desire to learn, read, pray, and grow more.
Matthew Kelly is right, we never seem to schedule the things that are the most important and our faith
is the most important. Have you ever put Sunday Mass on your calendar and then planned around it? Do you
schedule time each day for prayer and reading the Bible and never change it for something else? Prayer and
reading the Bible are essential elements of happiness and fulfillment. Schedule some every day!
“To become adult Christians, you must learn familiarity with the scriptures.” St John Chrysostom
“All spiritual growth comes from reading and reflection. By reading we learn what we did not know; by
reflection we retain what we have learned.” St. Isidore
“The person who thirsts for God eagerly studies and meditates on the inspired Word, knowing that there, he is
certain to find the One for whom he thirsts.” St Bernard of Clairvaux
“Nothing would please us more than to see our beloved children form the habit of reading the Gospels - not
merely from time to time, but every day.” Pope St Pius X
Chapter 15: Falling In Love
The last question in my admissions interview into the seminary was “If you become a
priest, what do you see yourself doing in 5 or 10 years?” Looking back, my answer still kind
of shocks me. I said that I would be doing whatever the Archbishop wanted me to do, but
one thing that I did know was that I wanted to continue to learn by reading and taking
classes. I recently remembered how important it was to my overall growth both
intellectually and spiritually.
The first six months as a new pastor was chocked full of learning opportunities such as a week-long
conference on being pastor and courses on administration, financial management, and personnel. While most
of these courses were refreshers due to my past business experience, it provided me opportunities to refresh
and learn new techniques. Looking back, it was also a period of spiritual stimulation and growth, even though
what I was learning really wasn’t spiritual in nature.
However, by the sixth month mark, these educational opportunities died down and I settled into day to
day life in the parish without realizing how my lack of continuing education was affecting me. In February, I
rediscovered my love for learning as I attended the National Pastor’s Congress in Phoenix, Arizona. Dedicated
to parish visioning, planning, and stewardship, what I received the most was a spiritual sense of mission.
Learning was driving my spirituality and my spirituality was driving my learning. Learning, I believe challenges
us to grow…to stretch our understanding. Stretching our understanding inevitably leads to God and God leads
to happiness.
As I prepare for Holy Week, I am doing so with an eye toward learning by reading several books that
discuss how to celebrate Holy Week in a manner that brings the signs and symbols to life in the liturgy. How
are you preparing for the most important week of the year? Are you learning something new about the faith?
Are you growing deeper in the mystery of the Triduum celebration and plan to learn and experience it with
family in its totality of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil? Come and learn that week with me!
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”
Psalm 32:8
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Prov 1:7
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls”. Matthew 11:29
“Education is not the piling on of learning, information, data, facts, skills, or abilities - that's training or
instruction - but is rather making visible what is hidden as a seed.”
St Thomas More
“If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze!”
-St. Catherine of Sienna
Chapter 16: No Visitors
Jim was 96, confined to a wheel chair with little movement of legs or arms, and a
guest each day at the adult day care that I visited twice a week during my senior year in high
school. My job was simply to hang out, visit, and talk. The only problem was Jim didn’t really
talk that much and when he did, he usually yelled…loudly and crudely. I dreaded the visit
each time because I didn’t do anything. I just sat there as he watched the morning news. I
was discouraged until a classmate approached me and thanked me for helping take care of his grandpa.
Apparently, I was the greatest thing next to sliced bread to Jim. He appreciated the time I spent with him and
he talked nonstop at home about our limited conversations. Needless to say, my perceptions and his were
very different.
This was the first time that I encountered “the lonely” and learned how much it can hurt; especially a
proud WWII multiple purple heart winner. This Easter, you will be visiting family and friends and hopefully,
everyone will share in beautiful relationships. However, don’t forget to visit our seniors and homebound
family frequently. Often times, the ministry of mere presence is the greatest gift we can give. As we celebrate
Jesus’ rising from the dead and making his presence in our hearts intimately felt, may we share that joy with
those who need us the most.
Chapter 17: An Unconventional Education
My oldest brother, who is my Godfather, took me on a weeklong trip to Tennessee

and Alabama when I was 12. When I returned, my older sister was angry and said, “You get
away with murder!” I have heard those words many times from my 12 older siblings because
I was able to do things that they never could. They always chalked it up to being “spoiled
rotten!” I chalked it up to my unconventional education!
Unconventional is being the 2nd youngest of 14. It was through my family that I learned everything that
I needed to know to be successful in life. Thanks to my brothers’ and sisters’ successes and failures, the
boundaries of right and wrong were quickly established. Hard work, dedication, faith, love, and sacrifice were
the driving principles of our family which is why I love to work and pray so hard today. What I learned from my
family has remained with me and affects the way I live my life day to day.
All of us have “unconventional learning” in our past. Some of that is good and some of it, not so much.
However, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, our experiences shape how we feel and live every day.
This week, take some time and examine your childhood. What were the driving principles of your family and
how do they shape your life today? Are these hindering or helping you achieve happiness?
Chapter 18: Tuesday Nights
The first experience of daily Mass that I chose to attend was a bit unusual. My
intension was not to adore and praise the Lord, but rather, to make my co-worker stop
asking me to go to Mass during our lunch hour every day! Once in the Chapel at Thomas
More College, the priest tapped me on the shoulder and asked, “Will you serve?” …really?
…my first daily Mass? Did my co-worker put him up to this?
What started as an attempt to never go to daily Mass again, became a love affair. The
more simplistic liturgy with very little music, the smaller crowd huddled close together in a tight space, and a
front row seat as server made me look at the Mass in a way I never had before. The readings seemed more
alive, and the brief homily seemed to be geared straight to me. I was hooked, I had learned the Catholic genius
of daily Mass. While I didn’t know the whys of what was happening, what I experienced was life changing, a
deeper connection with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Why go to daily Mass every day? The following is the TOP 10 from my seminary class notes of 10 years
ago…and nothing has changed!
10. Pray with Power! St. Bernard,

"One merits more by devoutly assisting at a Holy Mass than by distributing all of his goods to the poor and
traveling all over the world on pilgrimage." (St Bernard of Clairvaux)
"Know, O Christian, that the Mass is the holiest act of Religion. You cannot do anything to glorify God more
nor profit your soul more than devoutly assisting at It, and assisting as often as possible."
St. Peter Julian Eymard
9. Become a Witness!
The Eucharist "...enables us to become, for everyone, witnesses of hope” Saint Pope John Paul II
8. Save the World!
“Through the liturgy Christ, our redeemer and high priest, continues the work of our redemption in, with, and
through His Church.” CCC 1069
7. Visit Heaven on Earth!
Mass is "heaven on earth,". "…the liturgy we celebrate on earth is a mysterious participation in the heavenly
liturgy." Mary, the saints, the angels, they're all there at every Mass! Saint Pope John Paul II
6. Love More Perfectly!
“As bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so the Eucharist strengthens our charity, which tends to be
weakened in daily life; and this living charity wipes away venial sins.” CCC 1394
5. Kick that Sin Habit!
“Holy Communion separates us from sin…the Eucharist cannot unite us to Christ without at the same time
cleansing us from past sins and preserving us from future sins…” CCC 1392
4. Rescue Holy Souls!
“Oh Christian souls, do you wish to prove your true love towards your dead? Do you wish to send them the
most precious help and golden key to Heaven? Receive Holy Communion often for the repose of their souls.”
Saint Boneventure
3. Prove your love!
“Because Christ himself is present in the sacrament of the altar, he is to be honored with the worship of
adoration. ‘To visit the Blessed Sacrament is . . . a proof of gratitude, an expression of love, and a duty of
adoration toward Christ our Lord’.” "Jesus waits for us in this sacrament of love." Paul VI, MF 66; CCC 1418
2. Get Fed!
“The Lord addresses an invitation to us, urging us to receive him in the sacrament of the Eucharist: ‘Truly, I say
to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.’” CCC 1384
1. Abide in Jesus!
“The principal fruit of receiving the Eucharist in Holy Communion is an intimate union with Christ Jesus.”
CCC 1391
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live for ever; . . . he
who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life and . . . abides in Me, and I in him.” Jn 6:51, 54, 56
Chapter 19: Bored?

Mom and Dad heard this all the time when I was young, “Mass is boring!” If it wasn’t one of my many
brothers and sisters stating how they hated wasting time at Mass, it was I who took up the mantra against
something that seemed so old and outdated. What I didn’t realize was that my comments were not a
condemnation of the Mass, but of myself. Matthew Kelly wrote,
“Boredom is a manifestation of selfishness. It can only occur when we are
overly focused on ourselves. It always means that we have set God and
neighbor aside to focus exclusively on ourselves, and that is never a recipe for
happiness.”
Boredom is a sign of selfishness. If “I” am not the center of attention, if “I” don’t feel good, if “I” think it is difficult, if “I” don’t get
something in return, then it must be lame, pointless, and not worthy of any of my effort. Claiming to be bored at any time is a slap in
the face of God and a sign of disrespect to Him who gave us everything; our very life breath, the world we live in, our family and
friends, and not to mention His only begotten Son who died on a cross for our salvation.
Boredom at Mass is the ultimate sign of selfishness and disrespect. The Mass, or Eucharist (which
literally means “thanksgiving”), is not about receiving, but giving! We are there to give thanks to God. This
means an offering of self in praise, worship, and sacrifice. Even as we partake of the most precious gift of
Christ’s Body and Blood, we don’t “receive.” Rather, it is Christ who consumes us…that is, the part of ourselves
that we are willing to offer Him. Yes, we physically eat His Body and we drink His Blood, but it is Jesus who
receives us in the process… receives our sacrifice, our praise, and the little part of our hearts and souls we are
willing to give to Him. This we owe Him not out of some sense of debt, but simply because he is God and we
have no right to expect anything in return! Yet, in His unfathomable love, the measure to which we sacrifice
and offer to Him from our hearts, He refills with His sanctifying grace, a grace that helps us to live a life of
faithful discipleship.
If you are bored at Mass or don’t seem to “get anything out of it”, I ask, “What have you given?” Start
by praying a bit each day, reading and meditating on the Sunday readings earlier in the week, seeking God’s
forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and by being a good steward by offering time, talent, and
treasure (note all three are required for faithful stewardship). These will put you on the path to recognizing
how God truly is good and worthy of our love and thanksgiving!
“You’re bored? That’s because you keep your senses awake and your soul asleep.” - St Josemaria Escriva
“Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly
to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mold them accordingly.” - St. Ignatius of Loyola
“Those who love God will find pleasure in everything; those who do not love God will never find true pleasure in
anything.” - St. Alphonsus Liguori
“Heaven will display far more variety than Hell.” - C. S. Lewis
Chapter 20: Learning to Listen
The employee meeting was going to be contentious; I had that misconception from the start. I was the
new, two-week-old, manager who was sent in to clean up, organize, and retrain the employees. The previous
manager, as I saw it, was a complete failure. As a result, the store was a mess, losing more and more money
each week, and was in desperate need of help. Laying out my concerns for the store to the employees, I did so
with the hope that they would get on board and help me in revitalizing the store. The head waitress stood up
and said that she didn’t appreciate the way that I was demeaning the former manager in my comments and…. I
cut her off and butted in and said, “If you liked the former manager so much, maybe you should join her!” Not
exactly my best moment for sure! After the meeting, the employee, who was angry but had more sense than me at the time, asked
to speak in private. She said that she was happy about the changes, that they would make her more money in the long run, and she
wanted to go shadow a lead server at a training store so she could help retrain. That’s where she was going before I cut her off and
shut her down. As a friend of the former manager, she wanted me to know how hard she worked but never received the training
that she needed. Failure in listening skills 101! Thankfully, through reflective listening, that is, rephrasing or asking questions of the
one speaking, I listen much better, though always a constant struggle.
If listening to other human beings is so difficult, how are we supposed to listen to a God who is constantly speaking to us?
He is speaking! Can you hear Him? Are you listening? In this cell phone, social media crazed culture of instant news, it is hard to
discern God’s voice amongst the endless text message alerts and email notifications. So how do I try to hear God’s voice? When I
first started doing a nightly examination of conscience, I always recognized at least one (usually more) moment of every day in which
I resisted God by not saying or doing something that He wanted. I would beat myself up a bit, because that’s who I was, then vowed
to do better. The problem was, I never stopped to learn to listen. How can you follow God’s voice if you don’t know what he sounds
like? Part of my daily examination now is recalling the moments when I did follow his voice; the times I did hear his promptings.
Slowly, over time, this has helped me grow more and more in tune with the voice who is always beaconing me to follow and do His
will. Maybe one day, I will have the courage to follow it completely!
“When it's God Who is speaking . . . the proper way to behave is to imitate someone who has an irresistible curiosity and who listens
at keyholes. You must listen to everything God says at the keyhole of your heart.”
- St. John Vianney
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
-James 1:19
“He replied, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.’” - Luke 11:28
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
- Matthew 7:24
Chapter 21: The Power of Habits
Habits in our everyday lives are powerful! They can build us up and tear us down. Unfortunately, those
that build character and strength are rarely easy to develop and even quicker to lose when not practiced.
Habits that suppress and tear down are so easy, often feel good, and always tempting regardless of how hard
we try to break them. Let’s face it, it’s much easier to get into the habit of playing an hour of Candy Crush than
it is to exercise, read a book, or visit a neighbor. We know that the latter leads to better fitness and health,
knowledge, and relationships, but we find ourselves playing solitaire, watching TV, or a myriad of other
destructive habits anyway!
Positive habits are important to happiness, and habits in our faith life are essential! Some of the most powerful habits are
called devotions. Since Vatican II, it seems like even mentioning the word is taboo, yet they are the essential building blocks for
strengthening our faith. What are devotions? Devotions are "...expressions of love and fidelity that arise from the intersection of
one's own faith, culture and the Gospel of Jesus Christ." (USCCB) They are expressions of the popular piety of the people designed to
extend, not replace, the liturgical life of the Church (CCC 1674). Devotions are designed to draw the participant into a deeper
understanding of the mysteries of the faith.
Sometimes I think that God is just sitting up there in heaven, looking down, and smiling about how He is going to amaze
me! When I first entered the seminary, I had developed the habit of praying the rosary, Eucharistic adoration, and reading scripture,
but I always had a deep yearning for a specific devotion that would allow me to grow deeper in my love of Christ. My first year in the
seminary, I was given a prayer card with the Anime Christi prayer, but I didn’t know the origin of it (it is a Sacred Heart devotional
prayer). I liked it, turned it into a song, and play the tune whenever I sit down at the piano. That summer I spent time with Fr Angelo
Caserta in Piqua. It seemed like in every homily he’d talk about the Sacred Heart of Jesus but, since this was always around the 20-
minute mark, I was pretty much tuned out (one of those bad habits, mea culpa!). Then once ordained, I was assigned to St Peter in
Huber Heights where on each 1st Friday of the month the parish celebrated the Sacred Heart devotions. Now, I am assigned to Our
Lady of the Sacred Heart and Sts Peter and Paul which both have histories of the same devotion. See the pattern God planned for
me? After research and prayer, my devotion for life is to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is a devotion that is leading me into a deeper
understanding of and love for Christ. Now I see that he has been leading me there since the beginning. I guess that’s how God works
with creating devotional habits…baby steps. What habit step will you take for Him today?
“Such is the strength of the burden of habit. Here I have the power to be but do not wish it. There I wish to be but lacks the power. On
both grounds, I'm in misery.” - Saint Augustine
“Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your
habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
Chapter 22: How Many Sundays Left?
Based on the actuarial table that a US male will live till he is 78.8 years old, I have 1,744 Sundays
before I die. Of course, who knows what tomorrow brings? Actuary tables are fine for planning retirement
strategies, but they are averages, guest-imates at best, which means this Sunday just might be my last...that is,
if I make it there! Would you celebrate your Sunday differently if you knew it was your last? It sure made me
stop and think! Yet, life continues and each day gives me another chance; a chance to pray more fervently, love
more ardently, and celebrate the glorious Sacrifice of the Mass most humbly and devoutly.
Matthew Kelly’s brother always says, “Don’t waste a single Sunday. If you don’t waste Sundays, you
will be less likely to waste Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, …” While I pondered the theological implications of this statement, my
mind kept drifting to two memories. First, our hay baler had broken and we needed to find the parts to fix it. Lucky for me, I was
close by when Mom said, “Let’s go, you can keep me company.” So, off we went. We drove to five different parts stores in Harrison,
Springdale, Oxford, Newtown, and Louisville. We left at 9 am and didn’t get back till 8 pm. When we walked into the barn, my Dad
asked my Mom if we were able to get all the parts. She replied, “I wasted the whole day, but I got them.” What she saw as
something “wasted” I saw as a magical day of adventure, seeing new places, meeting new people, and spending quality time alone
with my mother (which in a family of 14 kids was exceedingly rare). I have always looked back on this day as anything but a waste.
The second memory was of spending a quiet rainy day hidden in the hay mile, about 4 ft. from the tin roof, reading a book
until I fell asleep. I would wake, read, and then fall asleep again. I probably spent 6 hours up there and read about twenty pages.
More Z’s than ABC’s I guess! At dinner, my Dad asked what I had done all day; he hadn’t seen me. I told everyone that I was in the
hay mile reading. My brother smirked and said “a wasted day!” as he shoveled more spaghetti in his mouth. Honestly, I wish I had a
few more of those so called “wasted days”!
What is a wasted day? I guess that it is any day in which you fail to make yourself present to the ones who love
you…especially the one who made you, God. In that old, beat-up, A/C-less station wagon on a hot July day, my mother was more
present to me than ever before. What she thought wasted, I thought a gift from God. Even that cool hay mile with rain falling like
racing hooves on the rusted tin roof was full of it’s wonder and deeply spiritual…after all, reading the Bible has a way of making that
happen!
"The Eucharist is the secret of my day. It gives strength and meaning to all my activities of service to the Church and to the world."
~Pope Saint John Paul II
"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love."
~Saint Mother Teresa
"The saints did not all begin well, but they ended well." ~St. John Vianney
“Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
~Matthew 6:36
Chapter 23: Attempted Murder!
We are living in a society in which… a young boy, after being slammed into a restroom wall headfirst,
laid unconscious while other children walked by for 5 minutes before an adult comes to the scene, a society in
which you can be charged with a crime for not reporting a felony, the news media reports half facts and lies,
and people fall away from the practice of their faith because they are “O.K. with God.” Where has all this come
from? Relativism!
Relativism, the belief that “I” am the center of my own world. What “I” think, say, or do is truth. That
holds for you too of course! You can believe what you want to believe and that’s just fine. You are free to make
up the rules, values and beliefs that fit your wants and desires. If something doesn’t affect me directly, then it’s ok to walk past an
unconscious child or a crime in the making without offering assistance; the media can report whatever they want, whenever they
want; regardless of the truth or its consequences; and your relationship with God is based upon emotions and feelings. What is
happening in our world? TRUTH is being murdered.
Truth exists that is objectively true, that is, it is true for everyone! Matthew Kelly points towards truths of mathematics and
gravity, 1+1=2 and if I jump off a bridge, gravity will have me crashing down. But, what about something that you can’t see, like God?
Jesus said that he was the TRUTH! How can we prove this? The answer comes in witness. The first witness is Jesus himself. He told
Pontius Pilot that he came to testify to the truth, to be a witness to what is truly real beyond this dying world of ours. This witness
has been handed down to us through the Tradition of the Church both in the Tradition of Sacred Scripture and the Tradition of the
Apostolic teaching passed through the ages. Ultimately, Truth is driven by the Holy Spirit. How else could you explain the existence
of the faith after so many human failings in the Church through the centuries. This Truth has been kept alive through the examples
of the Saints and many holy men and women who whose life mirrors the witness of Christ. It is time that we start putting a little
more place and honor for TRUTH in our lives by becoming true Witnesses of Jesus Christ, the only TRUTH that can never die.
“Truth or truthfulness is the virtue which consists in showing oneself true in deeds and truthful in words, and guarding against
duplicity, dissimulation, and hypocrisy.” CCC 2505
“The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.” Flannery O’Connor
“Freedom that lacks moral truth becomes its own worst enemy.” George Weigel
“Truth is not private property.” Saint Augustine
“The greatest kindness one can render to any man is leading him to truth. Saint Augustine
“If you want peace, work for justice. If you want justice, defend life. If you want life, embrace the truth – the truth revealed by
God.” Saint John Paul the Great
“Truth draws strength from itself and not from the number of votes in its favour.” Pope Benedict XVI
“In contemporary America, most people are not moved by claims of truth or goodness. Relativism has made truth to be whatever
you want, thereby turning the good into whatever makes you feel good. So how can you engage the average nonbeliever? How
can you place him on the road that would lead him back to the Truth and the Good? Show him beauty.”
Father John Cihak
Chapter 24: Hungry
Hunger: having a strong desire or craving, most often associated with food. All my life I have been
fighting hunger and looking at me, you’d think I have done more than an admiral job of satiating it. However,
the real hunger that I have had all my life has nothing to do with food, although I often used it to hide the fact
that my hunger remained. Matthew Kelly asked us to list the hungers in our life and the resistance that we
faced in filling that need. As I look back, I realize what I thought I craved the most was actually just another
lesson God used to fill my “God sized hole” which only He could fill.
Everything I desired in life has led me to a deeper appreciation of God. After high school, I hungered to prove myself
physically through sports. Thus, I played softball 5 nights a week during the summer and bowled 4 nights a week during the winter. I
played them so much, I stopped enjoying them. What did this teach me? Humility! Let’s face it, an overweight 5’5’’ body can only
take so much pounding before it begins to fail. Eventually my pride gave way (ok, partially gave way) to a deeper reliance upon God
in my life. I recognized my own limitations and God’s almighty power. After all, God is God, I am not, and I need Him more than He
needs me! This became most evident when I experienced my family in prayer, standing around my bed as they thought I laid dying
of meningococcal meningitis (a result of too much work and play and not enough sleep). God’s love, power and healing prevailed.
Later, my drive to succeed at work and make money only led to more “God lessons.” Who would have ever guessed that I could
sympathetically relate to a customer screaming at the top of their lunges and throwing pizza at me because their order was wrong
again! I started to understand the awesome power of forgiveness and understanding. How many times have I messed up (too many
to count) and yet all God does is reach out loving arms of forgiveness.
Every one of our worldly “hungers” has a spiritual lesson to teach; a lesson that reveals another powerful attribute of God.
Matthew Kelly urged us to share these hungers, I think, because we can’t experience the immensity of God on our own. So, my
latest worldly “hunger” within my life hunger for God is for a renewed, enlivened faith community. One of the promises I made to
the Archbishop and the people of God at Ordination was to pray for the Church and the people of God. As pastor, this promise takes
on a whole new meaning as all people within our regional boundaries are my spiritual responsibility, Catholic and non. My hope is
that we pray frequently, study harder, and serve longer, together. Only then will we be filling that ultimate hunger of every human
heart, the longing for God. May we strive to model ourselves after our Patronal Saints, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and Saints Peter
and Paul…pray for us.
“O God, thou art my God, I seek thee, my soul thirsts for thee; my flesh faints for thee, as in a dry and weary land where no water is.
So I have looked upon thee in the sanctuary, beholding thy power and glory. Because thy steadfast love is better than life, my lips will
praise thee. So I will bless thee as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on thy name.”
Psalm 63:1-4
“Faith in action is love. And love in action is service.” Saint Mother Theresa of Calcutta
"If there is a physical thirst for water that is indispensable for life on this earth, there is also a spiritual thirst in man that God alone
can satisfy." Pope Benedict XVI
"If we do not risk anything for God we will never do anything great for Him." St. Louis de Montfort
"Are you capable of risking your life for someone? Do it for Christ." St. John Paul II
Chapter 25: Breaking the Cycle
The cycle of sin is nothing new. In the Book of Judges, the cycle is clearly laid out for us. Everything at
first seems to be going just fine for the Israelites as they are blessed and prosper. However, the Israelites are
tempted by the society around them and they become prideful, forget God, and do that which is wicked in His
sight. This wickedness prompted God to send a prophet to call the people back, but the people do not listen.
The result of their willful choice against God is destruction and enslavement to a foreign power. Humiliated and
repentant, the people cry out to God for forgiveness. God in turn forgives them and frees them from bondage,
granting them blessings and prosperity. That is, till the Israelites are tempted again! The cycle continued!
The cycle of sin continues today! How often does God bless us and allow us to prosper, only to see us
fall into temptation and sin? Probably more often than we care to admit. But then, that’s why God sent Jesus to proclaim His
message of peace, love, and forgiveness. This is why Jesus died and rose from the dead. It is this message that has been proclaimed
by the Church to us beginning at the Resurrection all the way to today. Do we listen? Usually not
until the effects of our sinfulness catch up to us and we realize that the feel-good message Blessing and
Prosperity
preached by society doesn’t resolve the burning, aching desire deep within. It is in our humble
repentance that God reaches down to yank us out of our enslavement to sin. Through the Sacrament of Pride &
Humility &
Reconciliation, God fills this deep burning, aching hole with the flames of His undying love for us, granting His
Repentance Wickedness:
Cycle of Sin
blessings to us that we may prosper. If only we could say the cycle ended there and revel in God’s light and
Apostacy
love forever. Conventional wisdom reveals, however, that this is not the case as we are always lured back
into pride, wickedness, and sin; another chance to experience God’s loving forgiveness.
How do we break the cycle? First, we must know Jesus personally through reading His Destruction & God sends
warning
Suffering
Sacred Word and personal prayer and devotion. Forming our consciences appropriately according through
prophet
to Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition (what the Church teaches) is critical. However, this is
Humility &
only the first part because sin has both a spiritual and a temporal dimension. Matthew Repentance:
Blessing &
Prosperity
Reconcilliation
Kelly points out through the Alcoholics Anonymous example that we need human
accountability. For example, when I worked maintenance at a local college, I had the
mouth of a sailor, that is to say that I cursed and often used God’s name in vain. To break this cycle, I
frequently sought forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but I also started seeking forgiveness Cycle
immediately. If I used God’s name in vain out loud, I made up for it out loud by saying something like
Consequences
of Sin
Sinfulness
“Sorry God, I shouldn’t talk like that.” The result was that not only did I slowly learn to use other words
of our Actions to
express myself, everyone around me started using other language to express themselves,
holding each other accountable for our actions.
Gospel of Jesus
Christ
“If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us
from every wrong doing. If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make Him a liar, and His word
id not in us.” 1 John 1:9-10
“It is human to sin, but diabolic to persist in sin.” St Catherine of Siena
“This is the very perfection of a man, to know his imperfections.” St Augustine
“The things that we love tell us what we are.” St Thomas Aquinas

Chapter 26: You Can’t Succeed at Anything Without…
Growing up on the farm, I remember very early in life tending to the garden. We grew all our own
vegetables and canned and/or froze them to last throughout the year. Of course, we grew many extra as well
and sold them to neighbors and friends. They would pull in, tell us what they were looking for, we’d go pick it,
and they would give us a few dollars in return. We would place this money in the garden cans. 50% went for
planting next year’s garden and 50% we would save for a special occasion. Sometimes we would have a late
night, post milking of the cows, pizza party. Sometimes, we’d just walk to the corner store and get a candy bar
and a Coke (this was back when a Coke was a treat and not an expectation of our latest value meal). The
garden, while a ton of work, always gave us the food we needed with a little left over for others.
Once, when I was maybe 6 or 7, I heard about this place called Kings Island. I loved the carnival games and rides at the
Hamilton County Fair each year and I heard that KI was ten times better. I asked mom if we could go. Her response was only if the
garden fund could afford it. With 13 brothers and sisters, this was an expensive proposition, even in the 1970’s. So, we began to
save… no pizza, candy, or soda pop for an entire summer! Finally, the week before we went back to school, we were able to go. It
was an amazing day filled with rollercoasters (even if I only road the Beastie), carnival games, and good family time together. It was
a day worth waiting for!
Why was this such a wonderful day? It was because we worked so hard for it. We sacrificed our immediate wants and
desires to obtain a far greater goal. Together (and I think this was an important part of our success), we supported one another
when we were tempted to use the money for something else. Little did I know, I learned the basics of that time tested and essential
practice required to grow in the spiritual life, fasting.
Fasting is often misunderstood as the giving up of all food, but it’s not. Fasting requires the willingness to set aside an
immediate good for a later reward. Therefore, during Lent, we fast in order to prepare ourselves to receive Christ more deeply into
our hearts at Easter. By denying ourselves of those extra treats, we learn several things. First, we recognize just how much God has
blessed us even though rarely do we deserve it. Second, we begin to prioritize what is truly important in our lives. Third, we can gain
a clarity and focus to our thinking, and finally, grow in our relationship and understanding of God. This week, try fasting at least one
day from 1 thing that you don’t “need” but really enjoy and offer this sacrifice to God on behalf of those you love. Maybe a good
place to start is that extra bottle Coke.
“Now the soul who wishes to rise above imperfection… should remain fasting and watching, the eye of her intellect fastened on the
doctrine of (God’s) Truth, and she will become humble because she will know herself in humble and continual prayer and holy and
true desire.” St Catherine of Siena
“Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the
clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, and kindles the true light of chastity. Enter again into yourself.” St
Augustine
“Do you fast? Give me proof of it by your works. If you see a poor man, take pity on him. If you see a friend being honored, do not
envy him. Do not let only your mouth fast, but also the eye, and the ear, and the feet, and the hands, and all the members of our
bodies.” St John Chrysostom
“We must fast with our whole heart, that is to say, willing, wholeheartedly, universally and entirely.”
St Francis de Sales
“The ultimate goal of fasting is to help each one of us to make a complete gift of self to God.”
Pope Benedict XVI
Chapter 27: The Secret to Excellence
The season ended and Dean’s lollipop soccer team went 0-0-10. Of course, the team
scored only three goals all season and rarely saw the offensive end of the field. Dean was the
goalie and was more interested in butterflies, dirt, and picking his nose than stopping a ball,
yet each week they celebrated a tie. Everyone was a winner and nobody ever lost. At the
end of the season, every child received a big trophy, as if they all were the best players ever.
The reality was that the kids knew when they won and lost. The adult lies couldn’t convince them otherwise.
As a result, Dean’s dad never let him play soccer again. He sought excellence and refused to celebrate
mediocrity.
Excellence is the quality of being outstanding; that is to say, one who is meticulous in achieving at the
highest level. Unfortunately, the drive to achieve true excellence seems to have been replaced with a culture
of mediocrity, participation ribbons, and a feel-good mentality. The pursuit of excellence was a trait that I
looked for when interviewing candidates for a job. I only wanted those who tried to obtain excellence. This
doesn’t mean that they attained it, but always wanted to be and do something better than they did
before...seeking excellence.
Excellence requires humility and the realization that we always need help from others; it requires
coaching! When I joined the UC bowling team, I think that I was already a better bowler than my coach. At
first, this was a source of pride and I really didn’t listen to him. However, it wasn’t long before I was humbled
by his expertise. While he may not have been physically a better bowler, he definitely was mentally superior.
He knew how to seek excellence in the sport and was willing to lead me. He constantly pointed out areas in
my game that could add 5, 10, 20 points to my game (grrrr…that rotten 10 pin!). Without that watchful eye
and pushing spirit, I would never have become half the bowler, much less roll 4 perfect games.
It is easy to think about striving for excellence in sports or work, but what about the spiritual life? Have
you ever prayed for spiritual excellence; that is, to become a Saint? It takes real guts to make such a prayer,
yet that is exactly what God calls each and every one of us towards… spiritual excellence. Looking at the lives
of the Saints shows us that spiritual excellence is not easy. That is why almost every Saint has a significant
spiritual coach in their lives. This week we have a daunting challenge… seeking spiritual excellence! Who will
your spiritual coach be?
“The Lord delights in every little step you take.” Saint Francis de Sales
“Become a saint, and do so quickly.” Saint Pope John Paul II
“Follow the saints, because those who follow them will become saints.” Pope Saint Clement I
“Take courage! Fix your gaze on our saints.” Pope Benedict XVI
‘It is a dangerous thing to be satisfied with ourselves.’ Saint Teresa of Ávila
“You cannot be half a saint. You must be a whole saint or no saint at all.” Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
“To begin is for everyone. To persevere is for saints.”
“Why don’t you give yourself to God once and for all… really… NOW!” Saint Josemaría Escrivá
Chapter 28: The Light Is On…
Matthew Kelly is pretty blunt this week and so will I, “When’s the last time you’ve
been to Confession?” There are many excuses that are used in answering this question. “I
don’t like to go to Confession,” “I don’t need to tell my sins to a priest,” “I’m afraid to go,”
and the worst of all… “I don’t really sin”/ “I’m ok with God.” Let’s get one thing straight right
away, NOBODY likes going to Confession, especially me! Confession means that I have to
examine my life and freely admit that I have done something wrong that has offended God.
This is hard to admit; painful and shameful at times. However, Confession is necessary to growth in the
spiritual life and our Salvation.
I used to fall into the camp of those who said that I didn’t need a priest and that I really didn’t sin that
bad anyway. I would just approach Jesus personally, say that I was sorry, and then try and go on with my life.
The problem was that nothing changed…I didn’t feel forgiven and I went right back to doing the things that I
knew were wrong. Over the years, I have come to appreciate that confessing to a priest is not only important,
but necessary. In Confession, it is Jesus Christ Himself who hears and forgives sins through the priest acting in
persona Christi. This speaks to the heart of the reason why Christ had to become human in the first place. We
as broken humans could not and cannot make satisfaction for our sins on our own behalf. Jesus had to be both
fully human and fully divine to accomplish this task on the cross. Only a perfect human could make satisfaction
to a perfect God. The same applies with Confession. Christ uses the humanity of the priest to bring
reconciliation to the sinner. When the words of absolution are spoken, it is Christ who says “I absolve you
from your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus also uses the humanity of the priest in the Sacrament of Confession. First, there is a measure of
accountability that is established when sins are openly confessed to another human being. This is why groups
like AA all have mentors or peer sponsorships. Human support and accountability is essential to changing
destructive patterns and habits that pull us from God. Also, Christ uses the priest’s humanity to give advice
and council to penitents who need extra encouragement to fight the good fight against evil. One of the
aspects of Confession that have surprised me the most is just how much the Holy Spirit leads and guides the
priest. I can’t tell you how many times someone will come up to me and thank me for advice that I had given
in Confession. I always make a point of asking what the advice may have been. Often, the advice is something
that I didn’t even remember or know myself. The Spirit has a way of moving me that way.
Don’t be afraid of being judged by a priest or be ashamed. I used to carry these fears until I watched a
priest at a communal penance service. Every time that he absolved sins, a huge smile encompassed his face.
As a priest, I now know why. Priests are too happy that you have chosen forgiveness rather than wallowing in
the pigpen of sin than to worry remembering what sins you have committed. Besides, I haven’t met a priest
yet who hasn’t received the gift to forget all sins. I honestly don’t remember who or what about any sins
committed.
Ultimately, God can forgive sin any way he wants, but he chose the Sacrament of Confession to shower
his grace of forgiveness upon us. He knew what he was doing! The Sacrament of Confession is designed to give
the quickest return to His loving presence…and who doesn’t want that! So, I ask you again, “When’s the last
time you’ve been to Confession?”
“Go to your confessor; open your heart to him; display to him all the recesses of your soul; take the advice that
he will give you with the utmost humility and simplicity. For God, Who has an infinite love for obedience,
frequently renders profitable the counsels we take from others, but especially from those who are the guides of
our souls.” - St. Francis de Sales
“The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works. You do the truth and come to the light.”
- St. Augustine
“…there are water and tears; the water of Baptism and the tears of repentance.” - St. Ambrose
“Confession is an act of honesty and courage – an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to the mercy of a
loving and forgiving God.” - Blessed John Paul II
Chapter 29: Are You A Pilgrim Or A Tourist?
The summer before my Deaconate ordination, my classmates and I were privileged to

take a trip to the Holy Land. After a 14-hour non-stop flight from Atlanta and to Tel Aviv and
a short night of sleep, we began our journey up along the coastline stopping at sights such as
the Roman aqueducts and circus, the site of Paul’s captivity as he awaited transport to
Rome, and the Carmelite Monastery on Mount Carmel where Elijah confronted the 450
priests of Baal (if you don’t know the story, read I Kings 18:21-46- great story). We ended the
day on the Mt of Beatitudes with retreat rooms overlooking the Sea of Galilee. For 5 days we used this
location as the base for our touring of the Sea of Galilee area. Each day we visited 3-5 sites and each day we
were exhausted by everything that we saw and did. We were very much tourists, seeing the sights and hearing
the sounds. However, on the 4th day, everything changed, I became a pilgrim.
The Primacy of Peter Church is located on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. It is the place
where Jesus appeared after the Resurrection to the Apostles who were out fishing. Jesus ordered them to cast
their net over the left side of the boat and they had a miraculous catch of fish. Peter recognized that it was
Jesus and swam to shore as the others pulled the fish and the
boats to shore. As you can see by the picture, this was no easy
task as rocks were in the way. I couldn’t help taking off my shoes,
rolling up my pants, and wading out to one of the rocks about 100
feet from shore. I sat and began meditating upon the whole
scene. The sun shone brightly on my face. A light breeze cooled
me as water lapped up on my bare feet. In that moment, I could
feel Jesus calling to me, asking me to give all of myself to Him.
Then the soul-searching questions posed to Peter were posed to
me in a real and profound way. “Do you love me?” Jesus asked. I
thought to myself, “You know I do!” He replied, “Feed my lambs.”
Then again, “Do you love me?” “Yes, I love you!” “Shepherd my sheep!” Yet again he said, “Do you love me?”
My heart ached, tears streamed down my face as in a loud voice I proclaimed, “I do love you!” “Then feed my
sheep!” I sat on that rock for nearly an hour. Little did I know that about 10 minutes into my encounter with
Christ, they were calling me to return to the bus; to become a simple tourist once again. When they heard my
cry, a simple tourist I could no longer be.
That day was the beginning of a new relationship with Christ and His people. Every Mass, devotion, and
prayer; every trip to the hospital, nursing home, or meeting, helps me to fulfill that promise…the promise to
simply love Jesus. It is not enough to sit on a rock and be a spectator. Jesus demands our fullest attention, not
just on Sunday for 1 hour but in each and every encounter of the day. Whether we are at work or play, and
everything in between, Jesus asks us to answer that question by our words and our actions, “Do you love me?”
“To go on pilgrimage is not simply to visit a place to admire its treasures of nature, art or history. To go on
pilgrimage really means to step out of ourselves in order to encounter God where he has revealed himself,
where his grace has shone with particular splendour and produced rich fruits of conversion and holiness among
those who believe.” Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
Chapter 30: The First Intervention
The Cincinnati Reds are my favorite baseball team and when they recently selected
17-year-old Hunter Greene in the draft I was excited. He has great potential as an all-around
player at multiple positions. After signing a contract with a $7.23 million dollar signing bonus
he was ask many questions about his age and his ability to take care of himself on the road.
He stated that from his freshman year in high school his parents had been planning for that
day. They taught him to cook, clean, do laundry, and take care of his own finances. Because he knew how to
do all these things, he was ready to be on his own and take care of himself. If only life was that easy.
How often do you make plans or set goals in life? Whether it be for a New Year’s resolution, a future
vacation, our child’s education, or retirement, setting goals helps us sacrifice a current good for a future
reward. For 30 weeks now, we have been talking about how to be happy; how to be in right relationship with
God. Now Matthew Kelly asks us to look at our lives and set spiritual goals for the coming year.
What are you willing to do in order to grow in the happiness that is God? How is your relationship with
Jesus going to be transformed and what steps are you going to take to get there? Often times we become lazy
and wait for God to zap us with a new lively faith that makes us feel good and sometimes he does. However,
we must respond to his grace and take deliberate steps to reach Him. This week, set some spiritual goals and
design a path to accomplish them. Ensure your path includes all the hallmarks of a faithful steward…time,
talent, and treasure. Mix in the time tested and Jesus approved spiritual pillars of prayer, fasting, and
almsgiving and you will be well on your way to achieving your ultimate goal, true happiness with God.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways
acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
-Proverbs 3:5-6
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
-Proverbs 16:9
“ The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”
-Proverbs 21:5
“The help of God is always ready and always near, but is given only to those who seek and work, and only to
those seekers who, after putting all their powers to the test, cry out with their whole heart: ‘Lord help us!’”
-St Theophan the Recluse
“Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.”
-St. Augustine
Chapter 31: A Weekend Away
Matthew Kelly’s weekend was supposed to be a little fun with friends, some golf, and a chance to
unwind from a busy international speaking tour. Instead, he was blindsided by his friends with “We think you
are wasting your life and need to make some changes.” They didn’t believe what he was doing with his life was
wrong, but unfulfilled. They could see and wanted to challenge him to something more. “We want you to think
about how you can have one hundred times more impact over the next fifteen years than you did over the past
fifteen.” From that intervention, Dynamic Catholic was formed.
Have you had these types of interventions in your life? Looking back, I see my brother’s challenging
me to return to attending Mass, even if only to sing, as an intervention. My co-worker at Thomas More College
who harassed me into going to daily Mass, also an intervention. While these two interventions had a tremendous impact on the
course of my life, I have found that God has led others to intervene in my life on a daily basis. It might come in the form of a
question from a parishioner about a matter of faith that leads me to a new and deeper understanding or a secretary who yells at me
to get out of the office on my day off that refreshes my spirit. God puts friends in our lives each and every day to intervene, to lead
us to a deeper relationship with Him and a happier life. The question is, do we listen?
Friendship is marked by challenge. The challenge, as Matthew Kelly would say, is to become “a better version of ourselves.”
If another is truly your friend, they will notice when you are struggling and support you, when you are sorrowful and comfort you;
and when you are lukewarm and stagnant, challenge you. If they don’t, can you really call them friend? Friends don’t let friend
settle for mediocrity or wallow in self-pity and doubt. They want excellence and happiness and nothing less.
How have you been challenged by co-workers, family, and friends this week and how have you responded? Have you
accepted the challenge? In what ways have you challenged your friends? Did you do so in Christian charity?
“Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter;

whoever finds one finds a treasure.
Faithful friends are beyond price,
no amount can balance their worth.
Faithful friends are life-saving medicine;
those who fear God will find them.” Sirach 6:14-17
“There is nothing more on this earth to be prized than true friendship.” St Thomas Aquinas
“God sends us friends to be our firm support in the whirlpool of struggle. In the company of friends, we will
find strength to attain our sublime ideal.” St Maximilian Kolbe
Chapter 32: Let Your Light Shine
“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works
and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
Everyone has a light, the light of Christ that burns within us. It is a light that by nature wants
to burn brightly for all to see, yet, most often we hid it under the bushel basket of excuses
such as “I am too busy at work,” “I have no time because I’m running the kids all over,”
“nobody wants to see my light,” or (insert your excuse here). God has given us a light that is
meant to be shared, but what holds us back? My excuse used to be “I’m not good enough!” I
feared failure so I never attempted anything that I didn’t think I could excel. That prevented me from even
trying to shine my light. However, a quote from the movie “Coach Carter” made me look at things a little
differently. The movie is about a basketball coach who attempts to elevate the standards of the team socially,
academically, and athletically. His players signed a contract stating that that they would maintain at least a 3.0
GPA in every class. When they failed to meet this standard, Coach Carter put a lock on the gym and forfeited
games until they achieved their academic goal. This caused an uproar in the community who thought
basketball was their only ticket to a better life. The school board unlocked the gym and demanded that
basketball resume, but the players refused to play until they met the academic standard. In one of the most
dramatic and enlightening scenes, Timo Cruz stood up and said,
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It
is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is
nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to
shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we
unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our
presence automatically liberates others.”
We are powerful when we let our light shine! Why? Because it is God’s light that shine through us! We may
not be perfect at many of the things that God asks us to do, but it is exactly because we do it, that makes us
powerful and lets our light shine, not because we are powerful in and of ourselves but because it is God’s light
that shines through us.
Have you been hiding your light under a bushel basket, preventing God’s light within you to reach the
world? If there is one thing that I have learned over the last 5 years of priesthood is that if God wills it, he will
give you the wisdom, grace, and strength to see it through. Don’t let the light of Christ waste away inside of
you. Releasing God’s light within you only brightens your path and the path of others heading in your
direction. Beginning this week, step outside your comfort zone and let your light shine!
“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” St Francis of Assisi
“Be brave, don’t be afraid of your weakness, because in Christ crucified, you can do everything.”
St Catherine of Sienna
“Darkness can only be scattered by light. Hatred can only be conquered by love.” St Pope John Paul II
“Word which do not give the light of Christ, increase the darkness.” St Mother Theresa
Chapter 33: Made For Mission
Matthew Kelly builds off of last week’s theme of letting your light shine and reminds
us that we are made by God for mission! Mission requires us to use our talents and gifts to
go beyond our self wants, desires, and sometimes, fears to be of service to God and others.
It is in this service that our God given light shines the most brightly and encourages those
around us to join in the mission. How do we know what mission God calls us to? Matthew
Kelly argues that when we become the best version of ourselves, our mission will become
clear and that it is not egotistical or wrong to try and become the best we can be. In fact, it is only in becoming
the best version of ourselves, that we learn thankfulness and humility in the presence of our loving and
merciful God.
Becoming the best version of ourselves takes time and effort and we never know how God will fulfill
the potential that he has packed within each of us. Recently, channel 12 showed a clip on the news of my
nephew Andy’s wife, Kari who has been diagnosed with ALS (http://bit.ly/2u1vlpU). What is amazing about
Kari’s story is not just her fight against this horrible disease, but how in the process, God has used ALS to help
Kari to become a better version of herself. Her fight and mission to find a cure to ALS has inspired those
around her to mission; she has inspired them to seek the best version of themselves through the giving of
time, talent, and treasure.
There is something beautiful and inspiring about someone on mission! They just seem to get it! As Kari
has waged her fight against ALS, she has taught me how to be a bit more thankful and love a little bit deeper.
This week, think about those you know who are truly on mission. How have they inspired you to become a
better version of yourself and then ask yourself “Am I on mission?” If not, pray that God will lead and guide
you to understand what he is calling you to accomplish in His name. Be Mission and let you light shine!
"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit…”
- John 15:16
“So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
- John 20:21
“It is with the smallest brushes that the artist paints the most exquisitely beautiful pictures.”
– St. André Bessette
“Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak.”
– St. Anthony of Padua
“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy.
It has eyes to see the misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love
looks like.” – St. Augustine
“If we wish to make any progress in the service of God we must begin every day of our life with new
eagerness.” – St. Charles Borromeo
Chapter 34: When God Looks at A Resumé
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick was the one Sacrament that I was the
most nervous about in the Seminary. I had never dealt with death well growing up and I
didn’t know how I would handle ministering to the dying. My first week as a priest changed
my perception and calmed my nerves.
She was 89 years old and her health was waning quickly. While she was conscience
and still able to speak, she had trouble breathing and the doctors though she would slip into
unconsciousness within a few hours due to a lack of oxygen. Her family had stepped out of the room to take a
walk and get some fresh air which gave us time to speak. Over and over again, she told me that she should
have done more for God; that she had wasted her life on worldly things and done nothing for God. I simply
replied, “Nothing?” I then prompted her to talk about her life, marriage, family, Church, and faith. The résumé
looked like this. She and her husband used to pray the rosary daily together until he died 2 years earlier and
she continued to pray for the repose of his soul. She raised 5 children, sent them all through Catholic schools,
and the kids were all married with children of their own and practicing the faith at various Catholic Churches
on the West Side. She used to be part of the Martha’s club that cleaned the church weekly, served on Parish
Council, sing in the choir, run the cotton candy booth at the festival, and serve in the St Vincent de Paul
Society. But, she said that all those things were so long ago and all she could do lately was pray for herself in
her suffering. She said that Jesus did so much for her, that she should have done more for him. After receiving
the Apostolic Absolution, Viaticum, and the Anointing of the Sick, she lost consciousness and died peacefully
20 minutes later.
If you were to die today, what would your résumé for Christ look like? Do you think that you have done
enough? With the recent, untimely death of Rev Chris Coleman, I had to ask myself the same question, “Have I
done enough for Christ? Should I be doing more?” The reality is that tomorrow is not guaranteed, so we need
to start doing more today. Let us pray more, serve more, and do more; not to build a résumé but to love a God
who has given us so much.
"The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases
to exist." -- Pope St. Gregory the Great
"At the end of our life, we shall all be judged by charity." -- St. John of the Cross
"Charity may be a very short word, but with its tremendous meaning of pure love, it sums up man's entire
relation to God and to his neighbor." -- St Aelred of Rievaulx
"Love consumes us only in the measure of our self-surrender." -- St. Therese of Lisieux
Chapter 35: Don’t Let The Critics Win
It doesn’t matter where you go; home, work, the gym, or even to church, you will
find them. You know them, they are the people who are never happy and constantly have
something to critique or complain about. Today your home is too hot and the next week it is
too cold, even though the temperature never changed from its 74-degree setting. Meals are
never good enough, projects never worth doing or done well enough, and every social event
is not up to par. We all know them and we all face them every day, but we have a choice. We could allow their
perceived negativity to make us angry or eat away at our self-confidence, thus preventing us from moving
forward and doing God’s will, or, we could model Jesus’ approach of acceptance and challenge. Accept them
for who they are and recognize that they often have good willed intentions beneath the surface and then seek
to challenge them with education and prayer. Jesus accepted the Scribes and Pharisees as the leading religious
authorities, however, he challenged them to go beyond their limited understanding of God’s law. Therefore,
Jesus told his disciples, “…you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do…”
Matthew 23:3
Early on in my management career, I learned that there would always be critics in everything you do;
especially if you are doing the work of justice, peace, and righteousness. Satan, after all, has to make one last
ditch effort to derail something that is negative in his sight and pleasing to God. Becoming a priest and then
pastor does not change the presence of the critic and complainer. Every project and program over the past
two years has had its critics and complaints. Now, we could get upset and never do another new thing again or
try to improve anything, but where would that get us? The exact same place as the stubborn Pharisees and
Sadducees, nailing our Lord to the cross for failing to follow God’s will. I must…we must continue to strive to
move beyond our limited understanding of God’s law. So be assured, that there has never been, nor will there
ever be, a project or program that I will endorse without much prayerful consideration for its effects on the
faith and spiritual growth of our region and without proper knowledge, consultation, and collaboration.
While no one likes to listen to complainers and critics, they do have a function to play in a happy and
healthy parish and family. When based on factual knowledge and understanding, critique leads to better
discussion and future decision-making. My Dad used to always tell us that things were never as good nor as
bad as others reported it. There is always a bit of exaggeration in the truth and a little truth in the complaint.
The challenge for us as we strive to overcome and persevere; to not let the critics or complaints get us down
or discouraged. We are to strive for holiness at all costs and when we do, we will be truly free. When we are
truly free, we will be truly happy!
“No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may
impart grace to those who hear.” --Ephesians 4:23
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger
of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” --James 1:19-20
Chapter 36: Blessed and Grateful
Sick doesn’t even begin to tell the story. I was so dehydrated and tired from vomiting
for two days that I fell between the toilet and the shower and couldn’t get up. My brother, a
Cincinnati fireman and paramedic, picked me up and helped me back to the couch. I heard
him tell mom that he’d seen people who looked better than me die. Then I lost my eyesight
and it was off to the hospital. Thankfully, I don’t remember much after entering the
emergency room door. Mom said the screaming from the back room made everyone in the waiting room
cringe. Meningococcal meningitis was the diagnosis and the only cure was Penicillin, of which I was allergic.
After 4 days of intensive care (of which I actually remember little) and 12 more days in a private room,
I only had 1 day of medicine before I was going to be released. The doctor accidently left my medical file on
the bed and I decided that it was mine so why not look. What I read shocked me. Consultations from doctors
in Chicago, Houston, Peoria, and LA gave me a 7% chance of living past 24 hours and a 3-5% chance of ever
walking again if I did. I never realized I was that sick.
Looking back on this time in my life, I realize just how blessed I was. I am grateful that I had a family
who supported me, doctor who took care of me, and a loving God who healed me. The only lingering side-
effects are severe arthritis in my neck and the development of dyslexia which hampers my reading ability from
time to time. I think these two are really just reminders to take life in stride and always be grateful
After meningitis, it is hard not to be grateful, not just “for” something but “in” the everyday
experiences of life. Even amidst challenges, pain, and suffering, I find that I have more than enough blessings
to overcome them all. It is not coincidental that Saint Paul begins his letter to the Corinthians by giving thanks.
The Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, written in 50 AD, is the oldest Christian document in existence,
dating 20 years prior to the first Gospel, which means the first recorded message about Jesus is thanksgiving.
This week, take a look at your life and see if you really give God the credit he deserves. Do you recognize and
give thanks even amidst the turmoil of everyday life? From this day forward, start all your prayer with an act
of thanksgiving, for we truly don’t deserve the blessings he sheds upon us.
“No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” - St. Ambrose
“The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for what He is sending us every day in
His goodness.” –St. Gianna Beretta Molla
“Prayer is an aspiration of the heart. It is a simple glancedirected to Heaven. It is a cry of gratitude and love in
the midst of trial as well as joy.” –St. Therese Lisieux
“Remember the past with gratitude. Live the present with enthusiasm. Look forward to the future with
confidence.” –St. JohnPaul II
Chapter 37: Never Get Discouraged
The forces of resistance are always at work in our lives. Resistance is the easiest way
for Satan to prevail; to pull us away from the path that leads to happiness and ultimately,
holiness. Over the course of the past 37 weeks, I have had my battles with resistance in
writing these reflections. I cannot tell you (although Sally and Pat who create our bulletin
probably could) how many times I have come right down to the wire, just making the
bulletin deadline with my reflection. In the beginning, I thought by the 37th week things
would be different and writing would be a bit easier, but it’s not. Fighting resistance is quite frustrating at
times as it seems like I fight the same battles every day, week, and year. I guess that’s why I sit writing at 5 AM
the day of the deadline, knowing that if I don’t complete it by 6, I simply will not have time in my crazy busy
day to make the deadline.
Yes, fighting the resistance to write these articles each week was difficult, but yet so rewarding.
Rereading the reflections for the previous 36 weeks has revealed the tremendous grace God has given me
during this journey. Not just to write a weekly article, but to use it as a means of honest reflection upon both
my faith and my life. This was the goal I set out in the beginning, to demonstrate how the reading of a simple,
yet profound book could be an opportunity to think theologically about the experiences of our lives. No
matter how boring our lives may be, God is there working, giving us the grace to fight evil, overcome
resistance, and do good. Our problem is taking the time to recognize God’s work and thank Him. After all, God
wants us happy, holy, and with himself. We just need to accept Him as our own.
What toil we must endure, what fatigue, while we are attempting to climb hills and the summits of mountains!
What, that we may ascend to heaven! If you consider the promised reward, what you endure is less.
Immortality is given to the one who perseveres; everlasting life is offered; the Lord promises His Kingdom.
- St. Cyprian of Carthage
Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to
you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you. Amen.
- St. Thomas Aquinas
You think it very hard to lead a life of such restraint unless you keep your eye of faith always open.
Perseverance is a great grace. To go on gaining and advancing every day, we must be resolute, and bear and
suffer as our blessed forerunners did. Which of them gained heaven without a struggle?
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Thank you for the many positive comments over the past 37 weeks of reflections. They have been a source
of strength for me to break the cycle of resistance in my own life.

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RESISTING HAPPINESS…

Chapter 3: Making Sense of Everything

Chapter 4: Resisting God

Chapter 5: Life Is Messy

Chapter 6: Something Is Missing

Chapter 7: The Big Question

“To be a witness to Christ is to be a “witness to His Resurrection.” CCC 995

Chapter 8: Four Words

Chapter 9: Are You Spiritually Healthy?

Quotes From Scripture

Chapter 10: Get Busy Living

Chapter 11: Ordinary Things

Chapter 12: Soulful Living

Chapter 13: Hour By Hour

Chapter 14: Interesting People

Chapter 15: Falling In Love

Chapter 16: No Visitors

Chapter 17: An Unconventional Education

My oldest brother, who is my Godfather, took me on a weeklong trip to Tennessee

Chapter 18: Tuesday Nights

10. Pray with Power! St. Bernard,

Chapter 19: Bored?

Chapter 20: Learning to Listen

Chapter 21: The Power of Habits

Chapter 22: How Many Sundays Left?

Chapter 23: Attempted Murder!

Chapter 24: Hungry

“It is human to sin, but diabolic to persist in sin.” St Catherine of Siena

“This is the very perfection of a man, to know his imperfections.” St Augustine

“The things that we love tell us what we are.” St Thomas Aquinas

Chapter 29: Are You A Pilgrim Or A Tourist?

The summer before my Deaconate ordination, my classmates and I were privileged to

Chapter 30: The First Intervention

“Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter;

Chapter 33: Made For Mission

Chapter 35: Don’t Let The Critics Win

Chapter 36: Blessed and Grateful

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