Friday of Week 6 OT Homily

There are some who accept the importance of faith, but reject the importance of works. Yet to this we heard from the Epistle of Saint James: “So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” When we die we will not present our works to God in order to threaten Him to what we are owed. Rather, our works are a response to faith. As the Gospel of Saint Matthew attests: “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink.” “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink.” Here we can see the response that is required of us due to the fact that we are a people of faith. As we enter into the Lenten season may we find ways to perfect within us this response to the Gospel. Our faith calls us out of idleness and into the busyness of the world where we can bring Christ Jesus and His love and mercy to all those that we encounter.

Thursday of Week 6 OT Homily

Jesus takes each of His disciples as well as each of us deeper and deeper into the truths behind Him and His ministry on this earth. Some saw Christ as being John the Baptist, Elijah, or even one of the other prophets. Hopefully we have and continue to discover who Christ really is. Christ is God the Son, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. Hopefully once we have made this discovery we continue to pursue this reality and never take it lightly. This is precisely why the sacred season of Lent is so important because through it we take up practices such as prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in order to draw close to this life giving reality. May we always desire to behold Christ for who He is by pushing away everything that keeps us from beholding this life giving reality.

Wednesday of Week 6 OT Homily

This is the final Wednesday and all school Mass before we observe Ash Wednesday and enter into the season of Lent. Once we head into the Lenten season we will notice a few changes which take place in our liturgy. The priest will wear violet vestments as a reminder of our need to do penance, we will cease to use the Gloria (Glory to God), our music will become somber in nature, we will not have flowers that adorn the sanctuary, and our use of the word “alleluia” will cease.

This word “alleluia” is tied to Easter and the joy that comes with the Good News of our Lord’s Resurrection. This word comes to us from the Hebrew and means “praise the Lord.” This is seen as the joyful term that is used as the choirs of angels worship around the throne of God in Heaven. By putting the “Alleluia” to rest we place our focus upon the Kingdom of God which coming as we place our emphasis upon that reality. If we are to draw close to this most important of realities we must “put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.”

Following this Mass we will participate in an old tradition which gave rise in the 13th century by burying the “alleluia.” Here we will process outside and literally bury it in the ground. Hopefully this practice reminds us at our need to mourn at the filth of sin and to prepare to rejoice with the Lord’s Resurrection. As stated by Bishop William Duranti in the 13th century on this practice: “We part from the Alleluia as from a beloved friend, whom we embrace many times and kiss on the mouth, head and hand, before we leave him.”

Tuesday of Week 6 OT Homily

Leaven is a substance which is added to dough in order to make it rise.

Jesus is not using the word “leaven” in a positive sense when He uses it in our Gospel. Here He applies it to the Pharisees and to Herod and is ultimately alluding to the fact that what they have to offer can bring about a transformation which ruins a person.

With that we must stay on guard against anything that can take hold of us which may ruin us. Instead we must follow Matthew 13:33 or Luke 13:20-21’s positive use of the word “leaven.”

From the Gospel of Saint Matthew: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.”

From the Gospel of Saint Luke: “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”

Very soon we will enter into the season of Lent. Hopefully we will make use of this season to move ourself away from wordiness in order to pursue the Kingdom of God.

Wednesday of Week 5 OT Homily

What type of speech do we choose to utter with our lips?

Our response to today’s Psalm was: “the mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.” Yet there are also those who murmur the many sins which Christ listed in our Gospel.

Our words then become a reflection of what is taking place within our heart. As Christ instructed: “nothing that enters one from outside can defile the person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.”

With this in mind may we continue to purify our heart in the Lord’s midst in order that all that comes out from us can give proper glory to God.

Tuesday of Week 5 OT Homily

Today we observe the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. It was at Lourdes, France that many have made pilgrimage and through the healing waters of this place have found healing. Thus this day is also known to us as the World Day for the Sick.

Sadly, a part of the human condition is the reality of sickness. Sometimes our sickness can be explained while at other occasions there is no explanation for it. Another sickness that also plagues us is sin.

At Lourdes our Blessed Mother appeared to Saint Bernadette and asked her to “pray for the conversion of sinners.” Of these sinners that our Blessed Mother speaks of we are included. Our Gospel speaks to this reality for we are told “this people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

With this let us continue to pray for the sick and for their caregivers, but let us also continue to pray for the conversion of all sinners. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

Mon of 24th Week of OT Homily

1st Reading: 1 Cor 11:17-26,33

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 40:7-10,17

Gospel: Lk 7:1-10

We must never allow ourselves to become the focal point of the Mass. We may do a good job reading the scripture, but we must do so giving glory to God instead of to ourselves. The same holds true for our music and preaching because all must lead towards Christ instead of leading towards ourselves and our own needs. At the Mass Christ is the focal point to which we direct all of our attention. Christ present inside of the Eucharistic Sacrifice is the divine object for us to base our faith upon. We therefore come to this place desiring to humbly come to Christ instead of desiring to be exalted by our own actions.

Saint Paul wrote to the Corinthians with the hope that they would realize the importance of the Mass. It was his hope that these people would not take the actions taking place casually, but that they would allow themselves to enter fully into it. It was his hope that these people would approach the Eucharistic meal through humility. In our Gospel the centurion offers a familiar remark as he exclaims "Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof." In his exclamation he realizes the great humility that it takes to allow Christ to enter into our lives. None of us are worthy for this gift, but Christ desires to enter into our hearts and souls.

As we approach the Altar of God within this Mass may we take to heart the words that we will proclaim. Prior to the reception of Holy Communion we will exclaim as the centurion did "Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." With these words taken to heart we come to receive Christ into our lives through humility and realize that it is Christ who is held at the very center of this Sacrifice of the Mass,

Fri of 21st Week of OT Homily

1st Reading: 1 Cor 1:17-25

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 33:1-2,4-5,10-11

Gospel: Mt 25:1-13

There is only one thing that we are entitled to in life, and that is death. We may achieve many great things within our lives, but we are not entitled to them. We do not know if we will be married or become become a priest or have a great job or posses a lot of money. We do know that in time we will die. It might come at an old age or it may come unexpectedly when we jump inside of our cars and pull into the road. In our Gospel reading we are reminded that we know "neither the day nor the hour." With this knowledge we should feel moved towards preparing ourselves for this ultimate reality.

Today I have decided to celebrate this votive Mass of the mystery of the Holy Cross because the Holy Cross is a reminder of the triumph over death. Christ died upon the cross to save of us all from our sins and from the cross He continues to call out to us to come and follow after Him. We join this day with the cross of Christ as we prepare our hearts and souls to move closer to it. We know "neither the day not the hour" and so we spend the time given to us to put our disordered passions to rest and to move towards Christ. It is only when we have drawn ourselves closer to Christ that we will be prepared for our death.

In today's Gospel we heard about the virgins who were preparing for the coming of the bridegroom. Some were prepared for his arrival while the others found themselves in need of more time. These unprepared virgins were given the same opportunity as those who were prepared, but they did not take it upon themselves to be ready. May we not allow ourselves to follow after these unprepared women, but instead may we follow after the example given by those were prepared. We know "neither the day nor the hour" so may allow ourselves to be prepared for our ultimate destiny.

Passion of St. John the Baptist Homily

1st Reading: 2 Thes 3:6-10,16-18

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 128:1-2,4-5

Gospel: Mk 6:17-29

Today we celebrate the Passion of Saint John the Baptist which threw the years has also been known as the Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist and the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist. Saint John the Baptist was not put to death because he followed Christ. He was put to death because Herod fell into pride and lust. He was controlled by these passions to the point of losing the sight of reason. He knew that Saint John the Baptist was an innocent man, but his lust for Herodias' daughter was stronger than reason. Herod was put in his place by John the Baptist and this only gave fuel to his pride.

Our own sinfulness often blinds our eyes. Sins of pride and lust remove our ability to reason and to follow the path that we desire to follow. We cannot fall into the same trap that Herod fell into when he lost sight of what was good and followed after the path that led to death. Instead of allowing ourselves to be led astray by vices we need to allow our lives to be conquered by virtue. If we find ourselves blinded by a certain vice we should begin to counteract it with a virtue before things get so out of hand that we begin to feel as if there is no way for us to get out.

We are now at the half way point of our week of prayer. For these past three days we have spent time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. It is here that we can bring all these struggles and find the strength that we need to overcome them. All that we have to do is open ourselves up to Christ and His healing mercy. In our desire to draw closer Christ we known put our passions to rest by coming to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Through the confession of sins we are able name our vices and to receive healing, so that we again be strengthened by Christ's Body and Blood.

Memorial of Saint Augustine Homily

1st Reading: 2 Thes 2:1-3,14-17

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 96:10-13

Gospel: Mt 23:23-26

We are currently heading into the election season and we have a desire to find a strong leader. I am not talking about the election that is coming up for our country in November, but am referring to the election that will take place in our school on Friday. On Friday the student body will cast their vote to decide who can best represent them and thus make a strong leader for our community. Even if we are not running for office we are all called to leadership inside of our Church. We are all called to be strengthened by Christ and to allow Him to lead us into the world living out our faith by our words and deeds.

Today we celebrate the memorial of Saint Augustine who was a great leader within the Church. There was a point within his life when he did not go to Church and lived a life of disordered passions, but eventually he heard the call of Christ within his life. After answering this call he has become one of the greatest theologians in the history of our Church. It is thanks to Saint Augustine that we have developed many of the beliefs that we hold to this day. All of his deeds and words were fashioned after Christ who gave strength to his soul. From this strength he drew his ability to be a great leader for the Church.

Each of us are called to be strengthened by Christ this day. This day we will receive Christ present inside of the Holy Eucharist and will be sent out as leaders living lives were our words and deeds are in union with Him. When we are strengthened in this manner we can go out of here living lives which are not contrary to the Gospel. May each of us be led forth from this place strengthened by Christ, so that we can become great leaders. No matter where we find ourselves may we continue to allow ourselves to be strengthened by Christ, so that our lives can lead other people to this place.

Memorial of St. Monica Homily

1st Reading: 2 Thes 1:1-5,11-12

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 96:1-5

Gospel: Mt 23:13-22

Today we celebrate the memorial of Saint Monica. Saint Monica was a woman of persistent prayer. She was married to a man who held to pagan belief, but she remained persistent in her hope that he would convert to Christianity. She is also known as being the mother of Saint Augustine whose memorial we will celebrate tomorrow. Augustine was raised without being baptized because his father would not have it. As Augustine grew into adulthood his mother continued to persistently pray that he would come into the faith. Through her persistent prayer her husband and son eventually came into the Church.

We are now within our second day of our parish's Week of Prayer. During this upcoming week we strive to continually come to our Lord desiring to draw closer into union with Him. When we pray we do not always get the results that we want and when we do get them they do not come as quickly as we would like. No matter what our situation is we must continue to consistently come to Christ through prayer. No matter what the results may be we must continue to persevere in prayer placing our trust in Christ. It is only with our trust placed fully in Christ that we can begin to conquer sin in our lives and draw ourselves closer to the beatific vision.

In today's first reading we hear that Christ's disciples prayed persistently for those who shared the faith. They placed the well being of this community of faith within the Hands of God in hope that all people will continue to strive after Him. May we allow Saint Monica to intercede for us today that we may continually come to God with persistent prayer. It in our practice of prayer may we continue to turn away from despair and thus continue to trust in the life giving reality of prayer. It is only through prayer that we can begin to understand the marvelous deeds that come from God.

Sat of 20th Week in OT Homily

1st Reading: Ez 43:1-7

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 85:9-14

Gospel: Mt 23:1-12

If you were to do a google search for "priest" or "catholic" and look at the news that corresponds to it you would see a lot of negative things. Despite all the negative things that we see being reported we know that a countless amount of good things go unnoticed by the public eye. The countless hours that a priest spends with a family during the death of a loved one are not reported. The countless hours that all of you spend in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament are not reported. The great gift that the sisters show to each of us of the virtue of humility goes unreported.

We do not do the things that we do so that we can obtain great fame. We instead are acting out of love by challenging ourselves to live out the Gospel message inside of our daily lives. With all of the negative things which exist inside of the world we are going out to bring a message of hope to the world. In doing this we will not be chasing after fame and fortune, but will be giving totally of ourselves because it is the only way that we can be fulfilled. We will never be fulfilled if our only motive is being exalted because we are not giving of ourselves and only desire to be served.

On this Saturday we call to mind the Blessed Virgin Mary who was an example of giving totally of herself. When the angel Gabriel came to her at the Annunciation and told her that she would bare a Son she excepted this gift with great humility. In her "yes" she did not desire to exalt herself above all people, but her "yes" was given through humility. On this day may we allow our Blessed Mother to intercede for us. Through her intercession may each of us grow in humility as we continue to go out into the world and give service to God's Holy Gospel.

Queenship of Mary Homily

1st Reading: Ez 34:1-11

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 23:1-6

Gospel: Mt 20:1-16

I tried to think of different examples to better explain our Gospel passage, but I found this to be impossible. It is impossible because in each idea that came to my mind it would make the people who came later to be lazy. Being lazy has nothing to do with these people because when they heard the call of the landowner they were willing to go out and work. We must take their example upon ourselves because in spiritual matters we cannot be lazy. We have to take the invitation that comes to us from Christ and do something with it. Turning away from sin, receiving the sacraments, learning more about the faith, and prayer are all ways that we can keep from becoming lazy in spiritual matters.

This story also makes me think about the people who did not respond to the landowner's call. This people do not exist in the story, but they had to of been present. They would of been given a great invitation and allowed it to pass them bye. We allow Christ to pass us bye on many occasions when we find ourselves to busy to allow Him to enter into our lives. Making time now to work hard at growing in this relationship is important so that we can begin to stop allowing ourselves to pass Christ bye. He is always present and desires to bring his infinite mercy into our lives.

Today we are seven days removed from the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. On this day we celebrate the memorial of the Queenship of Mary. This day in the liturgical year gives us faith that we can turn towards our Heavenly Mother. It is her desire to intercede for us during our busy lives, so that we may be brought closer to Her Son. No matter what stage in life we currently find ourselves we can turn towards Her for our need of assistance. Through Her intercession we can better prepare ourselves to receive the Body and Blood of Christ which gives nourishment to our souls.

Mon of 20th Week of OT Homily

1st Reading: Ez 24:15-23

Responsorial Psalm: Dt 32:18-21

Gospel: Mt 19:16-22

Confession is a very important sacrament of the Church. For this reason we offer the sacrament following our 8am Mass on Wednesday and Saturday. We also offer confession following Mass on Friday for the students who are in our school. Most recently we added 4-5pm on Saturday to our confession schedule. The sacrament of reconciliation is a most profound sacrament that allows us to know and trust in the mercy of God. Through this great sacrament we are able to come before Christ sinful and separated from Christ and walk out forgiven and thus in relationship with Christ.

I am often asked how one can make a good confession. In order to make a good confession we need to take the time necessary to reflect upon our life through an examination of conscience. Spending time reflecting upon the ten commandments and asking ourselves how we have lived up to these commandments or have failed to live up to these commandments is the perfect place to start. Spending time in preparation prior to receiving this sacrament will definitely aid each of us in our reception of the sacrament. It will make us prepared to come before Christ and to ask for mercy to enter into our lives.

The second half from our Gospel reading today deals with drawing closer to God out of love. This person was instructed to go and give up everything that they had out of love for Christ. We are not being told to leave this Church and get rid of everything that we own, but we are being told that everything that we do should be done out of love for God. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the perfect place to come and to totally give of ourselves out of love. Through this sacrament we will be prepared for the gift of the Body and Blood of Christ which is ever strengthening us in our love for Christ.

Fri of 19th Week of OT Homily

1st Reading: Ez 16:59-63

Responsorial Psalm: Is 12:2-6

Gospel: Mt 19:3-12

As Christians we should all be moving towards a greater relationship with Christ. We have each been given a profound vocation which calls us to enter into union with God. The married life is a vocation where a man and woman join together and through their relationship are able to direct each other towards the love of Christ. A priest or religious are able to live the celibate life and through it give themselves entirely out of love to God. Even those who currently find themselves single are called to not use other people to meet their own needs, but to give of themselves out of love.

In all of our relationships we must guard against taking advantage of another person. Love can only exist when a person is able to give entirely of themselves to another. In any relationship where the partner is being taken advantage of to meet one's own needs this true sense of love is not being met. This is why being celibate does not mean that one is merely being a bachelor. To live the celibate life is not to only live so that everything can meet your owns needs, but is to give of yourself to all people that you encounter. The example of the married couple, priest, and religious are all examples of how we can devote our love to God.

It is only through faithfully living out our vocations that we can draw closer to God. Whenever we fail to live out our vocations faithfully we are taking steps backwards instead of drawing closer to God. May we no longer use each other for our own self gratification, but may we give of ourselves out of love to others. When our society is able to give out of love instead of us going around asking what we can get out of things we will able to model ourselves closer to the love of the cross. It was on the cross that Christ died for all of our sins because He desired to give of Himself. May we give of ourselves in order to strengthen our families and world.

Mon of 19th Week of OT Homily

1st Reading: Ez 1:2-5,24-28

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 148:1-2,11-14

Gospel: Mt 17:22-27

The apostles separated the death of Christ from His Resurrection and thus they were filled with despair. In their despair they only placed their focus upon His death. I would agree that death is a sad thing especially when it is the mark for which you place your hope. Christ also informed them that He would rise from the dead in three days time. This should of been a reason for them to be filled with joy instead of being filled with despair. With the announcement that Christ would rise again in three days we realize that death has been conquered and there is reason to rejoice.

It is important for us not fall in this same trap. We must look to the death of Christ and not separate it from His Resurrection. The death of Christ is an important thing for us to meditate upon, but we cannot only spend time with His death. The Resurrection of Christ is also a praiseworthy thing to meditate upon, but we cannot separate it from the reality that came with the death of Christ. These two pivotal events in the life Christ must be bound together because they are important aspects of our Christian faith. These important events in the life of Christ reveal that He is the Son of God who has fulfilled prophecy and thus brought our redemption.

In the second half of today's Gospel we are given a very weird story concerning the temple tax. Here Christ reveals to Peter that He does not need to offer the tax to the temple because He is the Son of God. Despite the fact that He is the Son of God He continues to pay the tax of the temple. It is due to this reality that the death and resurrection of Christ is so important and thus should bring joy into our souls. God become man through His Son, suffered upon the cross for our sins, and rose again from the dead. May we join with Greta joy as we draw ourselves closer to this reality through our life of prayer.

Memorial of St. Clare Homily

1st Reading: Hab 1:12-2:4

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 9:8-13

Gospel: Mt 17:14-20

People say that miracles no longer exist. I believe that the problem that we face is not that of a lack of miracles, but that of a lack of faith. To think of all the miracles that could take place only if there was a little bit of faith. We have been given the gifts of the seven sacraments that come into our lives to bring an increase of faith. We have the opportunity to confess our sins and be forgiven. A little bit of faith inside of this sacrament could reform our lives greatly. At this Mass we come to be nourished by Christ and His Blood. A little bit of faith in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar could assist us greatly along our journey of faith.

Today we celebrate the memorial of Saint Clare who was a woman of great faith. She especially placed her faith in the Eucharist and allowed it to work miracles within her own life. She is often depicted holding a monstrance because of her faith that was placed in the Blessed Sacrament. It is said that the army of Fredrick II set out to overtake the city of Assisi. Saint Clare instructed her sisters to bring her the Eucharist. They then brought her the monstrance and she held it before her with great faith and was able to overcome the army that was coming to take the city.

Nothing will be impossible for us if we place all of our faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot only hand over a little bit to Him, but we must hand over everything. When we withhold anything from the Father we are not being open to letting Him enter totally into our lives. May we allow the Lord to enter into our hearts and souls today and come to bring us an increase of faith. As we spend our days working for this increase we are keeping are eyes open to the Lord for whom we seek. With great faith we are asking Him to enter our lives and to give us assistance along our journey of faith.

Wed of 18th Week of OT Homily

1st Reading: Jer 31:1-7

Responsorial Psalm: Jer 31:10-13

Gospel: Mt 15:21-28

It will not be much longer and our school will be up and running again. I know that when school starts up and I get to stick around things will start to sink in for me. I will finally be able to realize that I am going to stay put and do ministry for this parish. I promise that is a good thing. With the start of the school year we will also get the return of the Dominican sisters. These women are definitely a blessing for our school and parish community because they are an example of the faith that we profess. These women through their example and teaching are able to lead people towards the light of Christ.

Today we celebrate the memorial of the patron of this order in Saint Dominic. He was a great preacher and teacher of the faith. He led a life which inspired others to follow after God the Father. This is the same behavior that we get through the ministry that the sisters give to our parish and school. In our readings we are told about Christ our Shepherd who leads us all towards God. It is the role of the Shepherd to give protection to the sheep that they have been entrusted with. We each must join with Christ as being a type of shepherd to the world because we must live a life that draws other people towards the Light of Christ.

Saint Dominic through his preaching was able to minister to many people and to lead them away from things contrary to the faith. The Dominican Sisters are great beacons of God's love and through their ministry many people are led towards the faith and away from evil. In the ministry that we give to the world we must draw close to Christ and allow Him to give us the increase of faith that we are in search of. It is up to us to draw close to Christ and to go into the world to live out lives which draw all people towards Christ. May we allow the Lord to be our Shepherd and to guard us as we go into the world to be examples of His love.

Fri of 17th Week of OT Homily

1st Reading: Jer 26:1-9

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 69:5,8-10,14

Gospel: Mt 13:54-58

This past week we have heard many parables which spoke about the importance of allowing our faith to have an increase. In today's Gospel we encounter Christ being present to His own hometown and yet they did not allow Him to work within their lives. It is always said that a prophet is not accepted in his own home. Countless numbers of prophets have brought the truth of God into the world and yet they were not accepted for it. Christ was no different because even here among his family and friends He was not accepted for the message that He was bringing into the world.

We join here today to celebrate this Votive Mass to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to ask for an increase of faith to take place within our lives. We come here for this first Friday of the month with the desire to draw closer to the Heart of Christ which is continually showering down mercy upon each of us. Through this devotion we join together with the intention that we will draw closer to Christ and thus our faith can grow. May this devotion aid us in putting to rest any disordered desires which speak contrary to the message of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. With these desires put to rest we can truly allow our faith to grow.

It is here at this Mass that we cry out to the Lord to come and answer us. In calling to God in this manner we are coming before Him humbly. We realize that we have no chance to increase in our faith without Him brought into the picture. May we continue to take the time in our hearts and homes to welcome Him in with the desire to give us an increase of faith. May our faith increase through our devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus to whom we cry out to in order to come and answer us.

Wed of 17th Week of OT Homily

1st Reading: Jer 15:10,16-21

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 59:2-4,10,11,17,18

Gospel: Mt 13:44-46

What do we define as being successful? For the many stages of life people will give different examples to this question. For some it is simply getting an A on a test from school. For others it is finally get independence from your parents thanks to getting your driver license. Others define success as getting accepted to college and getting the chance to better your life through education. Some feel that their success is found in the fact that they have entered into the Sacrament of Marriage and thus have found a partner to walk with as the attempt to achieve holiness in their everyday life. Others realize their success when they look to their family and see that they have someone who loves them and is willing to take care of them in their time of need. No matter where we place the value of success we must be united in all that we do with the Father.

Today we celebrate the memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori who was a very successful man. Before becoming a priest he was a successful lawyer who went undefeated for eight years in the court room. That is the guy that I would want defending me inside of the court room. Towards the end of his time as a lawyer he felt that he was pulled to leave everything behind to follow after Christ. Eventually he lost that first case and then decided it was his time to let go and to begin to follow after the path that Christ was calling him to. This radical decision did not correspond to his father's definition of success, but he still followed where he was called.

In today Gospel we were told: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has to buy that field." We each have many successes inside of our lives, but no matter what we call a success we must unite it to the will of the Father. When we are united to the will of the Father we have taken all that we have and have achieved great success in our journey of faith.