An All Saints Experiment (All Saints homily)

 Let’s spell out a few key points about this feast.

First. There is a lot of nonsense spoken about Hallowe’en, 

which is part of this feast. Hallowe’en means the eve, 

or “e’en” of All Hallows, which is just another way of saying, All Saints. 

So maybe you saw someone claim that we Catholics 

dressed up a pagan holiday and turned it into this feast. 

Not true. 

People will say, Oh, but there was a pagan holiday…

Let me tell you: if you look it up,

You’ll find there are pagan holidays all year long.

You just about cannot pick a day without some pagan connection.

Which is why you hear the same thing about 

Easter, Christmas, The Presentation, Assumption, 

and lots of saints days as well.

Hallowe’en is fun, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

But it isn’t about demons or ghouls. It’s not about evil.

Hallowe’en is about the saints.

It’s about grace.

Grace is God’s own life and love, poured into our lives, 

to make us like God.

All Saints – including the eve, Hallowe’en – 

exists to celebrate God’s success stories.

So, it seems funny that some Christians 

don’t want to talk about saints; 

it’s as if we’re saying, 2,000 years later,

And Jesus hasn’t had many successes!

But of course he has!

That’s what the saints are, and what we celebrate today.

Now, this year we did a little experiment; let me explain.

When All Saints falls on a Saturday (or Monday), 

it isn’t an obligatory holy day.

And because we don’t have a Saturday morning Mass,

The only way we could commemorate All Saints – 

as opposed to skipping it, which parishes are allowed to do –  

was to do it at one of our Saturday evening Masses.

I thought it was a shame to skip it, so we’re doing it tonight.

Don’t worry, this Mass still “counts” for Sunday.

And if you want, you can be part of All Souls at Mass tomorrow.

Just a note here about All Souls, which comes on November 2.

That is the day for the “faithful departed,” meaning: 

for those who weren’t necessarily finished products, 

as it were, in this life, but who have certain hope – 

I repeat, certain hope – of victory.

If you didn’t know this before, hear me: 

everyone who enters Purgatory will be a saint. Without exception.

Purgatory is the saint-finishing school, and our prayers help.

Now, let me point out something extra special we did at this Mass.

At the beginning of Mass, 

we welcomed a group of our friends and neighbors, 

some of them are relatives, who want to become Catholic.

This prayer of welcome could have happened outside of Mass,

But this day seemed very fitting to do it with you;

Because you and me are the one welcoming them.

We represent, if you will, all the 2 billion Christians worldwide,

And the untold numbers of the faithful ahead of us,

Who welcome them into the destiny of being a saint!

So often people ask:

Why do we have baptism and confession and the sacraments?

Why do we pray and do penance?

Why do we go to Mass? Every week!

What is this all for?

It’s basically like the first of the 12 Steps:

“We admitted to ourselves that we are not heavenly.”

Only God’s grace can make us so.

The Catholic Faith, all of it, every bit, is about becoming a saint.

No one gets left behind (Sunday homily)

 These readings cast light on the broader idea of justice

as the Bible talks about justice. 

We also sometimes call this “social justice.”

Now, the core principle of justice is, 

as St. Thomas Aquinas said, 

based on Aristotle: “To each his or her due.”

But there is another value that intersects with this:

And that is the principle of solidarity.

To state that simply: that means, we are all in this together.

Let me illustrate with a story from when I was a seminarian.

I was in Fort Wayne, Indiana for the summer, 

taking part in a program in the inner-city, 

organizing a “day camp” for children 

in the roughest neighborhoods of the city. 

Three Lutheran churches were providing a place 

for these children to get out of the house and off the streets.

So, we had various activities and sometimes an outing – 

Including, one day, to a park that was about ½ mile away.

We had about 30 children from 6 to 13 years old.

There were several adult leaders,

One was a college student named Ann.

She was in a wheelchair.

She managed fine on her own, 

except where there wasn’t a ramp cut into the curb.

And you know what happened with the children:

Some were racing ahead far ahead, 

and that meant we adults had to put the brakes on.

And we told them: “we’re going to the park, but we’re going together. 

We don’t leave anyone behind.”

That’s the principle of solidarity.

Now, there are some obvious applications.

Some people have physical or other disabilities.

Those of us who don’t need walkers or wheelchairs 

may not even realize how much of a barrier a step or a curb can be.

Some of our facilities are more accessible than others;

And some of the fixes are easier than others.

I am aware, for example, of the need 

for auto-open buttons at our entrances, 

and for wider doors in some places.

Yes, these ideas have lots of applications, including in public policy. 

My task here is not to recommend any particular proposal;

Only to invite you to ask yourself: how do we apply this?

Because the real insight I had 

when I was with those children in Fort Wayne was this: 

they weren’t even noticing that Ann, in her wheelchair, 

and other, smaller children, were being left behind.

That’s the first conversion moment: 

look around, see who’s being left behind!

In this Gospel passage, our Lord Jesus adds another layer.

The question of what do people deserve?

The Pharisee was convinced he deserved God’s favor.

And: he really may have been more moral than the tax collector.

Think about that: what if, instead of “Pharisee and tax collector,” 

we were talking about, “Prayerful Grandma and a pornographer”?

And now, I’ve made every grandma mad at me!

The point is, for each and every one of us, it is God’s gift!

If Mother Theresa were here, and we’d say, wow, Mother Theresa!

She’s a saint! Right: and you know what she’d say:

I didn’t deserve anything. I became a saint because of God’s gifts!

Back to the Pharisee. 

Let’s suppose he really was more holy, more virtuous. 

He’s probably who we’d rather have living next door!

But how do you think Jesus would have reacted 

had the Pharisee said this in his prayer:

“Oh God, thank you for the graces you gave me.

This tax collector is my brother. What can I do for him?

I don’t want to leave him behind”?

'Which leper are you?' (Sunday homily)

 Ten lepers were on their way to the Temple. 

The first leper said to the second leper, 

“That Jesus didn’t have much time for us, did he? 

That wasn’t very pastoral!”

“I know,” said the third leper. 

"I wanted to tell him everything he needs to change! 

What about lay involvement?”

The fourth leper said to the fifth leper, 

“Why did she have to bring her kids? 

How was I supposed to talk to Jesus 

with them making all that fuss?” 

The sixth leper said to the seventh leper, 

“I could go back and thank Jesus—

but he knows I’m busy: 

I’m sure Jesus sees the value of sports,

and understands why I need to put my business first.

The seventh leper said to the eighth leper, 

“Look, we’re all OK, but what about that Samaritan! 

Did you see how sloppy his clothes were? 

And what about those tattoos and earrings—

You know he’s one of those types, 

if you know what I mean!”

The eighth leper looked around. 

“It’s not like I’m prejudiced or anything, 

but why don’t they stay with their own kind?

Then the ninth leper spoke up:

“Say . . . where’d that Samaritan go, anyway?”

And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned,

glorifying God in a loud voice;

and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.

Ten lepers walked down the street. Which one are you?

Be part of the flood (Sunday homily)

 Today we celebrate a special occasion just for St. Henry. 

That’s why the readings and the Mass prayers were different.

We recall when this church was consecrated 

by Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk on October 3, 1982.

Here we are, 40 years later. 

And this is a glass-half-full-or-half-empty kind of situation.

The constant of our times is constant change. 

You and I experience it in this parish – 

but that reflects the larger society.

That said, you and I all want this church to be a refuge from that constant froth.

May I point out that when this church was built, 

it was a deliberate expression of change?

This design departs notably from the old, familiar style.

Maybe you like that, or you don’t, but it wasn’t an accident.

The hope was to express openness – not only to the world around us,

But openness to the future.

And the point I’m making is that a certain amount of flux 

was baked into this parish’s DNA right from the beginning.

And I think that “openness” this church building tries to model 

is at work in this community.

If you drive past St. Henry, early, mid-day or evening, 

have you noticed? There’s always some cars, always some activity.

Yesterday our soccer fields were teaming with families.

Day after day, our Parish Activity Center 

has meetings and basketball games,

When it’s not serving our students.

In the midst of the change with our three parishes becoming one,

That activity level is increasing. That’s openness in action.

Thank you for that openness.

It is disorienting and tiring to experience change;

At the same time, your openness is a healthy thing.

The task ahead for all Catholics in our country – 

not just this parish –

is to rethink and reorient how open we are, 

how engaging we are, in sharing our faith.

For the longest time, we Catholics were so low-key about that.

This is a culture shift and it won’t be easy.

Forgive me for reminding you: when you and I met three years ago, 

and I listened to the questions and observations of our parishioners,

a frequent yearning was to revive the practice of our Faith, 

to bring people back in these doors, and to bring new people, if we can.

If you and I are going to do anything with that desire, we can’t sit still.

So, on the one hand, 

I agree with those who’d like a little rest from change!

On the other hand, we don’t want to get stiff and stuck.

This church was designed to challenge us to action. 

Surely you noticed, the light comes in and changes through the day.

We need a refuge, but we don’t want to close ourselves off.

Indeed, you and I must be willing to be that water that flows out, 

as we heard described in the first reading. 

If you noticed, it starts as a trickle – 

that’s a symbol of each of us individually; 

but all those trickles become a flood, giving life.

That flood happens as each of us shares our hope with others.

So, here’s the answer to the question that always comes up:

How do any of us, as ordinary Catholics, engage in evangelization?

What does that mean?

It means, be a disciple yourself – be serious about your faith, 

grow in holiness, 

and that will feed the light in you that shines to others.

Being a witness means little things, little trickles of water:

Invite neighbors and friends to share coffee or a meal.

Welcome them to pray here.

In this church, we have a Rosary on Monday evenings, 

exposition on First Fridays, 

and the doors are open every day.

There are other opportunities at Our Lady of Good Hope and St. Mary. 

In the next few weeks, we have retreats for men and women. Come! Bring friends!

Would you like to help assemble blessings in a bag 

or to walk with women facing challenging pregnancies?

Contact our parish office to learn more.

Would you like to be part of a prayer group, or a Bible study?

We’ve got too many such opportunities to list. Call and ask.

These, too, are opportunities to invite others.

Sometimes, some of us can be more salty than fresh water!

There’s always something to find wrong if you look.

And that’s OK, because finding leads to fixing. 

Let me know what you see and want to suggest.

That said, there’s far more good to celebrate and life to share.

Lots of fresh water, lots of life; and you and I can add to it. 

Be part of that flood!

Why did Jesus praise the dishonest steward? (Sunday homily)

 The parable Jesus told is confusing in some ways. 

But here's the key point: 

Jesus is telling us to have the right approach 

to money, and stuff, and material success.

Let's compare the worldly way with God's way:

The worldly way is to use people to gain success and money;

God's way is to use money and position to gain people – 

that is, for the Kingdom.

One of the principles our Church teaches 

in the category of social justice 

is "the universal destination of goods." 

What does that mean?

It means that while we may own this or that thing, 

ultimately, everything belongs to God; 

and God gave everything in Creation for all his children to enjoy.

Think of a family. Mom passes out slices of pizza to everyone. 

He intends everyone to get some. 

What happens when Mom or Dad looks up 

and sees one child has three slices, and two have none?

God doesn't intervene the way my parents, or yours, would. 

But he sees, and he will hold us accountable.

Now, the point is not socialism, 

because that just lets people in government play god, 

and they make a mess of it. 

Rather, the point is that you and I help 

every one of God's children get a fair chance. 

And while my pizza analogy works for a household, 

It doesn’t work for understanding the resources of our world.

Many people mistakenly argue that our world is resource-poor,

and that we have too many people. 

First, it is simply not true that our world is lacking in resources.

This is a good and abundant world. 

It is a worldly way of thinking to say, there are too many people.

God never says that.

Remember the large, hungry crowds following Jesus?

The disciples voiced the worldly mindset when they said, 

“send them away.”

Second, that “too many people” mentality fails to grasp 

that people, themselves, are the greatest resource of all. 

It took human ingenuity to turn mold, that grows on cheese, 

into a revolutionary life-saving medicine: penicillin.

Lots of places in our world are poor, not for lack of resources,

But because of conflict and corruption and roadblocks to opportunity. 

God gave us the gift of human intellect, guided by conscience,

so we can work together to share our abundance 

for the sake of human well-being. 

Let's get back to how we approach our stuff and our plans.

It is good to be a go-getter; and to seek financial security.

But the key question we might ask is...

What is it all for?

What will I do with my success, and whatever stuff I acquire?

What Jesus praised was not the dishonesty of the steward,

But his prudence in using stuff to create relationships, 

For the sake of his future.

And Jesus’ point is this:

What makes sense to do in a worldly way,

Makes even more sense to do in light of eternity.

The crooked steward was thinking about his future. 

What about your eternal future? 

The best use of our stuff, Jesus tells us, 

is to gain people for the Kingdom?

If you have a house, you can welcome people.

If you have a car, you can give rides.

And whatever you have – money, stuff, talent, or time –

you can give it away.

Of course, the most important “thing” to give away is…yourself.

You and I can do a lot of good with stuff; but it is giving ourselves, 

creating relationships, that makes the most difference.

We talk a lot about “stewardship,” but that’s all it really is.

None of our stuff will be with us in heaven.

But we can bring people.

'The answer to darkness is not more darkness' (Holy Cross homily)

 Last weekend and this, I am giving a financial report at all Masses, 

in order to be transparent and accountable.

But the readings and the events of the past week also need attention, 

so I will circle back to that in a moment.

(Here I repeated the financial report from last week; 

I couldn't be present at all eight Masses on one weekend.)

Now, let me pivot to that first reading which is very strange.

Why would God tell Moses to make a bronze serpent?

For that matter, why did God send serpents 

among the people in the first place?

The key is to recall both the serpent in the Garden: 

who was, more than an enemy of God, an enemy of humanity.

But here’s another detail many miss: 

the serpent was also one of the false gods of Egypt.

In short, God was reminding his people of their choice:

Go back to being slaves of evil in Egypt or go forward to a life of faith.

That’s why the serpent was nailed to the pole:

The healing they needed was to cast away the false god.

Destroy it and accept that it was destroyed.

Perhaps you wonder why our Lord Jesus 

would connect that episode to his own saving death on the Cross.

He is telling us that, like the Israelites, 

You and I must crucify all our false hopes and false gods.

And the number one false god each of us worships is ourselves.

Our own greed, lust, wrath and pride.

This past week brought a sad remembrance of 9/11, 

and shocking assassination of a political activist in Utah.

I remember the anger unleashed by those attacks 24 years ago:

I felt it myself at the time!

And there is a rage beginning to boil in our present day.

I’ve seen people say online, we have to “hate” those 

who commit these acts of violence, and those who justify it.

To which I say, I hope you say: 

NO! Nail that hatred to the Cross!

Crucify the false god of wrath and violence.

The answer to darkness is not more darkness.

You and I, as the St. John Paul II Parish Family, 

are called to be joyful Catholics sharing Christ with everyone. 

Our work is never done—and with your engagement and support, 

there is no telling how far we can go.  

Let’s dream big. Let’s do more. And let’s keep building a parish 

that draws others from darkness to the light of Jesus Christ.

Our Lady of Good Hope (Sunday homily)

This weekend, we do something special 

for Our Lady of Good Hope Church. 

We celebrate the patronal feast of this church!

When I arrived, we tried this in January, 

but further research reveals that this title comes from Dijon, France – 

where they have tasty mustard, too! – in the 1000s. 

There’s a great deal more in this weekend’s bulletin.

One detail that jumps out at me 

from the history of the devotion to Our Lady of Good Hope 

is the times when people were facing challenges – 

far worse than any we face. 

They responded by crying out to Mary, 

and through her intercession, they prevailed. 

Moreover, they didn’t just stay inside the church, waiting. 

They took the image of Our Lady to the streets, 

recalling David’s actions in the first reading, 

and how we brought our Lord Jesus to the streets of Miamisburg 

the past three summers.

Also this weekend, I am once again providing you a financial report 

to be transparent and accountable. 

In this weekend’s bulletin, you’ll find a summary 

of the fiscal year that ended June 30, 

as well as the budget for the current fiscal year. 

Our finance committee helps prepare the budgets and track spending. 

Our pastoral council weighs in on major spending decisions and planning. 

Your parish staff and I have been careful stewards 

of what you have entrusted to us. 

And I am grateful for so much commitment and wisdom. 

For all activities last year, we spent about $7 million, 

with almost half of that in Bishop Leibold School. 

Remember, nearly 50% of our income 

also comes from Bishop Leibold tuition. 

The good news is this: together, we are maintaining stability. 

We continue to pay our bills, 

You and I sustain many activities and apostolates, 

and we educate more than 380 students 

in a Christ-centered environment at Bishop Leibold School. 

We have almost as many involved in our Parish School of Religion, 

high school programs and special sacramental preparation. 

Two-thirds of every dollar goes directly to people—

our teachers, our parish staff—and the rest to the programs 

that bring faith alive for parishioners of all ages. 

A year ago, I presented a budget planning to spend about $3.5 million on non-school activities; 

we ended up spending about $3.2 million. 

So, you can see, we are trying to squeeze every dollar! 

For this current year, the budget is virtually flat, 

and even then, there’s a small deficit of $3,000. 

But here is the more important issue: what could we do with more?

One of the great gifts we have in our parish family 

is the staff leadership that helps me not get bogged down, 

so we can all keep a view to the far horizon. 

Dr. Wallace, who served our school so faithfully, 

is now meeting one-on-one with parishioners, listening to your hopes, 

and helping us strengthen the financial future of our parish family. 

I’ve also asked our parish directors: 

if you had more resources, what would you do? 

Their responses are inspiring. 

You’ve heard about them over the last several weeks 

in what we have published in our bulletin. Allow me to highlight a few. 

• Faith Formation: hiring deeply needed staff members 

to support our continuing growth, 

to include adding another night of junior high youth ministry, 

walking more closely with the 40+ adults 

on their way to becoming Catholic and their sponsors, 

and enhancing the skills of our catechetical leaders 

to serve our entire parish family in every season of life.

 

• Outreach & Care: Creating a greater presence in Franklin, 

West Carrollton and Moraine, 

to help meet material and spiritual needs.

• School Ministry: Enhanced technology and classroom support, professional development, 

and competitive salaries to recruit and retain excellent teachers.

This is part of what more looks like. 

This is what your generosity can make possible. 

I said it last year and I will say it again. 

If all we want is a balanced budget, that’s easy: 

we can balance lower, lower, less, less. But don’t we want to do more? 

Reach further? Sow more seeds of faith? Help more in need? 

Change more lives?

In the pews, you’ll find pledge cards, 

which will mark the end of our Open Wide the Doors program for 2025. 

I’m asking you to prayerfully consider three things:

1. Share a prayer request. We will bring your intentions to prayer as priests and deacons.

2. Offer your time. Volunteer opportunities abound, 

and your involvement makes our parish more alive.

3. Increase your offering. If you already give regularly, 

consider an increase. If you don’t yet give regularly,

perhaps today is the day to start—

even a small commitment makes a difference.

Many parishioners find electronic giving 

to be the most reliable and secure option. 

If you’d like help setting that up, our staff is ready to assist you.

You and I, as the St. John Paul II Parish Family, are called to be 

joyful Catholics sharing Christ with everyone we encounter. 

Our work is never done—and with your engagement and support, 

there is no telling how far we can go. 

The name of this church is not, Our Lady of Standing Pat!

Let’s dream big. Let’s do more. And let’s keep building a parish 

that draws others to know Jesus Christ.

Note: I gave this homily also at St. Mary of the Assumption, leaving out the information about the title of "Our Lady of Good Hope," as we only observed that in Our Lady of Good Hope Church.

The best seat in the house (22nd OT Sunday homily)

When we are children, we all have those moments 

when we are trying to get mom or dad’s attention. 

Look, mom! Look! Look! LOOK!!

Of course, our parents want to look and see what we’re doing;

But they might be driving, or fixing dinner, 

or getting other work done, and they can’t always look. 

They might even get irritated.

But let me tell you something, 

and this is true no matter how young, or how old, you are: 

parents never stop wanting to look at their children. Never.

Whenever I have a baptism, afterward, I ask to hold the baby.

You know what happens: if the baby is peaceful and content 

in her mother or father’s embrace, once she’s in my arms, 

she getting agitated and cries. 

Then, when I give the baby back, he’s calm again.

That infant recognizes his parents but doesn’t recognize me.

That connection literally begins with conception, 

and is cultivated in a thousand ways from that point on.

That complex reality of love and trust and interdependence

is absolutely necessary for each of us to be healthy and balanced.

Not just as children but throughout our lives.

On the other hand, some children do not experience this, early in life, 

and that can leave a wound that can take a long time to heal.

All this came to mind because of what happens in the Gospel:

People jostling for the best seats; 

not because they are most comfortable, 

but because they gain the attention of the host.

They want to impress or push some agenda.

But consider: if you have a solid relationship with the host, 

why do you need any of that?

This is the key to true humility: knowing who you are; 

having that peaceful, confident relationship with God.

What passes for humility – downing myself, denying our gifts – 

is actually false humility.

Accepting mistreatment, being a doormat – 

is not only false humility, it is a destructive distortion. 

And so, let me state this clearly:

Never does God expect any of us to endure abuse or degradation!

If you’re being mistreated, at work or at home, that’s never OK.

Get help. Don’t wait. Ask someone you trust. You can talk to me.

True humility comes from having that good relationship with God, 

and therefore, having security and confidence. 

That enables you and me to acknowledge our gifts 

and accept our weaknesses. We know who we are in God.

Then there’s no need to impress anyone.

So, the natural next question is, how do I get to that place?

Just as baptized child needs to be in his or her parents’ arms,

So you and I need to have a strong relationship with God.

Without that, we have a spiritual wound, an insecurity.

We don’t fully know who we are.

That friendship with God requires more than an hour a week.

It needs periodic apologies and patching things up;

In spiritual terms: a regular examination of ourselves,

And frequent use of the sacrament of confession.

And, let me explain something a lot of people miss.

The real success of a fruitful confession is less about 

what happens in the “box,” in the confession room, 

and far more about what happens in the 30 minutes beforehand.

I mean, specifically, the way we examine ourselves spiritually.

There are many guides available, just look online 

for “Catholic examination of conscience.” 

It’s always a series of questions, based on Scripture, 

to help us see what we need to see, and then, confess.

That helps us overcome fear and grow in holiness.

Today is a good day to ask: do I have that friendship with God?

And to do the work to build that friendship.

Then any seat in the house is the best seat.

Many or few? (21st OT Sunday homily)

 Perhaps you have noticed there are times when 

someone asks Jesus something, 

but his response doesn’t really answer the question!

Rather, Jesus answers the question that should have been asked.

So, today, “Someone asked him, Lord, will only a few be saved?”

Pay attention to how Jesus responds.

He refers to a narrow gate—so that sounds like “few,” right?

But, later, he refers to people coming from east and west, 

north and south—that sounds like a lot.

So the question Jesus actually answered was, 

not “how many” are saved; but simply, how to be saved.

And that is by striving to enter the “narrow gate.”

In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “I am the gate, 

and whoever enters through Me will be saved.”

So, why is the gate is “narrow”? That sounds bad.

But remember why cities had gates: 

because they also had walls, to keep out threats.

A narrow gate means you can see clearly who comes and goes.

That is perfectly apt for Judgment Day:

no one will slip anonymously into the Kingdom. 

One by one, you and I will meet the gaze of Jesus our King, 

and either he knows us, or not.

A narrow gate doesn’t mean only few enter; 

it means you have to be patient and wait your turn.

It also means that while you might squeeze in,

Nothing you bring with you, will.

Not bad habits and attachments to food or booze or the Internet.

Nor the baggage of unforgiveness and recrimination.

All that must be left outside, or else we are left outside.

Notice also what our Lord said:

“Many will attempt to enter, but won’t be strong enough.”

In fact, none of us is “strong enough”! No one!

You and I have got to drive out of our minds  

every last trace of the idea that anyone 

gets to heaven because we’re good enough!

No one can be “good enough”; no one can be strong enough.

You and I get there by grace, which makes us fit for heaven.

Remember the lost sheep – how did it get back home?

The Lord puts it on his shoulders.

Only Jesus is “strong enough”—and he will carry us through!

Till now, there’s a word I haven’t uttered: hell.

Is hell real? Jesus knows that it is. He talks about it a LOT.

In the Gospel, Jesus says that people will be cast out, 

because he never knew them.

That means there was never a true friendship.

What’s more, when you and I arrive at the narrow gate, 

will we actually be willing to leave behind whatever we brought along? 

People assume that there will always be a chance to repent, later.

But let’s be candid: as the years go by, 

we not only get hardening of arteries;

even more, you and I also get hardening of habits and attitudes.

“Later, later, later” pretty easily turns into “never.”

Assuming you can always repent later is called “presumption.”

And it leads to a hardness of heart.

So, what about hell?

The conclusion I reach is this:

No one is “sent to hell” so much as people turn away from heaven.

We “refuse” heaven by refusing the graces God gives us.

The most dangerous spiritual place to be 

is not being constantly in line for confession, 

having failed over and over, and feeling as weak as a kitten.

No, the dangerous frame of mind is to think, 

I don’t need conversion. I’m just fine.

But the good news, which Jesus puts right in front of us, is:

There is a way to heaven; it’s narrow, but wide enough for two; 

Jesus, carrying you.