Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Why do we suffer?  Ever think about that?  I think that people that live in the world look at the cross and think it would be foolish to willingly mount that thing.  There are people that argue that suffering is not needed in order to feel close to God.  I would agree, that there is nothing WE do that causes closeness to God or Heaven.  It's the Holy Spirit acting in us.  But what I would say is that suffering is simply a bi-product of our broken human weakness. 

Our home is in Heaven with God our Father.  Anything short of that will cause us to suffer.  Some of us can't see the suffering we are enduring because we are allowing ourselves to be distracted by the world.  Maybe it's that ranch, or a job, or we try to "busy" ourselves with TV, hobbies, etc...  All of these can keep us from truly realizing the reality that we are not made to live in this world.

Example.  One time when Retro was a baby we left him for the night at my aunt and uncle's house.  He didn't notice right away that he was not at home.  He played toys and was kept occupied (distracted).  When it came night time reality hit him.  He was not home and his dad wasn't there to rock him to bed, which we did almost every night.  After much crying and longing for home, my aunt turned on a TV show (Duck Dynasty) that reminded him of the routine at home.  Also it took my uncle to hold him and rock him for him to feel more reminded of home.

Retro represents those people who live in the reality that Heaven is our true home.  And those reminders like Duck Dynasty and my uncle for Retro are like the Church and Holy men and women for us.  The Church and all those who strive to live a Holy life aid you towards your goal of home.  To the world, for us to go to Mass or to live out our faith seems foolish.  To the world a man and a woman getting married in the Church for life is foolish.  To the world for a couple to not us birth control or condoms but rely on God's grace and Natural Family Planning is foolish.  Like the other kids that seen Retro's crying for home and his parents as foolish, the world does not live in reality.

So what?  Here's what you can do: live in reality.  Learn more about God and you'll learn more of what we are missing here on earth, and live out your Catholic Faith.  "God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise." -St. Paul

Peace Brothers