Fr, James's Sunday Homily

"Without a doubt, Christianity challenges us every day. Our entrance into Heaven is not a guaranteed reality.

Self-reflection is necessary in order to find out if there are any particular sins or attachments that might prove to be obstacles to our achieving eternal salvation.

Many people in our present day have experienced profound conversions. The personal testimonies of life changing experiences bear continual witness to the ever-present action of the Holy Spirit in the lives of all those who are searching for happiness and peace.

However, conversion is a daily enterprise. Every day we are faced with choices and challenges that affect our relationship with the Lord. It is not easy to be faithful. But God's grace makes discipleship not only possible; it also makes it an amazing adventure.

We must not be surprised that Christianity essentially implies a daily, personal struggle. Commitment and battle go hand in hand. We have to take very seriously the fact that our human nature is wounded by original sin.

Every day presents a new opportunity to begin again. God's loving mercy is always available to us through the sacrament of Confession. It is precisely God's loving willingness to forgive our sins that fills us with the hope of eternal life.

Constancy in the spiritual life, especially under difficult circumstances, characterizes the existence of the true disciple of Christ.

This Sunday’s Gospel passage is very demanding.

“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where ‘the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched’” (Mark 9: 47-49)

Most people in our country are well educated. It is common that people not only have a high school diploma, they also have a college degree. Many people continue their education and get a masters degree and some even get a doctorate.
Most people in our country have good jobs. They are successful and..." ( Continued here)