Fr. John Riccardo - Why Does God Allow Bad Things to Happen?

Have You Found What Satisfies?

We are all looking for something, but what are YOU looking for? As a musician I searched for years for the perfect guitar. After a while I realized that there wasn't such a thing, so I started collecting. Upon each purchase I would think, "This is it now I can rest", but after some time passed I would see another that would make me desire. 

None of us are complete. We all have a hole in us and each tries to fill it with different things. This is where you have to be careful because I have seen so many fill that hole with the wrong thing(s). God wants you to be happy because he loves you, but remember there is a difference between happiness and pleasure. 

Many of us chase pleasures that fade quickly and become "addicted" or "slaves" to seeking pleasure. Personally this was a lesson that took a long time to learn. Please, do yourself a favor and start building a relationship with Jesus today. It may not feel like it, but he is what you are looking for. He can fill that hole in your heart.

If you already have a relationship with Jesus build a deeper one. If you can't fill one piece of paper front and back with all you know about Jesus then you need to get to work. He's waiting, Jesus wants to be your best friend and life coach. Jesus is the path to God and God is waiting for you. Every single time I have a problem and I try to fix it on my own I feel like I am hitting my head against a brick wall. 

Each time I ask my God, Jesus and Holy Spirit for help I come away wiser with the problem solved. I feel whole. I feel complete. Most importantly I feel loved. I am done with searching blindly in the dark and wasting my time. I know hang with Jesus. He is my light in this world so that I may find my way.

SGS 3:1-4b

The Bride says:
On my bed at night I sought him
whom my heart loves–
I sought him but I did not find him.
I will rise then and go about the city;
in the streets and crossings I will seek
Him whom my heart loves.
I sought him but I did not find him.
The watchmen came upon me,
as they made their rounds of the city:
Have you seen him whom my heart loves?
I had hardly left them
when I found him whom my heart loves.

2 cor 5:14-17

Brothers and sisters:
The love of Christ impels us,
once we have come to the conviction that one died for all;
therefore, all have died.
He indeed died for all,
so that those who live might no longer live for themselves
but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh;
even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh,
yet now we know him so no longer.
So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come.

Jn 20:1-2, 11-18

On the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark,
and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we don’t know where they put him.”

Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping.
And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
and saw two angels in white sitting there,
one at the head and one at the feet
where the Body of Jesus had been.
And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “They have taken my Lord,
and I don’t know where they laid him.”
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,
but did not know it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?
Whom are you looking for?”
She thought it was the gardener and said to him,
“Sir, if you carried him away,
tell me where you laid him,
and I will take him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to him in Hebrew,
“Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.
Jesus said to her,
“Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
But go to my brothers and tell them,
‘I am going to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples,
“I have seen the Lord,”
and then reported what he told her.

A Story, "Do You Have Any Spare Change?"

It was a beautiful summer evening, he was surrounded by many of his friends and he was not expecting what was about to happen.  The young man stood there a little bit in shock and immediately he flash-backed to earlier in the day.

"Are you serious you've got to be kidding me", young man thought. It had been a long hot summer afternoon, the young man was standing in the middle of a laundromat pondering his next move. After working all night he woke up early so that he could go and complete his laundry.  Young bachelor wanted to make sure that he had clothes for the coming week. The laundromat closest to his apartment was clean enough, but unfortunately though with it being summer it was very hot inside. He didn't live in the greatest of neighborhoods so leaving and coming back when he expected his wash to be done was not an ideal option. He was so tired that when he left he forgot to grab something to read. Watching the dryers spin round and round he gazed at magazines that were five years old, he scoffed can try to find an article that was somewhat relevant to him. 

The day was basically annoying. A hot summer day stuck inside a hot laundromat waiting to do laundry on his day off was not how he wanted to spend his time. It seemed like days but the young man actually had only been there a couple of hours. 

"Finally!,  he said out loud he was disgusted but happy at the same time that his final two washing machines had finished cycle. Grabbing his basket he approached the two machines to begin hauling the wet clothes out of each washer. Disgruntled he realize he was going to have to make two trips so he took the basket of clothes over to one of the dryers and unloaded the clothes. Whole task was taking far too long for his patience. Retrieving the remainder of his clothes out of the final washer he went over to yet another dryer and filled it is well. Thrusting his hand down into his pocket he grabbed the remaining quarters that he had. The laundromat was empty and he felt like a fool being inside such a hot place on a hot day when it was so beautiful outside. As he pushed quarters into the first dryer he could hear the sound of the quarters hitting the bottom of the inside of the machine. The sound echoed around the room almost as if it was like a clock ticking away the seconds, seconds that he felt he was wasting. Approaching the second machine and he looked down to his hand and was in utter shock.



"Come on you can't be serious!",  he yelled out loud, it seemed as though he did not have enough change for his last dryer. Fumbling with his pockets he finally found his wallet pulled it out. Opening it only provided more disgust. The smallest bill had in his wallet was a $10 bill. His head rocked back and stared at the ceiling,  like a zombie he walked over to the change machine. Sure enough the change machine accepted $10 bills and it was all too ready and all too happy it seemed to take his $10 bill. 


"You got to be kidding me!", he said out loud, "You mean I got a break a $10 bill just to get two measly quarters?" He stared at the change machine and it seem to just sit there with it's single orange light just mocking him. Muttering indiscernible to words to himself he pulled out his $10 bill and fed it into the machine. 

"Of course! Of course!", he exclaimed, the machine decided to taunt him further by spitting the bill back out of him two or three times. Finally the change machine accepted his $10 bill and the young man threw his hands up into the air as if you had made some great accomplishment. Shortly after he started his final load in the last dryer, his first dryer was finished and he began folding clothes. One by one the dryers came to a slow halt and he was there at the ready to open them up and fold all those clothes while they were still nice and warm. Sweat began to rundown his brow, and a funk began to permeated his body. With his clothes folded, he took each the basket out to his car. He packed up and drove back home. Each step he took though was a reminder to the annoyance of having to break that $10 bill. With each step he could feel the heavy weight of $9.50 in quarters swinging back-and-forth in his baggy jeans. 

Young man had a lot to do in a short period of time. He was supposed to go out with his friends that night and got wrapped up in the comings and going during of the rest of his day. His mind calmed as he moved on to more pleasurable tasks, and soon he forgot about the hot sweaty laundromat. He grabbed the mail, paid his bills, cooked something for dinner and sat down to listen to the radio for a bit. Realizing what time it was he got up and took a shower so that he would look and smell fresh for an evening out on the town. Once he was all dressed and ready to go the young man headed out of his apartment went over to his friend's house. 

After knocking on the door, in a cute but stupid way, his friend came and opened the door. A smile was on the young man's face and he was ready for a night of fun.

"How's it going man?", asked his friend.
"Not too bad",  replied the young man.
 "You ready to have some fun tonight?",  his friend asked.
 "Of course I'm always ready are you?", the young man said in a coy way. 
"Sure", replied his friend and they were off. 

The two were headed downtown for a night of fun.  The nice thing about their destination was that it was close to home so they could walk there. This was a weekly adventure for these two. They would head downtown to a strip of bars and they would hop from one establishment to another to see all of the night had to offer. Most the time they would wander from bar to bar until they found a decent sounding band, and then there they would hang out for the rest of the night trading their stories of the week between sets. And it was off to a pretty good start at the second bar they walked into they ran into some mutual friends who decided to tagalong with them as well. There wasn't really anything special about this evening everyone was just having a good time. It'd been a long work week so it was nice to break free from the drudgery of work and ride the easy side of life. 

After the atmosphere had got bit stale at the bar that they were in, the four guys decided to head further down the strip and check out another bar.  As they turned to cross the street, they came face-to-face with an old man. The old man clearly looked like he was down on his luck, to be honest, he looked straight up homeless. Even though it was night and there was barely any light you could tell that he was quite disheveled, and that he probably had washed himself in quite a few days. Thankfully there was a cool summer breeze in the air which kept any of the man's body odor from lingering too long. All four of the young men paused and were speechless. They really didn't have anything to say. Before anyone could even blurt out an, "excuse me", the old man's eyes widened and he began to speak.

"Excuse me", the old man said, "Would you by any chance have any spare change?" 

The young man looked at his three friends and he could tell that none of them were interested in helping the old man. The first raised his hands, the second shook his head "no", the third tapped the outside of his pockets and put his hands up as if to say he had nothing. For some reason this old man struck him in an odd way. There he was, it was a beautiful summer evening he was surrounded by his friends. He felt happy, safe and secure. He was out on the town having fun and here in front of him was an old man all alone probably cold, hungry and thirsty. The old man looked as if he was nothing, a stiff wind could've probably blown him over. On some level the old man terrified him, could he ever end up that way? How would he survive if he had no home or job, depending merely on the kindness of others to take care of himself. For some reason in that brief moment staring in that old man's eyes he was shook to the core. 


"Spare change?",  he thought, "Spare change? I usually don't even carry money elsewise I'd spend it to quickly. If I had any spare change I would definitely give it to this guy he surely looks like he needs it!", the young man thought.

And then for some reason he grab the outside of his right pocket, looked down and began to smile. Slowly he slid his right hand into his right jeans pocket and there was the wad of $9.50 in quarters. There were the quarters that had been swinging around in his pants all day. There was the wad of change that he transferred from one pair of pants to the other before he went out that night because it was just so habitual for him to do. Young man hardly ever carried money and he rarely carried this much change. 

For some reason there was a whisper in the back of his mind saying, "Just do it."

In less than a second the young man fished around his pocket managed to grab all the change and fisted it into his hand. 

He looked deep into the homeless man's eyes, nodded and said, "Sure."

The homeless man's hands were cupped and on the ready. Young man slowly relaxed his grip around all the quarters to slowly pool them into the homeless man's hands making sure that he didn't drop a single one. Everything seemed to happen in slow-motion. It was as if it took 10 minutes for all those quarters to drop in to the homeless man's hands. With each clink of each coin the old man's eyes got wider and wider. 

After the old man had all the quarters young man merely nodded his head and said, "You have a good evening sir",  and the four friends proceeded to walk onto their destination. 

Young man didn't look at his friends to see what they thought, or to see if they were shocked. He just looked at the ground as he walked and was thankful for who he was and what he had.  Maybe the old man would use the money to go buy booze but hopefully he go buy a warm meal. He had done his part, he loved his neighbor as he would have loved himself. Deep down he felt a little ashamed, ashamed that he was inconvenienced by hot laundromat where he had the money to wash and dry his clothes, so he could walk around in clean clothes full of dignity. Young man wondered if he shouldn't of done more for the homeless man. He never saw him again though, not that night and not any other night. All in all the young man felt thankful.  Later he walked home having done a good deed and learned a valuable lesson.

Am 8:4-6, 9-12

Hear this, you who trample upon the needy
and destroy the poor of the land!
“When will the new moon be over,” you ask,
“that we may sell our grain,
and the sabbath, that we may display the wheat?”
We will diminish the containers for measuring,
add to the weights,
and fix our scales for cheating!
We will buy the lowly man for silver,
and the poor man for a pair of sandals;
even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!”

On that day, says the Lord GOD,
I will make the sun set at midday
and cover the earth with darkness in broad daylight.
I will turn your feasts into mourning
and all your songs into lamentations.
I will cover the loins of all with sackcloth
and make every head bald.
I will make them mourn as for an only son,
and bring their day to a bitter end.

Yes, days are coming, says the Lord GOD,
when I will send famine upon the land:
Not a famine of bread, or thirst for water,
but for hearing the word of the LORD.
Then shall they wander from sea to sea
and rove from the north to the east
In search of the word of the LORD,
but they shall not find it.

A Story, An Autumn Beginning

It was a beautiful autumn day. The leaves were beginning to turn colors, the sky was a clear majestic blue, there was a slight crisp in the air and you could tell that the earth was preparing for a long winters nap. Mother nature was beginning to slow down, but yet still had one or two more turns around the dance floor before her winter slumber. A young man pulled into the parking lot of his apartment building, positioned  his car and stepped out. Looking up to the sky the autumn sun warmed his face and for a mere moment everything seemed OK. Walking towards the entrance of the building his heart began to sink.  It was as if with each step his heart hung lower and lower. Halfway to the door his hands begin to twitch a little.  To disguise this nervousness he began rubbing his face as if he was questioning himself if he had shaved that day. Approaching the cement steps that lead to the door his heart began to pound harder and harder. As he placed his left foot on the first step his stomach began to churn. With his right foot on the second step his eyes began to look around as if he was looking for escape. With his left foot on the landing he wanted to run. He wanted to run through that door up the stairs and quickly into his apartment. Feeling of a heavy weight came over his entire body.  It was as almost as if it felt like he was going to be sucked up by the earth from the weight that he felt. Opening the door he walked inside and stared at his mailbox. Dare he touch it, dare he look? So nervous and anxious he just wanted the whole world to melt away. Fumbling with his keys he finally open the mailbox. It was crammed full, as if it could not except another piece of mail. Refusing to look at any of the labels he merely wadded up all the mail in his two hands and proceeded to his door. He unlocked the door, went inside and threw all the mail on the table immediately to the right of the entrance of his apartment. He did not turn around.  He refused to look at it. He had done his part for the day. He went over to his couch, sat down and turned on the television slowly his body began to calm. 

It was Monday, the only day he would allow himself to retrieve his mail. Opening the mailbox and seeing what was inside was just too stressful for him to do it every single day. The young man got up and got something to eat and after having a bit of lunch gathered together his courage. Pausing for a moment he thought about what he might incur and then started flipping through the mail. At first it seemed like it was going to be a pretty good day most of the mail was just junk, but then he began to see what was in store, first 1, 2, then 3, 4 notices from the bank. His heart sunk, he began to sweat, his legs got weak and he felt like he might fall to the floor. He didn't need to open all of them he just opened the last one. His eyes opened wide as he saw the amount of money he owed. As of late, life seemed long and hard and with no hope. Friday would be payday and at least he would make enough money to cover the debt. He might even have enough left over to cover the alcohol and cigarettes he would need to make it through the weekend. Emotionally he felt as if he had just run a marathon. Exhausted he walked over to his couch and laid down and fell asleep. 

Things had been this way for most of the last year. It was a long time in the making, the young man's life had been slowly disintegrating. There were many an evening where he would spend moments thinking about where he would end up, but as soon as the fear overcame him he would look for a distraction rather than face the cold hard truth. Most nights he would come home from work to empty home void of love. He would drink alcohol until he was too tired to watch any more television and sleep on his couch till it was time to goto work again. Night after night the screen flashed empty stories of pretend characters that the young man longed for. He longed for a life that was full of love and hope. He would stare vacantly at the screen while his thoughts ran wild in his mind, though once he started to think about how to put thoughts into action he was clueless. He felt stuck and helpless. There was no way that he could ever crawl out alive from his current life situation alone. His dreams would nosedive as his hopes plummeted, and again his drink would rise to his lips.

Laying there with his eyes wide open his alarm would beep. For a moment he hoped that work would call and tell him some story of why he didn't have to come in, but it didn't. Rising up he pulled himself together. As he walked out of his apartment he glanced down at the mail he had opened earlier. It was over for now, it was time for him to head back out into the real world. The door shut like a prison door behind him. The room sat still as if it were frozen in time. The sunlight slowly passed the blinds in front of the window till it was no longer existent. A few hours after sunset the doorknob began to giggle. The knob slowly turned and the young man entered the apartment again. Shuffling like a zombie, he walked into the bedroom, he disrobed and put on some more comfortable clothing. Back to the kitchen area the young man grabbed a beer out of the fridge, pausing for a moment he then grabbed two. The first drink always went down so fast. Back on his couch he fired up the television, opened his beer and lit a cigarette. 

He tried to watch TV but the show was just too happy. It reminded him of how utterly lost he was. As he held his forehead he began rewinding the last few years. He was searching his past. He was trying to remember the last time that he was truly happy. Halfway through a drag on his cigarette it dawned on him. He stopped inhaling and the smoke began to roll out of his mouth and across his face. Whether it was the memory or the smoke, his eyes began to well up. Tears began to roll down his face until they reached the middle of his chin. There they dripped and began to wet the carpet below. Putting out his cigarette he then rubbed his eyes, bloodshot he couldn't stop crying. His thoughts had drifted all the way back to high school. He remembered a time when he felt optimistic and free. Most importantly though he remembered how he had felt so peaceful. What was so different? What was so different about his life back then compared to now? He didn't have a great job. He didn't have a lot of friends. His family was the same then as it was now. 

Then it dawned on him, and his head sunk even lower.

The difference was that in his youth he believed in and followed more than himself. His life was not about chasing momentary pleasures as it did now. When he was younger he had faith. He believed in God. His life was about more than just himself. He was dedicated to a life of loving, not just God, but everyone he met. In contrast his now was all about himself. It was about feeding each and every desire that he had. He used anyone he could to get what he wanted. Sure there were people that he cared about, but he cared about himself most of all. He was wrong. Deep down he knew that he was wrong and that was why he was so cold and alone. The more he tried to fill himself with pleasure the more empty he felt. The young man wanted more. He wanted to feel free. He wanted to feel loved, more importantly he wanted to love. He knew what he had to do, but he was scared. 

"No", he thought, "It's too impossible. I have done too much. I have sinned too much. There is no way I could turn around now. God would never take me back."

He thought again about those beautiful teen years. Life wasn't perfect but it was filled with so much hope and love. As he opened his eyes he looked around. The life he was a part of now was too intimidating, it was too big of a mess. There was no way he could turn that all back around. Who was he after all? Feeling defeated a whisper flickered in the back of his conscience, so small but so clear. 

"I can help you", it whispered. 
Initial hope was quickly drowned out by male pride, "I don't need any help", he thought, "I got myself into this mess I can get myself out."

"I love you", the voice whispered.

The man's eyes welled up again. He gave up on trying to hold back the tears. The words were those that he had longed for some time to hear. Sobbing he put his face in his hands. 

"I'm so sorry", the young man could barely get the words out. Instantly all the wrongs he had committed over the past years came rushing in. Was it possible? Could he be forgiven? Could he try and start over again? 

"I'm waiting to help you if you want, but you have to let me in" the voice whispered.

Sobbing the man stated out loud, "I'm sorry. I just so sorry. I don't care. I can't do this anymore. Please, please I beg of you God forgive me. Please take all this away. I am so sorry. I will try, I promise. Please make me whole. Make me better. Fix me, I am so broken. Please be my God. I am just so sorry. Please teach me to be better. I am anything but perfect. I know I have made a million mistakes and will make a million more but I can't do this on my own anymore. Please come into my life. I take you as my savior." 

The man could barely pronounce all the words he was sobbing so hard. Feeling emotionally spent he just sat there in a hovel on his couch.

"It's okay, you need to rest now", the voice whispered.

The man turned off the television, laid down and went to sleep. He didn't know where he was going or where he would end up, but for the first time in a long time he wasn't scared because he knew he wasn't alone. 

A Story, the Walk Through the Forest

It was a beautiful summer day. A Father and his son were walking through a forest on a trail exploring. The canopy of the trees provided shade that kept the two cool. 

"Where are we going?", asked the son.
"You will see", the father replied.

The young boy's ideas began to run wild. He started to imagine what they might encounter when they reached their destination. It'd been a long hot summer, perhaps they were going to a pond or better yet a waterfall where they could cool off and play in the water. They journeyed further down the trail and the father made sure to take the time to pause and point things out. The young boy felt as if he'd walked into an  entirely different world. Even though he was local to the surroundings  he was unaware of all the different kinds of birds and animals and insects that live in the area. Finally the father and the son reached their destination, the boy couldn't believe his eyes. In the middle of this forest they came upon a clearing. The grass was soft and there was a cool breeze flowing through the area. Even though the sun shone through brightly it wasn't too hot, it was a perfect day, and yes on the opposite side of the clearing was a small waterfall and pool of water.

The young boy could barely hold in his excitement. He jumped up and down, clapped his hands and giggled with happiness. Both father and son took off their packs, set them on the ground, took off their socks, shoes and shirts and proceeded to play in the pool of water. The young boy could not have asked for a more exciting adventure. Soaking up all that nature had to offer they, finally decided to rest on the grassy banks of the waterfall. There they laid in the warm summer sun and dried them selves.

The father finally turned to his young son and said, "We probably should get going."
"Why?", the boy replied.
"It is beginning to become late in the day and we don't want to be stuck out here after dark", explained the father. 
"Please please!", begged the little boy, "Can we please stay a little bit longer? It is so wonderful out here!"
"No I am so sorry son. We really must get going", the father firmly stated.

Displeased the young boy got up with his father and began to get ready to depart. The young boy saw no reason to leave at that time. There was plenty of daylight, and still so much more fun to be had. The young boy began to dawdle to try and spend as much time in this beautiful area as he possibly could. The father could tell that his son was dragging his feet and coached him to hurry. The boy wanted nothing of it though, and moved slowly anyway. Finally both were ready to go and they began heading along their way. What was peculiar to the young boy though was that they were not taking the same trail back as which they came.

"Why are we going this way?" the young boy inquired.
"This way will be quicker son. Trust me, we need to hurry up and get back before nightfall.", replied the father.

The son still sore from having to leave the beautiful waterfall so early in the day continue to drag his feet. To the young lad it seemed as if the father had no idea what he was doing or where he was going. The trail that they were on team to be taking them out of their way and was going to be making for a longer trip. They could have saved time by going back the way they came in, and that would've  allowed them to spend more time at the beautiful waterfall. Noticing the sour mood of the young boy and how slowly he was moving, the father decided to pick up the pace and stop pointing out things in the forest. Continuing on, things got more difficult the trail narrowed and they encountered a steep grade that they had to walk up. On top of this it seemed as if it seemed as though it was later in the day than the boy had realized, and the light was becoming more and more scarce. 

"Stay close son, nightfall is near", explain the father, "This is the last place that you would want to be on your own son."


The once beautiful and majestic forest slowly began to change before the young boy's eyes. With the sun setting, the shadows began to rise and slowly a blanket of darkness began to cover the entire forest. What little light there was began reflecting off the leaves of the trees and it almost appeared as if they were surrounded by a crowd of night lit eyes constantly staring at them. Even the sounds in the forest began to change. The birds that were once chirping quite happily became silent. The nighttime sounds began to take over the forest and the boys fear begin to swell in the bottom of this stomach. The air was cooling, and the young boy could feel his legs begin to ache. He was tired and was beginning to feel pains of hunger. Young boys father was right in front of him and he could see him fairly well so he paused for a moment to look in his pack and try to find his canteen. 

"Please son, it is no time to stop now", asked the father, "Let's keep going."

But the young boy it was so thirsty you continue to look for his canteen. He did not realize it but his father had continued on. Finally, he found the canteen in the bottom of his backpack where it had been thrown hastily. Cracking the lid open, putting the rim to his lips and throwing it into the air the boy felt nothing come out of the canteen. It seemed that in the frustration and displeased-meant he forgot to fill his canteen before leaving the waterfall. The boy quickly put the cap back on his canteen and threw everything back into his backpack and looked up, his father was gone. The boy panicked, he could barely see. Barely making out the trail he scrambled up the hill, up the trail as fast as he could. The texture of the trail began to change, he could feel it getting slick underneath his boots. Now he was heading downhill and as he encountered a sharp turn his feet slid out from underneath him. His body hit the ground, it felt as if rocks and sticks were piercing his right side. His body began to roll down the hill off the trail in a direction he did not know. Once he had stopped rolling he quickly got up, but in his fall he had rolled his ankle, and it was very sore so he had to favor it. Putting most of the weight on his left leg he began to look around to get his bearings. Has he looked back in the direction of the trail he heard a rustling of leaves.

"Father!", the young boy exclaimed.

There was no reply. The boy called out again to his father very loud and in a more panicked tone. Young boy continued to hear leaves tussle. It sounded as if they were getting closer but the movement  also slowed. The boys heart sank and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up on end as he heard a faint growling noise. Panicking the boy took off in the direction of the trail it was a steep climb. Quickly, he looked around and try to get his bearings and continued the way he thought he should. 

Why did he do this? The boy started to feel so regretful. He should've listened when his father said it was time to go. He shouldn't have dragged his feet. The boy began to think that if he had just merely listened in the first place he probably would be home safe with his father right now, reminiscing about the wonderful time they had at the beautiful waterfall. Working hard to catch up and stay on the trail the boy began to lose his breath. Where was his father? Wasn't he looking for him? How could a beautiful day have gone so wrong? Suddenly he tripped over a tree root protruding up from the ground in the middle of the trail. The boy fell to the ground hard. The boy just laid there he felt as if he just wanted to give up. Tears began to well up in the boys eyes and roll down the sides of his face. Lost, confused, tired, hungry and aching all over the boy laid there not knowing what to do. The boy longed for his father like never before. He wished his father was with him. His father always knew what to do.

All of a sudden he began to hear the rustling leaves again in the faint distance. The boy stopped breathing, fear crept over every inch of his body. His heart began to pound so hard it felt like it was not going to be able to stay inside of his chest. All of his senses were on high alert and it felt like every single hair on his body was standing straight up. The wrestling got louder and louder as it seem to get closer and closer to him. Suddenly something grabbed his left shoulder from behind and jerked him hard. The boy began to flail about, but there was a steel grip on his shoulder and he could not get away. 

"Thank goodness!",  his father explained, "I finally found you!"

Realizing that his father had finally found him, the boy leapt up and grabbed his father as tight as he possibly could. Seeing that his son was hurt the father picked up his son in his arms and began to walk down the trail.

"It's all right. It's all right son. It's OK now, you can relax", the father said he could feel his young son trembling in his arms. Slowly the reality of his safety was realized by the young boy. His body stopped shaking and relaxed in his father's strong arms. 

The boy finally began to speak, "I'm so sorry Dad. I'm so sorry. I love you. I should have never left you. I should have never stopped. I should have paid attention and left when you said it was time to go. I didn't realize it was going to get so dark so quickly."

The boy trying to continue but the father interrupted, "Hey, hey there, please calm down. It is OK I have you now. You know you were really never that far away from me. I knew you would be OK, but when I heard you call for me I came for you immediately." 

The father finally came around the last bend in the trail, and there sat their vehicle. It seems as though the boy was actually only about two minutes away from the car. The boy was quite astonished. It felt as if he was miles away from where he needed to be. Setting his boy down in the passenger seat of the car the boy refused to let go. The father knelt beside the car and allowed his son to just sit there and hold him. Finally the boy's grip relaxed for he had fallen asleep. The father laid the boy back into the seat, buckled him up, got in the car and they were off heading home with another adventure completed. 

As children we all think we know what's best. We don't want the good times to end. Many times we only see five minutes in front of our face, and how quickly it is that we can get ourselves into trouble, but God is always there with us. We only have to call. 

Am 3:1-8; 4:11-12

Hear this word, O children of Israel, that the LORD pronounces over you,
over the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt:

You alone have I favored,
more than all the families of the earth;
Therefore I will punish you
for all your crimes.

Do two walk together
unless they have agreed?
Does a lion roar in the forest
when it has no prey?
Does a young lion cry out from its den
unless it has seized something?
Is a bird brought to earth by a snare
when there is no lure for it?
Does a snare spring up from the ground
without catching anything?
If the trumpet sounds in a city,
will the people not be frightened?
If evil befalls a city,
has not the LORD caused it?
Indeed, the Lord GOD does nothing
without revealing his plan
to his servants, the prophets.

The lion roars—
who will not be afraid!
The Lord GOD speaks—
who will not prophesy!

I brought upon you such upheaval
as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah:
you were like a brand plucked from the fire;
Yet you returned not to me,
says the LORD.

So now I will deal with you in my own way, O Israel!
and since I will deal thus with you,
prepare to meet your God, O Israel.

Mt 8:23-27

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,
so that the boat was being swamped by waves;
but he was asleep.
They came and woke him, saying,
“Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

What Are You Washing That Car For?

I can't mention it enough, I love being a father. I believe that I have learned more in the few years being a father than I have in my entire life up to becoming a father. I have learned so much about love, compassion and mercy. For my family summer break is in full swing. My children are all home and this year my wife and I decided to challenge our children. We realize that summer break is a wonderful time to have experiences and to relax, but we also want them to realize the importance of hard work. We want to make sure that our children are prepared so that when they leave our home they will be successful in their adult lives. The last thing that we want is for them to get out on their own and be shell shocked by the concept of having to work and follow directions to make a living and sustain themselves, so my wife and I have come up with a variety of small tasks that they can handle that will teach them not only how to work but to work hard so they can develop as young people into wonderful adults. 

My seven-year-old has taken to this idea rather quickly. Rather than paying them money for everything that they do I want them to realize that sometimes you should do things for no benefit of yourself. However my seven-year-old has learned that the more work he does the more video game time he receives. It is almost as if I can't see inside his mind where he is calculating how much video game time he is expecting to receive for each task he completes. Yes, I do want him to work hard and I want him to realize the value of hard work, but I also want him to learn the virtue in doing things for others out of love because he loves them instead of doing it for personal gain. Realizing this behavior it makes me question myself. Why do I do the things that I do? What are my motivations? Yes it is true that we do things in this world for personal gain. I go to work not because I like it there, but because I make a good living and have a variety of benefits that allow me to provide for my family. 

One question though that pops up in my head is, "Why do I go to church?"

Some may answer this question by saying, "I do not want to go to hell." Others may reply stating, "That it's just what they're supposed to do." I know that some people go to church because it's a great place to hang out and they know people there and it's a place where they feel like they belong. Few people are devious. They will attend to merely look good, so that they can have some sort of stature in their local community. Know this, God loves you and yes he does want you to come to his Church, but God wants you to want to be there. 

As a father I love my children I also hope that they love me, just as such, God is your heavenly father, he loves you and he hopes that you will love him. God will not force you to love him. He has given you free will he will let you choose. God wants you to come to his Church because he is hoping that you will come to build a stronger relationship with him. Simply God loves you and he wants to spend time with you. God wants you to acknowledge how wonderful he is and all that he has a lovingly done for you. You could come to mass every Sunday, you could tithe 10% of your weekly gross earnings, you could donate time at the local food pantry, you could do a wide variety of things because "that's what Christians are supposed to do" but if you are not doing them out of love and because you love God then they empty gestures to God. 

As I stated before God wants you to come to church because he wants you to spend time with him. God wants you to learn. He wants you to become a better person, in fact he wants you to become the best you possibly can be because he knows what your true potential is. God has made you all that you are all of your talents and abilities. God has given you the beating heart in your chest, the air in your lungs, the world in which you live, everything that you see, smell, touch and hear is a gift from God. In response God wishes that you would give 10% (at least) of your earnings back to him. Why, because God wants to take that 10% so that he can help others in need. God wants you to donate so that you can help your brothers and sisters in humanity in their time of need, so that there is a church to attend; so that there is someone in that church to teach; so that there is money collected for disasters that may arise. Just as I ask my two oldest to help around the house so that their siblings have a nice home to live in that is clean and orderly, God wants us to help our brothers and sisters in humanity by giving back and making this world the best we possibly can out of love. It is for the same reason that God wants you to give to the poor, aid the sick, care for the dead and to help those in utter poverty, but he wants us to do this all out of love not just because we are looking for a "Get Out of Hell" card, so why do you do the things you do?

If you're not busy my car needs washed...  just saying. 

MT 7:21-29

Jesus said to his disciples:
“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.’

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

When Jesus finished these words,
the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority,
and not as their scribes.

How Much Do You Tip Your Server?

Being a father of five children, and well let's just say a busy father of five children, I don't go out to eat very much. Going out to eat this something that I enjoyed in my youth, but anymore I just really like to stay home with my family. About once a month I do try to go out with my wife though and take her out on a date to let her know how much I appreciate her, and to also get her away from the kids before they drive her completely insane. Each time as we sit and dine I was pay close attention to my server. I'm not nitpicking or anything, but with me and my wife having both of been restaurant managers it is part of our nature. One of the qualities that I always find quite enchanting in a server is one who truly serves. Few people when they're young say they want to grow up and wait tables. Usually someone who's a server is doing so because they're in between positions in life. Perhaps they're going to school and so waiting tables is how they're paying their bills.  There are instances where someone will wait tables while they are looking for a better job. There are some who choose serving as a career because either they don't want to work full-time or they've never felt the pull to pursue an alternate professional career. Regardless of circumstances it is rather rare to have a server who truly loves to serve. I'm talking about the type of server who when they are speaking with you make you feel like you're the only one in the middle of a crowded restaurant. I'm talking about the type of server who exudes an attitude in which their number one mission is to make sure that your food is made so that you have the best possible dining experience. Such servers big exude a persona where they totally surrender to serving you fully as best they can. This is a very rare thing especially in our culture today. Waiting tables, for many, ranks right up there with being a janitor, so it's inspiring when you see such an attitude in someone who waits tables. 

The thing is we're all here to serve. The problem is most don't realize that. 

Personally I like to read, think and write, so I do this, not because I have to, partially because I want to, but mostly because I feel it is what God is calling me to do. God has given us each a set of talents and we all have a mission for our life. God calls on all of us, some of us refused to call, others can't hear the call and a few of us hear the call pick it up and run as hard as we can. If you choose to answer God's call it's not always easy. If you trust in God and are loyal to him he will always be by your side. If you stay true to God and train with him, you will find a peace and serenity that will carry you through even the most dire times. I know that there are probably many out there who are thinking they are "nobodies" and that God couldn't possibly use them for anything. Take for instance Moses, who was a step child, a murderer who couldn't speak well and yet God still used him to free entire nation out of slavery. 

The only person will never hold you back is you. God wants to build you up.

JER 1:4-10

In the days of King Josiah, the word of the LORD came to me, saying:

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I dedicated you,
a prophet to the nations I appointed you.

“Ah, Lord GOD!” I said,
“I know not how to speak; I am too young.”
But the LORD answered me,
Say not, “I am too young.”
To whomever I send you, you shall go;
whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Have no fear before them,
because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.

Then the LORD extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying,

See, I place my words in your mouth!
This day I set you
over nations and over kingdoms,
to root up and to tear down,
to destroy and to demolish,
to build and to plant.

Know this, God loves you and you are important to him. God has been planning yourself salvation ever sense Eve took a bite out of that apple. God is the most wonderful father you will ever know. He will work tirelessly to save you. You are truly that important to him. However he will not save you if you do not come to him. God will not force his will on you. God does ask that you choose his will, but you are not a programmed robot to him. Because he loves you, he gave you free will so you get to choose, and if you so do choose you will not be let down. The grander waiting for you cannot be imagined. 

1 PT 1:8-12

Beloved:
Although you have not seen Jesus Christ you love him;
even though you do not see him now yet believe in him,
you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Concerning this salvation,
prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours
searched and investigated it,
investigating the time and circumstances
that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated
when he testified in advance
to the sufferings destined for Christ
and the glories to follow them.
It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you
with regard to the things that have now been announced to you
by those who preached the Good News to you
through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven,
things into which angels longed to look.

We all have roles to play but it's up to us to except them. How admit I've spent a large part of my life serving myself. Thing is, it never seemed like enough was enough. I always wanted more, I always wanted bigger, I always wanted better. For years I constantly chased a lifestyle that was empty hollow and cold. Sitting in my living room one night with my head sunk between my shoulders I realized that if I continued I would surely die. Of course we all die, but I didn't want to die cold and alone. I realized at that point my life meant nothing. I stood for nothing. So I prayed I prayed to God and I asked for forgiveness. I asked for guidance I asked for hope. Now my life didn't drastically change overnight, it took years and I'm still on the same journey. However I will tell you this the more I open my life to Jesus, each day each day that I build a stronger relationship with God I am happier. Each day that I call on The Holy Spirit and ask him to take part in my life the more serene I feel. I've had some rough times since my reawakening, but I have overcome them all with God by my side. Through each tragedy, whether it be minor or major, I have felt peace in the wake of the storm. I don't ever expect to be a grand person. I don't believe that I'll ever be an Elijah, a Moses, a John the Baptist or a king David, but I do believe my role is important and because I love God I search daily to serve God and my fellow man as lovingly and humbly as possible. Like a good server I never expect anything in return. I am just thankful that I have been given the opportunity to serve. I pray that through my face and my good works that God will allow me into heaven. Just as a good server hopes that they're due diligence in their service will allow them to pay their bills. There's never any guarantee how much you're going to walk out with at the end of the night. You can only serve with passion and receive the rewards.  You will never know what a wonderful life God has in store for you if you never let him into your life.

LK 1:5-17

In the days of Herod, King of Judea,
there was a priest named Zechariah
of the priestly division of Abijah;
his wife was from the daughters of Aaron,
and her name was Elizabeth.
Both were righteous in the eyes of God,
observing all the commandments
and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren
and both were advanced in years.
Once when he was serving
as priest in his division’s turn before God,
according to the practice of the priestly service,
he was chosen by lot
to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.
Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside
at the hour of the incense offering,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him,
standing at the right of the altar of incense.
Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah,
because your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you shall name him John.
And you will have joy and gladness,
and many will rejoice at his birth,
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.
John will drink neither wine nor strong drink.
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb,
and he will turn many of the children of Israel
to the Lord their God.
He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah
to turn their hearts toward their children
and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous,
to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”