06/01/14 Make A Disciple

Homily from the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.

"Here is the thing: a disciple is practical. I believe in Jesus. Which means that I have a relationship with Jesus. How healthy would a marriage be if a person were to say whenever they were asked, 'Are you married?' and they say 'Absolutely I am married,' but they haven't talked to their spouse in a year? Would that be a healthy marriage? How healthy would a marriage be if a person were to say whenever they were asked 'Are you married?' and they say, 'Absolutely I am married, I've been married for years,' but they can't remember the last time that being married made a difference in one of their decisions? How they spent their time, how they spent their money, how they chose to do this instead of that. That's not a healthy relationship, that's not a real relationship! Here's the thing: how healthy would a disciple be if they were asked, 'Are you Catholic?' 'Oh yeah man, I was born Catholic! I was raised Catholic, I went to Catholic schools for cryin' out loud. That's how Catholic I am!' 'When was the last time you prayed?' 'Last Sunday.' And you've heard me ask this question or say this thing before, but I'll ask it again or say it again: if this is the first time that you are praying since last Sunday, you're not a disciple. If this is the first time that I am praying since last Sunday's Mass, I am not a disciple of Jesus. If I haven't made space for Christ on my calendar, if being a Christian hasn't changed my schedule at all in the last week, then I am not living like a disciple."

Mass Readings from June 1, 2014:
Acts 1:1-11
Ephesians 1:17-23
Matthew 28:16-20