Tasting Blood

Embracing adversity as a means to grow

Isaiah 1:10, 16-20

Hear the word of the LORD, princes of Sodom! Listen to the instruction of our God, people of Gomorrah! Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow. Come now, let us set things right, says the LORD: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; Though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool. If you are willing, and obey, you shall eat the good things of the land; But if you refuse and resist, the sword shall consume you: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken!

          I want to thank everyone who filled out the surveys after the retreat last week. You’ll be happy to know that to the questions, “What did you enjoy MOST about the retreat?” everyone answered, “The long movie!” No, I’m just kidding. Actually, the only person who liked the movie was Patrick Jones. Patrick knew the answer to my question: “Why did Msgr. O’Flaherty ask Col. Kapplar for his signature?” He said, “So he could forge it!” By the way, a huge congrats to our Quiz Bowl Team on their victory as State Champs; I am very proud of you.

          But do you know why I made you watch that long and complicated movie? Well, so you’d know a little about what happened in Rome during WWII. But also to test your endurance, to push you out of your comfort zone, to make you suffer a little. There’s an old saying, “Whatever doesn’t kill you only makes your stronger.” Adversity, struggle, suffering makes you bigger and better. There are four captains on the Southside Rebel football team this year. Do you know where all four of those captains went to junior high? It wasn’t Ramsey, or Chaffin, or Greenwood. It was Trinity. Do you know what happened when they played football at Trinity? They got their faces mashed in; they tasted blood in their mouths. But that adversity only made them stronger and better, faster and smarter. A retreat is about growing as a person, and nothing helps you grow like adversity, just like manure is helps flowers to grow.

          This is the same point that Isaiah makes in the first reading: adversity makes you grow and can even purify you and make you holy. Isaiah prophesies that the Jews will be deported into bondage during the Babylonian Captivity. They will lose their lands and they will suffer as slaves. But, he says, this adversity will also purify you. He writes: “Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; though they be crimson red, they may become white as wood.” In other words, through their adversity and suffering, they will become stronger and better and holier. That Babylonian Captivity was like a retreat for the Jews, and they were purified as the People of God.

          Boys and girls, you are constantly confronted with choices; you can do A or you can do B. Well, don’t always choose the easy and comfortable and pleasant path. Sometimes choose adversity and difficulty. For example, choose the AP subject instead of the normal subject.  If you’re good at math, take more English.  If you’re good at English, take more math. Eat the salad and vegetables instead of the cheese pizza. Be friends with someone no one talks to instead of hanging out with the cool kids. Play football at Trinity instead of Chaffin. In other words, taste a little blood in your mouth – it will make you bigger, stronger, better and holier.

          Let me conclude with this poem by Robert Frost that captures this point far more eloquently. It is called “The Road Not Taken.”

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth

Then took the other, just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear,

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden back.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –

I took the one less traveled by

And that has made all the difference.

          Boys and girls, it’s not so bad to taste a little blood in your mouth by adversity; it can make all the difference in your own life.

Praised be Jesus Christ!

The Flaming Brazier

Accepting our lot as imperfectly perfect Christians

Genesis 15:5-6, 17-18

The Lord God took Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.

 When the sun had set and it was dark, there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch, which passed between those pieces. It was on that occasion that the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I give this land,  from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates.”

          Do you suffer from perfectionism – that desire to be perfect in your life: to be the perfect husband, the perfect wife, the all-A student, the quarterback who never throws an interception, the priest who always gives a great homily, etc? We all feel a little of that push to be perfect, don’t we? I think the best antidote for such perfectionism is to mess up and then be able to laugh at yourself after you do.

          Several years ago, I was in a chapel attending a small Mass with just a group of priests, no lay people. That meant the priests themselves had to be the lectors and altar server, etc., and I got to be the lucky lector. That day, the first reading was exactly the same as today’s first reading from Genesis 15, but the translation was the older translation, before it was revised a few years ago. You may have noticed that today’s reading says, “There appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch, which passed between those pieces.” The older version, however, had this: “there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming brazier, which passed through those two pieces.”  But when I said the word “b-r-a-z-i-e-r” I accidentally said, “a flaming brassiere.” Well, you can just imagine the laughter among my brother priests. So, what did I do? I wrote to the pope and explained the problem with that word, and that’s why he ordered that a new translation of the Bible should be used at the Mass. And now it reads, “A flaming torch.” So, all you lectors: you’re welcome! Here’s another example of imperfectionism. How many lectors have accidentally introduced today’s second reading by saying, “St. Paul’s letter to the Philippinos” instead of “to the Philippians”? When you mess up in front of a church full of people on Sunday, you are instantly cured of perfectionism. You know, every time I try too hard to be perfect, I just remember that “flaming brazier” and I feel very humbled and very imperfect. Sometimes the best we can do is to be imperfectly perfect.

          In the gospel today, we see Peter’s faltering attempts to be perfect as well. Peter is overcome with joy at Jesus’ Transfiguration and blurts out, “Master, it is good that we are here; let’s make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” The gospel goes on to add, “But he did not know what he was saying.” In other words, Peter was babbling. I bet James and John frequently reminded Peter about that incident, especially if his head was getting a little too big. And I’m sure now many of YOU will never let me forget Genesis 15! Peter’s imperfections are on public display in the gospels, but he was also able to laugh at himself when he saw his imperfections. I am convinced that Peter was the foundation of the Church NOT because he was perfect, but because he was humble, and he could laugh, and he could love. You see, Jesus is far more pleased with humility than perfection; that we struggle to be imperfectly perfect disciples.

          My friends, we are now into the second full week of Lent. It’s early enough in Lent that if you haven’t decided your Lenten resolution, it’s not too late. May I suggest that you work on rooting out perfectionism this Lent? Look at your faults and foibles and be able to laugh at yourself; don’t take yourself so seriously when you mess up. Now, don’t misunderstand me. I do NOT mean we shouldn’t try hard, or strive to be better, or that you should settle for mediocrity. By all means, be great! But when you mess up – and you WILL mess up – be able to laugh at yourself, and move on. One of the great saints said, “We will only stop struggling with lust six minutes after we’re in the grave.” In other words, there is no perfection on this side of the grave; we’re doing good to be imperfectly perfect Christians.

          And that goes for other people, too. Have you ever looked at someone else and thought: “Wow! There goes a perfect family! He’s the most caring husband, and she’s a gorgeous and giving wife! Their children are only seen and not heard, and a huge house and cool cars!” Well, let me share the same advice that Fr. Clayton Gould once gave me. He said, “John, everyone is normal until you get to know them.” Let me repeat that: “Everyone is normal until you get to know them.” Once you get to know someone – not just from a distance but up-close and personal – you realize they have problems and pitfalls, peculiarities, too. In other words, the “Jones next door,” are also striving to be imperfectly perfect.

          A few weeks ago, my mom asked me a very hard question. She said she tries very hard to pray when she goes to Adoration but she gets distracted. She wanted to know how to overcome distraction. I said, “Well, mom, I’m not sure we can overcome distraction in prayer, but maybe a distracted prayer is better than no prayer at all.” I explained further: “When I was a little boy, I used to bring you pictures I drew and I would sing songs for you. Those pictures and songs were far from perfect, but you love them anyway. I think that’s how God looks at our distracted prayers. He knows they’re the best we can do – and we utter them with love – and he accepts them with a smile.” You see, God the Father happily accepts our distracted and imperfect prayers.

          I’m not sure if this homily inspired anyone to become a lector at Mass. Who wants to mess up like Fr. John did?? But I do hope this homily helped some of you to keep struggling to be a better Christian; not to give up when you mess up. Folks, there is no perfection on this side of heaven; there are only priests trying to pronounce “brazier.”

          Praised be Jesus Christ!

Pope in Fort Smith

Trinity Junior High School Retreat

        

Did you happen to hear where the pope is this week?  He’s just south of the border in Mexico.  And do you know who he’s visiting while he’s in Mexico?  He’s going to the poorest places, to the slums, where there’s violence and corruption, where drug lords and gang leaders run the town not the mayor or the police.  He’s not going to Cancun or Puerta Vallarta and sit on the beach to work on his tan; he’s not visiting the rich and famous.  Imagine for a minute you are the pope -- wearing a white robe and a little white beenie -- and could fly anywhere in the world, where would you go?  Would you go to the poorest places or the richest resorts?  If Pope Francis came to Fort Smith, which part of town do you think he would visit?

          Now, when he visits a town, what does he do there?  Well, he invariably celebrates Mass.  Why?  Well, that’s just what Catholics do, who knows why?!  The reason Catholics do that, especially the pope, is because the Mass is the most excellent expression of Jesus’ love for us.  And because Jesus is “emotionally intelligent,” he’s made sure the Mass contains all five “love languages” that we’ve learned today.  He knows we don’t all speak the same love language.  You see, the pope doesn’t just celebrate Mass in Spanish and English and Polish, he also knows the languages of “words of affirmation,” and “physical touch,” and “gifts” and “quality time” and finally “acts of service.”

          Can you find the five love languages in the Mass?  Where is “words of affirmation”?  After the priest reads the gospel, we all say, “Praised be to you, Lord Jesus Christ!”  We affirm Jesus -- we praise him -- with our words.  Where is “physical touch”?  At the sign of peace, we turn to our neighbor and shake their hands.  Some families hug.  We touch each other.  What about “quality time”?  Well, we should be giving Jesus our undivided attention at Mass -- not thinking about the cute girl sitting in front of us!  Mass time is Jesus time.  Where do we see “acts of service” at Mass?  Well, just look at our lectors, altar servers and cantors.  We don’t pay them to do that; they serve us and Jesus as a language of love.  Finally, “gifts” -- where are they?  We bring up the gifts of bread and wine, and Jesus gives us the gift of himself in Holy Communion.  The Mass is a holy exchange of gifts because Jesus knows how to speak that love language fluently.

          Boys and girls, the Mass is a masterpiece of love: because Jesus has mastered all five love languages, and he speaks them in the Mass, and we’ll catch them if we pay careful attention.  The Good Lord knows each of us has our own love language, and so he speaks to us in our native tongue, just like the pope speaks Spanish while he’s in Mexico, and English when he came to the United States.  Every time you attend Mass, try to catch examples of the five love languages.  They will speak to your heart, because Jesus doesn’t want you to miss how much he loves you.  And that, by the way, is why the pope celebrates Mass everywhere he goes.

          Praised be Jesus Christ!

Duel with the Devil

Learning life verses to save our lives

Luke 4:1-4

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.”

          I would like to begin with a little confession this morning. Don’t get too excited, I didn’t kill anybody. Sometimes, when I drive around town, I’ll turn on the radio and listen to local Protestant preachers. Please don’t tell the pope! Now, I’m not listening for the “substance” of their sermon, but rather I am listening for the “style” of their sermon. In business, they call this finding “best practices,” that is, learning from other companies and competitors. I can’t tell you how often Protestant preachers have given me some of the best stories, jokes, analogies and anecdotes that I’ve used in my own homilies.

          For example, one day a preacher was explaining the importance of learning a “life verse” from the Bible. Have you ever heard of a “life verse”? Well, if you listened to Protestant preachers more, you would have! He said that every Christian should memorize at least one verse of the Bible and use it to guide his or her life. This verse should be deeply meaning to you; it should speak to your heart. You should repeat it every day and it will serve as a “compass” to keep you from getting lost. When I heard that, I thought, “What a great idea!” And then I thought, “Now, what is the shortest verse in the Bible so I can memorize it and remember it??” Do you know which verse is the shortest? It is John 11:35. It reads, “Jesus wept.” And the reason Jesus wept is because Catholics pick the shortest verse of the Bible to memorize! Well, if that’s the best you can do, at least it is a start. But the real reason to have a “life verse” is because someday it may save your life.

          Today’s gospel is about Jesus’ temptation in the desert, where he duels with the devil. The devil throws three temptations at Jesus: (1) he urges him to change stones into bread, (2) he offers him all the wealth of the nations, and (3) he dares him to flex his divine muscles by jumping off the parapet of the temple. And how did Jesus defend himself? Apparently, Jesus also enjoyed listening to Protestant preachers, because he pulled out his life verses! He quoted the Old Testament three times and ultimately left the devil dumbfounded and dejected. In other words, Jesus’ life verse saved our Lord’s life in his duel with the devil in the desert. Maybe your life verse should be one of Jesus’ own life verses, namely, Luke 4:4, “Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone’.” That is, don’t just live for material things, but also seek spiritual things, like “every word that comes from the mouth of God.” I’m sure Jesus would be happy to let you borrow his own life verse.

          May I share with you a few examples of Bible verses that are especially meaningful to me? I really like Romans 5:20, which reads, “Where sin abounds, there grace abounds all the more.” That gives me great comfort when I see sin sort of “abounding” in my life, because I know if I look hard enough, God’s grace is around and abounds even more. Folks, remember that there is always more grace than sin in your life, you just need eyes of faith to see it. Here’s a popular verse you see everywhere, Philippians 4:13, where St. Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” If you find God is sending you more crosses than you have shoulders to carry them, remember Philippians 4:13, and you’ll find strength even if you lack shoulders! Here’s my personal life verse, it’s also from Philippians 4:8, which reads, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about these things.” That’s a pretty cool one, don’t you think? But I’ve already claimed that one; so go find your own.

          My friends, Jesus shows us a simple way to defeat the devil today: learn a life verse. It will save your life in your mortal combat with the devil. And if enough Catholics learn life verses, it won’t just be a “Protestant thing” anymore; it may also become a “Catholic thing.” In any case, it is a really “Christian thing.”

          Praised be Jesus Christ!

Dumb Question

Being fearless in asking questions

Matthew 9:14-15

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

          Children love to ask questions. And they love to ask lots of questions. And sometimes they even answer their own questions. Here are some samples of their sagacity. One child asked, “Why do pandas like old movies?” The answer: “Because they are black and white.” Another question: “When does a doctor get mad?” Answer: “When she runs out of patients.” Here’s a clever one: “Is swimming good for your figure?” Answer: “If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.” And here’s my favorite: “What kind of lighting did Noah use on the Ark?” Answer: “He used floodlights!”

          These are humorous examples, of course. But children also ask serious questions, like “Why can’t we see God?” and “Where do babies come from?” and “Who wrote the Bible?”  Good questions! Over the course of my 20 years as a priest, I’ve learned that not all questions have answers, at least that I know. Some answers will only be found in heaven. But it’s still good to ask the question, you never know what you might learn.

          In the gospel today, John’s disciples ask Jesus a question. They ask: “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus gives a cryptic answer in calling himself the “Bridegroom,” and that it is not customary to fast when the Groom is present. What’s the point? Well, notice how a seemingly simple question prompted Jesus to divulge his deepest identity. He is the heavenly Bridegroom who has come to earth to claim his Bride, the Church. This was a little more important than knowing what kind of lights Noah used on the Ark! But you’ll never know the answer unless you ask the question. I bet Jesus loved it when people asked him questions! And those fortunate people didn’t have to wait till heaven to get their answers.

          Some people think there are “dumb questions,” but I don’t. Do you think it’s a dumb question to ask, “What was God doing before he created time?” One religious retort was, “He was creating Hell for people who ask dumb questions.” But I believe that’s the farthest thing from the truth. In his book, The Universe in a Nutshell, Stephen Hawking explained that precisely that “dumb question” -- What was God doing before he created time? -- inspired the greatest minds, like Albert Einstein, to rethink the nature of space and time and discover the theories of “general relativity” and “quantum mechanics.” In other words, there are no “dumb questions.” In fact, there are only two kinds of questions: Good questions and those questions you didn’t ask. As soon as you ask the question, it becomes a good one. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, you never know what you might learn. Now, as for the answers, some of those you’ll only find in heaven.

          Praised be Jesus Christ!

Turning Heads

With gratitude to the Sisters of St. Scholastica

Matthew 25: 1-13

Jesus said: “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

          Much has been written about the rich but also rocky relationships between men and women. As a priest who counsels couples, I’ve read a few of those books. Few things take up as much of our time, talents and treasure than managing our relationships with those of the opposite sex. One such book is called Me

n are from Mars, Women are from Venus. It certainly feels like we’re from different planets, sometimes! Another is called Love and Respect and explores how women crave love and tenderness while men seek respect and admiration. You know how big a man’s ego can get! But the most valuable lesson I’ve learned about love came from the movie, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” The bride is having cold feet the night before the wedding, and her mother gives her a little advice. She says, “Dear, there are only two things you need to remember about marriage. First, the man is the head of the house. Second, the woman is the neck. And the neck can turn the head.” We often hear it said that the man is the “head” while the woman is the “heart,” and that’s certainly true. But I would suggest to you that a woman’s best role is symbolized by being the neck. By the way, that’s what we mean when we say a woman can “turn heads.” In case you didn’t know that.

          Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Scholastica, and what a special blessing to be at St. Scholastica Monastery for this Mass! There’s no other place I’d rather be today. It’s hard to talk about St. Scholastica without making mention of her twin brother, St. Benedict. I only want to point out one aspect of St. Scholastica’s life, namely, that she embodies all that’s best in how a woman should relate to a man. (Pay attention, ladies!) I don’t know if she ever read Love and Respect, or Men are from Mars, or watched “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” but Scholastica knew how to deal with Benedict in a way that was a blessing to both. In the famous book, The Dialogues of St. Gregory the Great, we read about the last time St. Scholastica went to visit St. Benedict. By that time, they had both founded monasteries and were coming to the end of their lives. Because women were not allowed inside the monastery, Benedict and a few monks met St. Scholastica outside the monastery, in a nearby farmhouse. When evening came, Benedict got up to go – because his “rule” required him to spend the night inside the monastery – but Scholastica begged him to stay longer. When he refused, she fell to her knees to pray. Suddenly, a severe thunderstorm broke out and Benedict was forced to remain in the farmhouse all night. Benedict cried out, “God forgive you, Sister! What have you done?” Scholastica replied, “I asked a favor of you and you refused. I asked it of God and he granted it.” I believe this is what that wise Greek mother meant when she said, “The man is the head but the woman is the neck, and the neck can turn the head.” Didn’t St. Scholastica turn Benedict’s head to more spiritual matters in their long, nocturnal conversation? And if this doesn’t sound too irreverent, didn’t St. Scholastica even turn God’s head by her prayer, and his answer of the thunderstorm? You see, wise women know how to turn a man’s head, and the wisest women turn men’s heads to heaven.

          Would you indulge me for a moment and allow me to add a few personal points about St. Scholastica and this magnificent monastery? I would like to just say three things. First, as Administrator of Trinity Junior High, just down the hill from you, I feel very blessed every time I drive on this monastery campus. You consecrated women turn this priest’s head when I look up the hill and know you are praying for me and our school. You’ve done more than pray; you’ve also supported us financially, and you even attend our school functions, like the “Men in Black versus the Boys in Blue” Quizbowl (although I couldn’t tell who exactly you were cheering for!). Whenever we see you, you turn our heads to think of heaven. Secondly, your monastery is a landmark in this community. Even John Bell, the renowned Fort Smith painter, has immortalized the monastery with oil and canvas. You turn the heads of the people of Fort Smith to think of heaven. And third, you are embarking on a campaign to build a new monastery for your future. Be assured of my prayers and support for the success of this campaign. But may I also ask you a favor? Whatever you build and however your future unfolds, don’t stop “turning heads” to heaven: that is your purpose, that is your power, and that should be your pride. Wise women know how to turn a man’s head, and the wisest women, like St. Scholastica, always turn a man’s head to heaven.

          Today’s gospel from Matthew 25 is very apropos to this feast of St. Scholastica. Let me ask you: what made the wise virgins so “wise” and the others so “foolish”? Well, the wise were always ready for the Bridegroom; they never took their eyes off heaven. The fools looked away, they got distracted, and finally they were left out of the wedding. The real purpose and the real power of the wise virgins – and really of all wise women – is to keep their eyes on heaven, and to turn our heads to heaven, too. My dear Sisters of St. Scholastica, keep turning our heads to heaven, but if you don’t mind, please don’t give us whiplash.

          Praised be Jesus Christ!

Freddy Kreuger’s Lent

Never going away in the battle to be better

Joel 2:12-14

Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment. Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing, Offerings and libations for the LORD, your God.

          What is the worst thing in the world? Well, if you’re a Catholic, you might answer that the worst thing in the world is a “mortal sin.” Why? Well, we believe that if you die with a mortal sin on your soul, you will go to hell. And that’s pretty bad. But I think there’s something even worse than a mortal sin, namely, discouragement, giving up the struggle to be good. Have you ever felt like giving up in the battle to be better? Don’t worry, I have felt that way, too.

          Nick Saben, the coach of the Alabama football team, once made this crazy comment: “What makes Freddy Kreuger such a horrible character? What makes him scare you to death? You can’t get rid of that guy. He never goes away.” Do you recall Freddy Kreuger, the ugly serial killer who shows up in your dreams? Coach Saben was telling his players never to give up, to be resilient and relentless, to “never go away” in a football game. That’s one thing that makes the Crimson Tide a great football team, and also why they’re so ugly.

          This is one of the great lessons of Lent: don’t give up in the battle to be better. For 40 days we’ll make some sacrifice or do some charity or pray more. But does that mean that after 40 days you’ll be perfect and never do anything wrong again? No. There’s no perfection on this side of the grave. That’s why we receive ashes on our foreheads today: to remind us we’ll only be perfect after we turn to ashes, after we die. One great saint said, “We’ll stop struggling with lust only 6 minutes after we’re in the grave.” So, what is the point of Lent? It is part of the battle to be better; that is, just try to be a little better by Easter than you were on Ash Wednesday. Like Coach Saben said, “never go away,” never give up.

          This Lent instead of giving up chocolate or chai latte or Cheerios, pick a sin you’d like to work on overcoming. Maybe it is lust and watching inappropriate things on the internet, or maybe it’s criticizing and complaining, or maybe it’s being lazy and a couch potato, maybe you need to tame your temper. And for 40 days be like a dog with a bone in the battle to be better. You’re not going to be perfect by Easter – you’ll only be perfect after you turn to ashes – but that’s doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. “What makes Freddy Kreuger such a horrible character? What makes him scare you to death? You can’t get rid of the guy. He never goes away.” My friends, “never go away” in the battle to be better.

          Praised be Jesus Christ!