The Challenge for all people

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The most significant Line in this gospel is the last line. We live in a world where the meaning of our existence is what material treasures we can hold on. Do I have the best? We may ask ourselves. And we all get caught up in it. Just look at the adverts on our tv that tell us that we cannot possibly live without tis new product.  But in the words of the Beatles " money can't buy you love" and sometimes we think it can. We go into retail therapy mode. Do I need it no but I must have it.

We as Christians have a treasure that others do not have. A precious gift to give to the world. And that is Jesus. It seems to me that it is a very exciting time to a catholic. The present pope has challenged the whole church to re think  its mission which has not changed since the time of Jesus.  It is one of bringing that treasure  of jesus to the world. I have begun to disappear and get fed up with  some of the attitudes of clergy who hide behind paperwork or their lace. Francis challenges not just the clergy but the whole church to engage with society to get out there among the people who do not know this treasure.

This apparently came from either Francis or John Paul II but we are unsure but still a very good quote

"We need saints without cassocks, without veils - we need saints with jeans and tennis shoes. We need saints that go to the movies that listen to music, that hang out with their friends. We need saints that place God in first place ahead of succeeding in any career. We need saints that look for time to pray every day and who know how to be in love with purity, chastity and all good things. We need saints - saints for the 21st century with, a spirituality, appropriate to our new time. We need saints that have a commitment to helping the poor and to make the needed social change.

We need saints to live in the world, to sanctify the world and to not be afraid of living in the world by their presence in it. We need saints that drink Coca-Cola, that eat hot dogs, that surf the internet and that listen to their iPods. We need saints that love the Eucharist, that are not afraid or embarrassed to eat a pizza or drink a beer with their friends. We need saints who love the movies, dance, sports, theatre. We need saints that are open, sociable, normal, happy companions. We need saints who are in this world and who know how to enjoy the best in this world without being callous or mundane.

We need saints."

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