Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. Matthew 11:20

In our towns and cities, what mightly deeds have we witnessed that could be accounted as divine providence. Yet no one repented. Woe to us then. We just go on as if nothing happened. A life might have been saved or something that brings the towns people together. But out of it all, does it deepen our faith? It's time we start blessing our towns and cities, to restore the divine. Since we let evil take root in them.

What's not often witnessed is our faith out in the public. We stick to those we know, but never extend ourselves beyond to the stranger next to us, to give a smile that is from within. God does bring people together so we can reach out to others in love of neighbor, not to group off into little groups. Why did Jesus go after the Pharisees? Perhaps it was in the way they stuck together and never extended themselves beyond their clicky group. Towns and cities are like this too, made up of clicks. And this is not love of neighbor, when we are selective on who we speak to in public. Heaven forbid if we were caught talking and someone saw and chastises us for lowering ourselves. I've heard this from some people, out of ear shot, or their actions and secretiveness give them away. Jesus makes a good point today. Let's hope and pray we change ourselves and stop being a prideful people.

So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. Mark 6:12-13

Reflection:

They went off and preached repentance, and many today do that. But we tend to be critical of our Priest when they preach too much repentance. Or we go off on them, thinking what got into them today, for the explosive way they gave the homily. Who are they after, today? Well for all intents and purposes it is us they are after for repentance.

We go around as if we are sinless, the confessionals are empty. There are no lines when the hour for this is available. And amazing how many there are in Church too. So out of all of them, maybe a small handful have gone to receive the sacrament of penance. And we sit in judgment of the one who was sent to preach repentance to us. So when the words of the Lord hit home in a homily by one of God's chosen, don't be a coward about going to the sacrament of penance. He is reaching out to you, to cleanse and heal you. But most importantly, so you can receive him with a clean heart, mind and soul.

But like anything else, we put everything else first, we go shopping, go to sports games, watch television. We take care of our pleasures first, but the one area we need to truly take care of. We are slugs at best, we have become good at putting off taking care of our own souls.

When we look at the news and read of what is happening and think is it possible, yet we still do nothing to prepare ourselves for any coming at all. My parish priest puts it best about people, we do everything at the last minute. And that is so very true of many. And we also tend to not like hearing that we need saving. What a pity then. Because God believes in us better than we do.

Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Matthew 10:26-28

God knows everything about us and what we have done throughout our life. He knows every secret that we try to hide from ourselves, from others and from Him. We live in a world that everything about us is known. Records are kept, sometimes without our own knowledge about our lives. Nothing about our life is hidden. Yet when we sin, we do everything possible to cover up our wrong. Little do we know, that it always comes to the light. No one goes through life without a sin coming to the surface.

What is it like to come close to loosing your life, your soul. It's not a pleasant thing. Should we fear the one who would destroy what gives us life, you bet! I can sit here and actually look back and think about how one person could so easily attempt to take your soul from your life. I see with eyes the many times an attempt to change my morals was brought to the surface, and the many times I refused. The things that kill a soul. Be afraid of the one that drags your life to Gehenna. Because should you go over the edge, there is no coming back unless it is by the hand of God, and his reaching in to pull you out. Think about the desires that rule your life, follow the commandments, each and every one of them, you will not regret it.
And for me this one person was my test of faith, and where my heart belonged, to God. Please don't wait until you are tested to see where your loyalty is, because it might be one we fail and not pass. Be true to God always, in everything.

LITANY OF KATERI TEKAKWITHA

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the World have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Kateri, lily of purity, pray for us.
Kateri, consoler of the heart of Jesus, pray for us.
Kateri, bright light for all Indians, pray for us.
Kateri, courage of the afflicted, pray for us.
Kateri, lover of the cross of Jesus, pray for us.
Kateri, flower of fortitude for the persecuted, pray for us.
Kateri, unshakeable in temptations, pray for us.
Kateri, full of patience in suffering, pray for us.
Kateri, keeper of your virginity in persecutions, pray for us.
Kateri, leader of many Indians to the true faith through your love for Mary, pray for us.

Kateri, who loved Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, pray for us.
Kateri, lover of penance, pray for us.
Kateri, who traveled many miles to learn the faith, pray for us.
Kateri, steadfast in all prayer, pray for us.
Kateri, who loved to pray the rosary for all people, pray for us.
Kateri, example to your people in all virtues, pray for us.
Kateri, humble servant to the sick, pray for us.
Kateri, who by your love of humility, gave joy to the angels, pray for us.
Kateri, your holy death gave strength to all Indians to love Jesus and
Mary, pray for us.

Kateri, whose scarred face in life became beautiful after death,
pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, 0 Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, 0 Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

LET US PRAY

0 Jesus, who gave Kateri to the Indians as an example of purity, teach all men to love purity, and to console your immaculate Mother Mary through the lily, Kateri Tekakwitha, and your Holy Cross, Amen.

Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us