Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Today is the final Sunday of the Church's liturgical year. It is appropriate that we have the Gospel of the Good Thief. He reminds us that it is never too late to make a fresh start with Our Merciful Lord. The Good Thief was a man, who in his last dying moment, turned to Our Lord. Just a word about what a thief was at the time of Our Lord. He wasn't just some shady character who picked a pocket or grabbed a purse. In Jesus' day, thieves hid in the hill country and lived in caves. They were often armed with knives and clubs. They attacked travelers, beat them up, robbed them and tossed them in a ditch to die. The thief was feared - and despised.

Jesus was crucified between two thieves. One, un- fortunately, had become hardened and embittered. But the other had an amazing conversion. He accepted his own guilt: "We have been condemned justly," he said, "the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes." Then he made an act of faith: "Jesus, remember me."

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Many people have trouble accepting Jesus' teaching about the final judgment.  Our Lord’s teaching is difficult to believe for various reasons but one reason seems most difficult for many to understand.  Our Lord’s judgment is final.  I’ll admit, it is difficult for many to believe that something could be final and forever.   

Sadly, many people live with the incorrect belief that there are “do overs” in the after we die.  Many people hope for a series of “do overs” after they die until they get it right.  While this may be their hope… it is not the reality.  “Do overs” will not be part of the final judgment.  This is why we seek to please God now by seeking to become saints now BEFORE we die. Becoming a saint means that we need repent of our sins while we are still on earth. 

So here are some terms that might help you along the way to becoming saints.

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The elections are over and we elected a president - and other public officials. This past election season gave many opportunities to discuss are what really matters to us. In some of my discussions, I noticed some themes that came up again and again. I found that many do not trust our government leaders and do not put much emphasis on the role of government in their life. I also found that there are many who believe that the government should solve our problems. Regardless of where you fall on the role of government, I do believe that some people have some unrealistic notions about power. Some overestimate another person's power and some underestimate their own power. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

Today's Gospel provides a remedy. When we compare ourselves to someone like the president of a nation or a famous person, we can feel very small and insignificant. I know that many people feel like they have nothing to give to the Church.

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

After a year or so of political debates, we have the wonderful opportunity to wield the power of the pen and vote! It is a great blessing for us to be able to participate in the election process. Hopefully you know by now that this is a serious moment in our nations history. The future leadership in our country and in our state will impact many people.

This Tuesday we choose our president, senators, representatives - and a number of other officials. Our vote matters a great deal. There are issues that could deeply impact the way we life our Catholic faith. As with any big decision, we need to increase our prayers because this election could be a matter of life or death for millions of people. BUT as important as these elections are for our future, we face an even greater moment of decision. Now is your moment of decision AND IT WILL IMPACT your life here and in the hereafter.

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