Saint Paul’s eloquent address  on Mars Hill in Athens has always been one of my favorite sermons.

Saint Paul had just escaped for his life from Berea because of the controversy he caused with the Jews in that area. The commotion caused by stirring up the crowd was too much for them. Paul was sent by boat to Athens. Paul was supposed to wait for Timothy and Silas to arrive before he started preaching, but he could not stand being surrounded by so many idols., It sickened him.

Idolatry

Saint Paul coined the word” idolatry.” Yes, the word idol is mentioned many times in the Old Testament, but it was Paul who first used the term idolatry. He had to give a name to the offenses of these people whose polytheistic beliefs were leading them astray.

Paul The Pharisee

We must realize that Paul was raised as a Pharisee and the Jews had been taught that there was only one true god. The idea of worshiping false idols was a grave sin for the Jews. Paul’s cultural background would not allow his spirit to be soiled by the Athenians idol worship. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he began his mission to teach the great philosophers a lesson on worshiping false gods. His patience grew thin; he could not wait for Timothy and Silas to take the great stage to pull down these idols.

Paul, as usual, would start his ministry at the Jewish synagogues. From there he would walk the public square, speaking to whoever gave ear to the sound of his preaching. Paul’s message was about Jesus and the Resurrection.

Greek Philosophers

By the time Paul arrived in Athens, the country had been under Roman rule for over 200 years. The Roman’s strong-armed military could never change the culture of Athens, which was known for its rich philosophy. Athens was the center for teaching and learning of philosophy. Wealthy merchants sent their children to Athens to glean from the knowledge of the Greek philosophers. After all, this was the home of Plato and Socrates.  Paul would have no problem in gaining an audience because he, too, was a great philosopher.

Because the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were intrigued by Paul’s words, they invited him to speak at the Areopagus. It was considered a great honor for a foreigner to receive this invitation because only the elite, learned men of Athens were allowed to speak there. Paul’s audience would now be Gentiles. His education and spiritual desires would play a major role in his famous sermon.

The Message 

Paul’s heartfelt sermon was directed to the Athenians’ belief in many gods, including the “unknown god.” As in the times of Paul, we live in a world of idolatry. So many people are looking to their gods to bring them happiness. The world is filled with unknown gods because until we seek and find the One True God, we are restless.

“Lord, You have made us for Yourself. And our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” St. Augustine

Paul  gains the respect of  the Athenians by acknowledging their religious beliefs. He cleverly uses the notion of the unknown god to replace it with Jesus, the known God. The Greeks were offended by the message about the Resurrection. Before Paul  finished  his speech, he had gained the support of Dionysius, a judge of the Court of Areopagus. (Acts 17:22-34)

Who do we reach on a daily basis? My attempt to reach one soul at a time gives me great joy. This Blog has a solid following in China. It is my responsibility before God to tell the truth. China and the US share a common ground; both countries are in desperate need of the One True God. We, the people of this great country, need to be redirected to seek God in all aspects of our lives.

Are You  A Dionysius?

Dionysius, like Paul, was highly educated; he came from parents of great means who sent him to Egypt to finish his education. Paul was sent from Tarsus to Jerusalem to study under the great teacher Gamaliel. As a young man, Dionysius was studying in a town called Heliopolis near the capital of Cairo when on Good Friday, the day of Jesus’ death, darkness came over all the land. This experience never left him. No philosophers could give him a solid reason for this great phenomenon, but Paul clearly gave truth to the meaning of the eclipse.

Meeting the Mother of God

When Dionysius learned that the mother of Jesus was alive, he visited her in the Holy Land. He had many discussions with our Blessed Mother and was there when she was assumed into heaven.

Dionysius became the first Bishop of Athens, a mystical writer and was canonized a saint. He is the patron saint of Athens and is venerated as the protector of judges and the judiciary.

My Discipleship

The Lord opened the door for me to attend BIOLA University (Bible Institute of Los Angeles), a private Christian college in La Mirada, California. I was serving God as a Christian during my education at BIOLA. I could never have attended this college as a Catholic because at that time Catholics were not admitted to this college. God knew that I needed insight into what the Protestants believe so that I could reach out to them as a Catholic. I realize this was part of God’s plan for my ministry.

My Prayer 

Dear Lord, I pray for all who are called to be disciples of Christ to step into their roles of leadership. Lord, set the stage for our preaching. Whether at an open forum or workplace, lead us to be the example to win others to You. Use us in these turbulent times to shed truth to those looking for their unknown god. Amen!

I volunteer too much! This last week I not only volunteered myself for Vacation Bible School, but also dragged two of my grandsons.

The Guilt

I signed up Lucas, age 13, and Jacob, age 11; they were not pleased with the decision and Lucas complained daily. The worse day was the mandatory meeting the boys had to attend. I was scared to tell them that the meeting was from 1 o’clock to 3:30. Jacob was exempt because he had a prior commitment with Boy Scouts, but Lucas was available. “How long is the meeting?” Lucas asked. “I’m not sure.” I lied. Through the duration of the meeting I received three desperate phone calls begging me to pick him up. Then came the text messages blowing up my phone. “I need to be outta here by 2:30,” followed by, “I want to see my Dad.” Really with the “I want to see my Dad!” As bad as I felt, I responded that he still had an hour to go. I quickly followed with a text that I was ordering Chinese food for dinner and asked him what he wanted. When Lucas responded “orange chicken,” I knew that it was going to be fine.

The VBS Message

Each day of the week,  campers learned a lesson on how to shine Jesus’ light:

–When life feels dark, shine Jesus’ light;

–When people do not get along, shine Jesus’ light;

–When good things happen, shine Jesus’s light;

–When people are sad, shine Jesus’ light; and

–When people need help, shine Jesus’ light.

With each day of VBS,  the complaining became less and less. On the last day Lucas said, “It was fun, maybe I’ll do it next year.” Doing the Lord’s work changes the teen volunteers because for one week they set aside their personal needs and put the needs of others before their own. It’s maturity in the right direction.

It’s In The Bible

How important is it to teach your children about God? It is the responsibility of all parents to guide their children in the direction of serving God. The best advice I can give any parent: don’t ask your children if they want to participate; tell them they must! I’ve heard so many parents say that their kids do not want to participate in any religion classes, or that sports come before God. News flash: you are the boss! And as a responsible parent, it is your duty before God to raise them accordingly.

If the parent is not attending church, their children will suffer the consequences.

In an article written by Aaron Earls of Lifeway Research: ” According to a Gallup survey, childhood church attendance does make it more likely for a person to attend as an adult.”

If a child attended almost every week or more, 38% attend church at the same rate today. The percentage starts to dwindle down to 23% if they only attended monthly. And for those who seldom or never attended as a child, only 16% attend frequently as adults.

Vacation Bible School (VBS)

Introducing God to a child starts with these wonderful programs. It teaches them to love Jesus in their simple language. Though both of my grandsons were reluctant to participate in VBS, they quickly fell into their roles of leadership. Lucas was a crew leader; he and another boy his age were in charge of  five children ranging from pre-k to sixth grade. Jacob was on the God squad, helping in different activities. Russell and I were part of an adult crew VBS leader. Under our care were student volunteers who, like Lucas had as many as five children they were responsible for.

Setting A Positive Example

At this young age the campers are displaying different personality traits. A first grader in our group was very upset because she felt that another child’s artwork was better than hers. She cried with great disappointment. I pulled her aside and told her that her artwork was just as beautiful and that the little girl’s art is different but as beautiful as hers. Another little boy was non-verbal; his mother shared with us that he recently started to talk. By the end of the week this same non-verbal child was singing and dancing with the rest of the children. We did not treat him any different, but we paid special attention to his needs. This was a great stepping stone for him in becoming more social. I witnessed the difference this made for him – a transition to joy.

It takes a lot of planning to have a successful VBS. At St. Norbert’s we have plenty of wonderful people who take charge of these tedious tasks to make a successful week. We had over 125 campers  and over 100 volunteers. A special thank you to all who  took so much personal time to give to the Lord. I do not know all your names, but God does. Great is your reward!

My Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for allowing us to participate in this great outreach. Sharon, Teresa, Maricela and Abraham are just a few of the many hands who worked tirelessly for the success of this wonderful program. The Lord looks down on you with a loving smile. Amen.

“The only thing ever achieved in life without effort is failure.” St. Francis of Assisi

San Francisco was  one of our favorite cities to visit. As a family we have fond memories of the many times we spent in the “City by the Bay”.

Family Vacations

When our children were younger, we would fly to San Francisco to celebrate my birthday and to shop for school clothes. We’d stay at the  St. Francis Hotel and walked around the city for hours. It was beautiful and safe. Like many great cosmopolitan cities, it was better to discover the many treasures by walking. We also utilized the trolley cars as a means of public transportation to get us to Fisherman’s Wharf. We would use a rental car to cross the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge and walk around Sausalito. It was a glorious time!

It was always foggy in August, and I’d forget to pack a jacket or sweater. This was the perfect opportunity to shop for the latest sweaters because San Francisco’s Union Square was the chic fashion district.

The dinners were the best: we loved Kuleto’s and eating at Scoma’s in Fisherman’s Wharf. Their fish was fresh and delicious; coming from a fish ignoramus, this was one of the only places I ordered fish.

Our Last Visit

Mike was on a business trip, and I tagged along to enjoy my beautiful San Francisco. We were staying at the downtown Hilton, a stone’s throw away from Nordstrom department store. As Mike was getting ready for his day, I said, “I’m going shopping, first to Nordstrom and then to Marshall’s. I’ll see you in a few hours.” I got on the elevator and headed out the door. I had not walked one block when I felt an eerie feeling; the atmosphere had changed. The streets were filled with scattered debris, and the once-refreshing air was spoiled by an unpleasant stench.

Having served as the head of a homeless ministry for over 20 years, I’m normally not uncomfortable around people of the streets. But in this case I felt like a walking target; people on the streets were screaming and a fight was about to break out.  I quickly turned around and headed back to the room. Mike was still there. “Why did you come back?” he asked. “Um, for the first time in my life I did not feel safe around the homeless,” I answered. After Mike finished his obligations with work, he promised to  accompany me to the shops.

By the time Mike was available, it was around 4 o’clock. As we walked toward Nordstrom he, too, got the same vibe. We never made it to the stores; instead we drove to dinner because the area had been overtaken by vagrants.

Saint Francis of Assisi 

This city is named after this great saint, and I know that Saint Francis is doing warfare for his beloved namesake. San Francisco was consecrated for the service of God; it is hallowed ground. Before any Catholic Church is built, the ground is blessed and the church is dedicated to the Lord. There are currently 17 Catholic Churches in San Francisco.

The Lord looks down on all those who are culpable for the demise of this great city. Their judgment will be severe because they have led so many astray.

“The deeds you may do may be the only sermon some people will hear” St. Francis of Assisi

The San Francisco Exodus

This year Nordstrom has announced the closing of two  San Francisco locations including the one in Union Square. This iconic 336,000,000-square-foot store with its spiral escalator is closing due to rampant crime. Whole Foods lasted a year before deciding to close shop. So far, more than 46 retailers have left the once posh Union Square. No more Office Depot, Anthropologie, Crate &Barrel you name it – they are gone!

San Francisco has always had panhandlers and musicians working the tourists but the demographics have changed. New laws to protect the criminals are not working well for us in California.

The Laws

We in California are suffering the aftermath of bills and  laws signed by our governor.

The law, Senate Bill 1375 authored by Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins, builds on two existing laws:

• Assembly Bill 890, which passed in 2020, and allows nurse practitioners to practice independently
• Atkins’ own AB 154, which passed in 2013 and permitted nurse practitioners to conduct first-trimester abortions under a doctor’s supervision.

• The $950 Theft Law, turned shoplifting from a felony to a misdemeanor as long as the total amount stolen does not exceed the value of $950.

Proposition One

Our liberal state is steeped in sin, and we are all paying the price. Proposition One allows babies to be aborted up to nine months and invites women from other states to come to California to kill their babies. Governor Newsom set out  the welcome mat. He uses California tax money (The Abortion Practical Support Fund) to pay for the flights and travel expenses for women of other states who come to California for abortions. These payments also cover hotel expenses and childcare while they abort their babies. This egregious evil is  part of the systemic mess we have allowed.

Standing My Ground

I am a second-generation native Californian and I will not be leaving this state. I serve a God of justice and believe that He answers all prayers. Our state capital is Sacramento. Do you know where that name derived from? Allow me to enlighten you. Sacramento was named after the Sacramento River by a Spanish cavalry officer Gabriel Morage for the Santisimo Sacramento (Most Holy Sacrament). He was referring to the Catholic Eucharist. The Body of Christ! All these destructive laws were  passed in our capital of Sacramento! How can the liberal lawmakers not make the connection with such a sacred name?

We have a fight ahead of us but I know our prayers are reaching the throne of God.

My Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

We stand in the gap for all elected officials to bring down the forces of evil in our cities.  Lord, our capital is the namesake of the Most Blessed Sacrament, with holy saints stationed all over our state. Heavenly Father, we call on Saint Francis of Assisi to intercede for his beloved San Francisco. From north to south, east to west, we cry out for all people of God to accompany us in prayer. Heal our land and remove all that is not of God! Amen.