"Don't get too attached"

A lot of people wonder if they will be "together in heaven" when they die. This is natural when one thinks of one's spouse and children. However, the way things are these days, I recommend that you be like me and "don't get too attached."



Many will recognize that expression, usually given by a parent to a child who has brought home a stray animal. Parents tell the kids "don't get too attached" because the animal will either be given up for adoption, rehabilitated and returned to the wild, or, if it very sickly, will die. So parents, knowing that children have tender hearts, caution them in dubious circumstances not to get too attached.



For years I have had that thought in my mind as I observe the people around me, people who are increasingly in denial and defiance of God. No matter what a "great friend," "bubbly person" or "good chap" that someone is, increasingly the odds are against seeing most of the people that you know on earth arrive in heaven. It's not a place that people who are lukewarm, and most especially, antagonistic against God just "drop into" by default. Even those who "proclaim Jesus as their Lord and Savior" and reckon they are saved, then turn around and engage in occult practices or who embrace modern day idolatry and believe you me that puts them on the wrong road to the big hot place that's not much fun at all and hardly the first choice for family or friend "reunions." I don't plan on being there, my friends.



I'm not playing God but regular readers know I have a pretty good feeling for these things and all I can say is that for some insane reason even the "good guys" are crowding the road to hell. So I'm just "not getting too attached."

A word to priests

On Good Friday we contemplate, among other things, how very alone the Lord was in his suffering.

While many attend services during the Easter celebration, and while many vibrant parishes exist year around, we know that there is a crisis of faith around the globe. In particular westernized countries have seen a drop in church attendance as people seem to start to feel that they "don't need" to go to church to "honor God" or to be 'spiritual,' that good intentions (and even total neutrality) are enough.

I am thinking with particular desire to comfort those priests who look out and see only a handful of parishioners at Mass.

I know that all of you know that there is never a "wasted" Mass, even if you are the only one celebrating Mass and the only person in attendance. I also know, better than you realize, though, how acutely saddening and distressing that it is to think about all those who jeopardize their salvation and, at the very least, their own spiritual comfort and reality, by no longer attending or valuing Mass. So I'd like you to think about the following.

When you celebrate Mass to a near empty church, imagine it filled with the people who would desperately want to attend Mass, if only it were available where they are, in oppressed, impoverished, or under-served parts of the world. Dedicate as personal intentions in your mind that each available seat is offered up for those people.

Also, think of those who would attend if only they believed. Likewise, have faith that if you also dedicate those empty seats as intentions for those of little or no faith, through the Holy Spirit it will do a powerful amount of good, and also be of great comfort to you.

It is my most frequent personal prayer intention, to pray on behalf of those who will not or cannot pray for themselves, and I find it a great comfort and know it to be efficacious (though results are frustratingly slow to see, I know). This is why I had the idea that if priests as personal intentions dedicate their "empty seats" to those who cannot be there or who are yet in denial and refuse to be there, each Mass, indeed, will be very full.

I hope that you have found this to be helpful. In Christ.