Praise be to Jesus, Samaritan.
Oftentimes we fail to look at things from the perspective of the supernatural,
or another way of putting it, from God's point of view.
In fact, actually one of the ways to grow in holiness is actually to practice what's called the presence of God.
You have to be careful because sometimes it can help you to think God may be some kind of a tyrant or something.
And here it's better to reflect as, you know, God is a loving Father.
This is our Father loves us, so Mother would love us.
And we know our parents watch over and attend to what we do,
trying to guide and protect us.
To keep us from harm and to teach us to do what's right and good.
And they admonish us, of course, when we go astray and do things that we ought not to do.
Well, this is what God does for us.
And this is, in that sense, when we say practicing the presence of God, it's a good thing.
It's sort of like pretending that God's always watching me.
I'm never alone.
It's like, well, what you wouldn't do as a little one in front of your mom and dad,
if you're really going to be a good one, that means that you don't do it when you're not looking either.
So, you know, if you'd only do what you're doing,
when mom and dad aren't looking, well, that shows bad will.
And it helps us to understand it applies to everybody.
You know, I can see him take it to the job.
You know, if you're doing something and you would only do what pleases the boss,
of course, when he's watching, but when he's not watching, you take liberties.
That's a sign of a bad will.
You can say, what's a good employee?
What's a good employee?
What's a good employee?
What's a good employee?
What's a good employee?
What's a good employee?
To practice being a good employee is to practice the presence of the boss.
Practice like he's always, he's like, well, I can't work when you're looking at me.
You know, I'm nervous.
Well, if you're practicing that he's always, you know, he's got cameras in his spine.
Well, you have to do it in a healthy sense because you can do it in a sense that seems like a type of paranoia.
Or if you're practicing a presence of God, which seems like you make God out as a tyrant.
This is why we have to put the proper picture.
The proper picture is someone who loves and cares about us.
And this is the spectrum that we want to work in when we're trying to practice the presence of God.
And then if we start doing that, then we start realizing what our Lord says.
You know, he wants us, you know, we're supposed to be professed Catholics.
We're supposed to know the commandments.
We're supposed to know what the virtues are, how to behave, how not to behave.
And then when we're out in the world among other people,
we're supposed to give witness that that's what we are.
We don't do certain things.
We don't say certain things.
We behave in a certain way.
Our language, it comes out as something different than other people.
And it's something that when people meet us, they go, well, these people are different.
She's not like anyone else.
He's different than others.
But it's not an odd difference.
It's a wholesomeness that actually draws people to us.
It doesn't push people away.
That's actually a sign that there's an imbalance.
If we're pushing everyone away, going to hide in our own little bubble,
I can't associate with people.
We have to be careful.
You do have to.
It can be tough.
I've been there.
You know, when you're working amongst, you want to say, out in the world,
you know, sometimes a lot of people don't have our views.
They don't have our sense of values.
And they're willing to share with you their false values,
and they hold out in praise.
Pray to them, even.
Like, that's something, the way to be.
And you have to be just as proud about your set of values as they are theirs.
And even more so, because you know, here you have to be careful.
This is where you can push people away, without being condescending.
And you have to be careful of that, well, you know, well, that's right for you,
but it's not right for me, type of attitude.
Because one day we all have to stand before God.
And yet, when we read the saints, there is something about them.
You know, you might start making, now, some people are not sensible.
There's no, you can't, you can please some of the people some of the time,
but you can't please all the people all the time.
So, just because some people may not like us because of what we stand for,
that too is part of scripture.
The wicked man can't stand the presence of the just.
Not because the just is preaching to them,
but just because their mere behavior, as I've been underlining,
is a constant reproach.
And that's why they can't stand our presence.
Because we, well, you don't talk like, how come you don't,
as one guy said, he was working with me for two weeks,
they put me with him on purpose, because I didn't swear,
so they put me with a guy, now, did he swear, but he took God's name,
every time he opened his mouth, he took God's name in vain.
After two weeks of working with this guy, the guy said in frustration,
don't you ever swear!
I'm editing, by the way.
But that's, you know, it's the point.
He recognized that, and it exasperated him.
And I wasn't being, I wasn't, you know, I never said a word to him about not swearing.
But he got the message, because I didn't swear.
He understood what that meant.
And I wasn't willing to come down to his level and say blankety, blank, blank, blank, blank.
Usually I just, I did the divine praises, and I prayed,
or every time he cursed God, I was saying the divine praises,
you know, blessed be God, blessed be.
To myself, though, because I knew to say anything out loud
was only to foment it, and encourage him,
because he knew he was trying to provoke me.
And I wouldn't be provoked.
I just quietly said, bless you, you know, blessed be God, blessed be his will.
I was making reparation for him.
This is what we want to do.
This is the type of behavior that we want to exhibit.
And it's not unreasonable.
Like I said, you can't please all the people,
so you have to kind of weigh in the scales, you know,
when you see people respond.
There's a lot of people that will respond well
to our Christian principles.
Although they don't share them, they respect them.
And those are the people that you should, you know,
there should be a mutual type of respect.
You know, I respect who you are.
You know, you don't share my values.
But we don't know how it may have a real impact
and change your life.
This is that light of the world that we need to be.
And people pick up on the sincerity.
And they're not just, you know,
they're not just, you know,
and this is where sometimes people will test you
because they're looking to see whether you really,
are you really all there?
And so they look for private moments and public moments
to see if you're consistent.
Well, unfortunately, sometimes we aren't.
And so that's not to say that we're not trying.
It doesn't mean we shouldn't be overly discouraged.
Well, it's good for humility, as I like to say.
You know, and then we try to do better next time.
This witness of Christ, you know,
another reason for practicing the presence of God
especially among our brothers and sisters
out in the world, those who don't know Christ,
is to remember what our Lord has told us.
And it's words that should always echo in our minds,
or in our ears, I should say,
whenever we're frightened or timid
to stand up and give witness to Christ.
Those words should reverberate in our ears.
If you deny me before men,
I will deny you before my Heavenly Father.
This is why we mustn't be afraid to give witness to Christ.
And it doesn't mean that we do it in a condescending way,
but a way that's filled with love and understanding
so that we too can be a light to the world.
A lamp shining brightly in the lampstand
that gives light to the whole house.
And that's also an analogy of the salt.
It's what gives flavor to the distasteful world
that God has to put up with.
We're the reasons.
Primarily, we're the ones who have to put up with it.
Primarily, why God spares and doesn't, you know,
doesn't have another flood aside from His promise
or fire and brimstone.
It's because people are, there are a few faithful among us
who are striving to be faithful and be a true light to God.
To touch men's heart and draw them to love Him
as we are striving to do ourselves.
Praise be Jesus and Mary.
Praise be Jesus and Mary.
Praise be Jesus and Mary.
Praise be Jesus and Mary.
Praise be Jesus and Mary.
Praise be Jesus and Mary.
Praise be Jesus and Mary.
Praise be Jesus and Mary.
Praise be Jesus and Mary.
Praise be Jesus and Mary.
Praise be Jesus and Mary.
Praise be Jesus and Mary.
Praise be Jesus and Mary.
Praise be Jesus and Mary.
Praise be Jesus and Mary.
Praise be Jesus and Mary.
Praise be Jesus and Mary.
Praise be Jesus and Mary.
Praise be Jesus and Mary.
Praise be Jesus and Mary.