I am convinced that most of the saints were religious dropouts from societies that were going nowhere. Faith called them to drop out and believe in something else. Jesus announcement of the Kingdom of God was telling us that culture as we've created it is on a track towards self-destruction and emptiness. He told us we can "Get off the train" at the next stop and re-center our lives in truth and objectivity. All we have to give up is the utterly false understanding that we have of ourselves from civil society. For some reason that liberation seems to be the most difficult thing in the world.
    Finding God and losing the self-are the same thing; we don't really come to it naturally or choose it of ourselves. Faith is always God's thing. It seems to be the only way the Lord can draw us into a new viewpoint, a new point from which to view the life that is larger than life. That life is love!
   
   Fr. Richard Rohr.  >Radical Grace<  Daily meditations!

CATHOLIC RADICALS!
What is the necessary meaning of Catholic Radicals, to which we allude in our title and which we now find essential in this secular and post Christian age?  First, the word itself is a clue. Radix is the Latin word for "Root."  A radical is one who moves beyond the liberal and conservative branches of an institution and goes back to the fundamental questioning. The dictionary says a radical is one who goes back to the root, the source, the fundamentals. This is very different from a modernist or liberal who wants to update or accommodate to the present situation. There's a place for such reform, but that is not the primary concern of a true radical. Neither is a radical the same as a traditionalist or conservative, who usually does not go back far enough. A radical Catholic will at times look like both of these types, yet is neither of them at all.
   The questions and concerns of radicals would under-cut all self-interest. ideology, and institutions. In this case, they ask: What does our humanity demand of us? What does love ask of us? What did Jesus present as essential and all-embracing? What is God doing on earth today? John Paul the ll asks such questions in his writings >Social concerns< and finds himself speaking for truly radical Catholics. Striking at the root of the tree, he does not ask us to "CHANGE". That is why the Priest and the Presidents and other men of power have thus far been unable to admit that this encyclical even exists.

Fr. Richard Rohr!   >Radical Grace: Daily Meditations<
             

Forgiving those that have (at times) tried to destroy you is insane behavior. Some would call it foolish and in the eyes of the world, it is. Jesus said to forgive your enemies and even pray for them as He forgave us by taking our sin upon himself when He suffered and died on the cross opening up the door to Eternal life and God himself. This is what Christianity is all about. Our penalty was paid in full. Jesus walked the radical Grace of forgiveness He preached. This is where most Christians trip up. We say we've forgiven them but when the first chance to destroy them comes along we grab it and use it against them. That act against them can stunt our growth and we grow no further in the things of God. How can we? The world looks at us and says they can talk it but they don't walk it. (Matt.5:46-47) The other stumbling block is honesty. The Big Stuff. Honesty about ourselves and life around us. There are so many different reasons we can stand on to justify our actions. I'm human, I understand and most of all God understands. He knows why we do what we do. When life presents a significant issue that we come up against, we can forgive and we can be honest or we can compromise our walk with God and go the worlds way. Life is life, and things happen in life we never expect or saw coming. What do we do? If God is working with someone and things are changing and they've walked with God for many, many, years, and they ruin that through open and outright dishonesty or unforgiveness they've proven where their loyalty lies. I've had so many opportunities to hate and judge people only God would know. I've seen the Worst of people. People have tried to tear me down again and again. I've never gone after people but I will defend myself and I know God is on my side. There are perks no one else will see but you and God. God cares more about how we treat people than how much of the word of God we know. He cares more about honesty than any mountain sitting before us. God will throw your mountain into the sea but He cannot make us walk in truth and forgiveness. That's our choice, not anybody else's. Most of the church lives in one or two or both. Today even the church is a cut-throat world. People don't forgive each other and they're not honest with themselves. When the rubber hits the road they take the easy way out. If we're going to make a difference in the world we have to live differently than the world does. Set apart. We have to be living examples of what we say we believe in not just talk the talk. Some forgive expecting something back. How is that any different from the world? Where's the sacrifice in that? Being honest where there are no consequences for your honesty is easy. But, Every now and then life presents us with a crossroad. It's yes, or no. Are you a Christian or are you not? Are you authentic or are you a look-a-like? Can we forgive their wrongs against us? Can we be honest knowing the consequences? God is their there judge and we don't have to worry about where they are with God in this life. But when we can prove we've forgiven them and own our part in honesty and truth not wanting or expecting anything in return,  that's when the people around you take notice. If our lives don't reflect who we say we are when we're up against the wall then we end up in no mans land where they party 24/7 and we might lose the best chance we had in life to prove we are who we say we are and that Christ and the power of God are real. Who cares what people think? Let them think you're crazy and foolish. God will ask us to do crazy things to test our loyalty and they can be the most important times of our lives. Authentic, True, significant in the things of God and forgiving. The truth is most Christians can't or won't do this. You can. Forgiveness on that level isn't for weak people. It's rare, it's crazy, and it's insane but God ordained. We're flawed people but God is looking for Honest and Forgiving people who are authentic. This life is short. We're here for a little while and then gone. Who cares how radical you are? Do your best to please God as the opportunities present themselves. Be a living example of who we really are. 

Marvin Gaye - Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)

Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)

This is a Blessed day. I was healed of a melanoma mole in 2010, and since then have been wondering why? I didn't want to get healed, I wanted to move on to the other side (Heaven). For six years I've felt a heavy responsibility to find the why, for why I'm here? Today God showed me the why, and you can't imagine what a relief this is for me. It was never about me, and what I want, the problem was I could never find God's purpose for what HE wanted. I've been a lost ship out on the sea for six years. But TODAY I saw the lighthouse. No doubt about it. People are going to be surprised when they see the real me kick in. Because I have 40K on twitter doesn't mean I'm some pide-pipper that's going save the world. Today I felt God say in my spirit, you're not on life support anymore, you're now the support for someone life. I'm a survivor. I'm The fullback that knocks defensive ends over for the halfback. I'm one of the two men holding Moses arms up in the heat of the battle.  Since 2010 FINDING the lighthouse was 75% of the problem. I might be a few miles out on the ocean but watch me, even a tsunami won't stop me.  I'm going to surprise some people that misjudged me, but that's OK. You're going to see the real me show up. Devil, you may as well sit your sorry behind down cuz you know you beat now.  God's going to do it. Hello, 2017!

I'am convinced that most of the saints were religious dropouts from societies that were going nowhere. Jesus reign of God was telling us that culture as we've created it is on a track toward self-destruction and emptiness.
  Finding God and losing the self are the same thing; we don't really come by it naturally or choose it of ourselves. Faith is always God's thing. It seems to be the only way the Lord can draw us into a new viewpoint, a new point from which to view the life that is larger than life.

 >Fr. Richard Rohr<