Mary and Joseph received the message of God through angels. Mary was the first to receive and say yes, to the good news that God was becoming man to create a way for us to be able to one day return to our home in heaven. For we were made in the image of God who lives in heaven and were made to return there.
Jesus paved the way.
The hard work is done. The trip to eternal life has already been paid for by Jesus, and the price of admittance was paid in full.
He gave us everything and more than we need to have eternal life.
In baptism, he gave us our ticket. Just to be sure we would make it, he sent the Holy Spirit to be with us. A guide we can rely on to help us. He also gave us his Mother Mary, the greatest of mothers, to gently help and give us what we need as only a mom can.
Then he assigned each of us a guardian angel to stand beside us. They are all here with us waiting to help us. Waiting on us to ask.
We also have the luxury of the scriptures, a guide book to understand more than ever before. We just have to read it.
And he gave us the church, so we can come together and help each other. Ensure others are ready. Did you pack what you needed? Everything ready and in its place? Things like prayer and studying scripture. Did you remember to love others as Jesus loved us.
Make sure your spirit is clean and confess your sins so you can be as holy as possible. We are called to be holy as children of God.
Then he gave us the Eucharist. This is where Jesus really went all in, helping us get ready for the trip, by giving his flesh and blood so he can join with us and be with us not only spiritually but physically be part of us.
How could anyone be foolish enough to hear his voice, take the ticket of baptism, and not be ready. Not come here often to receive his body and be with others on the journey, to prepare even more for the trip ahead.
Remember…It’s paid for. It actually free.
And it’s forever.
It’s hard to believe sometimes.
We don’t have to take out a mortgage or loan or subscribe to a service to take the trip. We don’t have to make concessions or compromises. Because God never likes compromises.
All we have to do is be who we were born to be, children of God, loved beyond our understanding.
And live according to the guidebook Jesus gave us and just live the best life we can, loving the God who gave us a way home and loving those around us.
How could anyone say no?
How could anyone not want to be on that express train Jesus built for us.
The bible tells us exactly how to live– to have joy and peace and love in our hearts, no matter the challenges of life.
It’s so easy. We have been given so much support to be prepared and be ready for when it’s time to get onboard.
But some decide that the trip can wait and since God loves us so much, we can put off doing anything in that little guide book until we have wasted this life not loving enough and CERTAINLY not loving God enough —to put him first in our life. Some folks are foolish enough to think if they just behave most of the time and live like people of the earth rather than people of heaven —they will still get to use their ticket of baptism.
And they are disappointed when they face Jesus Christ who gave everything for us and he asks not only for our ticket but have we prepared everything for the journey.
So, we pull out our old and unused baptism. It was stuck in a drawer under the socks we never use either. We hand it to Jesus. But he then asks —for our passport.
There are stamps required, you know.
The passport needs a stamp from the Holy Spirit and our guardian angel. A stamp by those we loved and provided for when they were in need. Yep, that one goes in the back, it’s actually our main visa that allows us to live in heaven forever.
There is a another stamp that is really important too. This stamp can give us more graces and special treatment. And my friends everyone wants special treatment when they are facing Jesus. This stamp goes in front. That’s the stamp from our Mother Mary in heaven. Who like Jesus gave everything so God could become man and lead us home in the first place.
Yep, a stamp from our mom in heaven goes along way. But to get it we need to talk to her daily. Because we all know moms want to hear from their children every day.
Mary can help get us back on track when we lose our way…just like our mothers who took care of us in this life. Hopefully we all have spent time with Mary regularly. She adds a special touch to this life and how we get through it.
And it’s a wonderful life indeed being a child of God who has been given a way to heaven. It’s really the only way to truly live for it is a life of meaning and hope and communion with God. Even while we are here on earth.
Jesus was born and became man so we would have a way to heaven. Mary and Joseph did their part. Jesus did his. Are we also ready to live saying yes to Jesus everyday with Him at the center of our life. *** If not, we will be sorely disappointed when we are found to be lacking the right credentials when we try and use our ticket to eternal life with God.U
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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