Entitlement. It’s a word with a lot of baggage.

The moment we say “entitlement,” you and I immediately picture someone who for us is the very embodiment of entitlement.

It’s easy to spot. That unearned sense of deserving something? It’s so blatant, so ridiculous that jokes and memes about it pretty much write themselves.

Which makes it fun to call out. Because we’re just telling the truth on them.

Whoever it is we’re hating on. For whatever it is they ruined. They did it. They brought this on themselves. They have earned our scorn. Which is why we’re so comfortable with it.

There’s a reason why entitlement is so easy to spot. Because, if we’re honest, we’re loaded down with entitlement ourselves.

Think about it. The last time you and I did something self-centered, we had a good reason for doing it. It might look self-serving – to the uninformed – but we did it for the greater good.

All we’re asking for is what’s fair, what we deserve. And a thousand other rationalizations.

Whether it’s our own entitlement (that we pretend we don’t have), or someone else’s entitlement (that we use for a pinata). All of it couldn’t be farther removed from how God sees things.

As today’s Gospel shows us, God blows right through everyone’s sense of entitlement. Yours, mine, and theirs.

Instead of giving us what’s fair, what we deserve (an idea that should make our blood run cold, if we really think about it).

God, in His mercy, gives us what we need.

What is wrong with these so-called leaders?

They are supposed to be the epitome of wisdom and integrity, yet time and time again, they prove themselves to be nothing more than self-serving individuals who care more about their own agenda than the well-being of the people they are supposed to represent. It is maddening to witness their blatant disregard for the truth and their blatant manipulation of facts to suit their own narrative. They know the difference between right and wrong, yet they choose to do and say the wrong things without any remorse or accountability. It is as if they have lost touch with reality, living in a world where their actions have no consequences.

Their behavior is reminiscent of petulant children throwing tantrums when things don’t go their way. They stomp their feet, point fingers, and deflect blame onto others, refusing to take responsibility for their own mistakes. They act as if they are entitled to special treatment, immune to the rules and laws that apply to everyone else. It is infuriating to watch them squander the trust and faith that the people have placed in them, betraying the very essence of leadership.

In their quest for power and control, they have become blind to the needs and concerns of those they are meant to serve. They dismiss the voices of the people, dismissing their legitimate grievances as mere inconveniences. They ignore the cries for justice, turning a blind eye to the suffering and injustice that plagues our society. Their actions speak louder than words, revealing a callous disregard for the well-being and dignity of the people they are meant to protect.

It is time for us, the citizens, to rise up and demand better from our so-called leaders. We must hold them accountable for their actions, demanding transparency, honesty, and integrity. We cannot allow them to continue down this path of destruction, leading us further into chaos and division. We deserve leaders who inspire us, who unite us, and who work tirelessly to create a better future for all. It’s time to change the status quo. Only then can we restore faith in our leadership and reclaim our rightful place as a nation united.

my tav's relationships using this template !!

Watching someone else’s argument.

Like overhearing a couple fighting at the store. We get a fragment (out-of-context) from some long-running dispute.

You and I have no stake in it. The only reason it draws our attention at all is that it’s loud.

It’s kind of hard to be interested in something like that.

That’s what today’s Gospel can feel like. With Jesus and the Pharisees sniping at each other. About obscure traditions. Again.

We’re watching someone else’s argument. And it’s kind of hard to be interested.

So why would St. Mark bother telling us about it?

While it may take the form of someone else’s argument, it actually shows us one of the most subtle ways that faith can go bad.

All the things that the Pharisees are doing? The stuff that Jesus is on them about? They’re not bad things. They’re actually things that were part of the Jewish law.

Commanded to make intentional breaks in the life of a believer. To create places and moments in everyday living to reconnect with God.

The Pharisees were supposed to be living that example. To show people that it could be done. That was their ministry.

So people could see the peace and power of a life focused on God.

A life lived that way is a blessing. And a powerful witness.

Jesus isn’t calling them out for that. Jesus is on them for losing sight of the point of what they were doing.

They weren’t doing the things to keep themselves connected with God. To show others the peace and power of a life focused on God.

They were doing them for power and influence. Their service wasn’t about God anymore.

From the outside, people saw the Pharisees still doing the things that God had commanded. It created a very positive impression for them. If you didn’t look too closely. One that gave them power and influence.

For them, the service was about them. It was little more than a means to power and influence.

Which, as Henri Nouwen points out, can only lead to one place, “service outside of God becomes self-seeking, and self-seeking service leads to manipulation, and manipulation to power games, and power games to violence, and violence to destruction — even when it falls under the name of ministry.”

A Record worthy only of contempt!

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate the nationwide right to abortion dominated one of the court’s most consequential terms. The emboldened 6-3 conservative majority, with three nominees of President Donald Trump, wasted little time expanding the rights of gun owners to carry firearms in public, strengthening the role of religion in public life and sharply curtailing…