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<v SPEAKER_00>Today the church celebrates the feast of St.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Philip Neri.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And there's a line in today's gospel I think every Christian has to wrestle with.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Peter says to Jesus, We've given up everything and followed you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And Jesus does not deny it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He does not say, No, Peter, it wasn't that much.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No, he acknowledges the sacrifice.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Following Christ will cost you something.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It cost Peter his boats.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It cost Matthew his tax booth.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It cost Paul his old life.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It cost the martyrs their blood.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And for many of us, it cost comfort.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Why?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because Christianity is not an add-on to life.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It is a surrender for a new life.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But then Jesus says something extraordinary.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No one has left anything for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will fail to receive a hundred times more.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Notice what Jesus does not promise.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He does not promise ease, he does not promise comfort.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He explicitly says, with persecution.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Sometimes we forget that part.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The gospel gives abundance, but also crosses.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It gives us joy, but also sacrifice.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Gives us a hundredfold, but also Calvary.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And maybe that is why today's saint is so perfect.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because Saint Philip Neri understood something beautiful.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Holiness is not misery.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Philip Neri was known as the apostle of Rome.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He lived during a very difficult period in church history.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Rome needed renewal.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The church needed saints.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And God sent Philip.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not a severe saint, not a gloomy saint, a joyful saint.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He laughed, he joked, he played practical jokes, he walked through Rome speaking to young people.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He gathered them, he listened to them, he prayed with them, led them to confession, led them to Christ.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He's famous for saying a joyful heart is more easily made perfect than a downcast one.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I love that.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because some people think holiness means becoming serious at all times.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Philip would disagree.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He understood that joy is evangelical.

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<v SPEAKER_00>People are attracted to joy.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The saints attract joy.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They do not repel.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And yet underneath all that joy was tremendous sacrifice.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Philip spent long hours in prayer.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He heard confessions for hours.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He gave himself completely to souls.

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<v SPEAKER_00>In fact, his love for God became so intense that during prayer he experienced a mystical enlargement of the heart.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Doctors later discovered broken ribs that has expanded outward because of this expanded heart.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Imagine loving God so much that your heart physically grows.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then today's first reading hits hard.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Be holy because I am holy.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That is one of the most frightening lines in Scripture.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And one of the most beautiful too.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because God does not say be successful, be famous, be admired, be comfortable.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No, he says be holy.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's the goal.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not merely to be good people and to do good things.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No, be saints.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe this is where Philip Neri helps us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because holiness is not becoming less human, it's becoming fully human, fully alive, fully joyful, fully surrendered.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Peter gave up everything.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Philip gave up everything, the saints always do.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And yet none of them would tell you they lost anything.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They all received that hundredfold Jesus promises.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not necessarily money, not necessarily comfort, but joy, meaning, purpose, Jesus Christ Himself.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And I wonder if that's what some people are searching for without realizing it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not more possessions, not more things, not more success, meaning, life that matters, a reason to wake up every day, a fire in the soul.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Saint Philip found it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Peter found it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The saints all found it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They found Jesus Christ.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So I want to end with one of Philip Neri's prayers because I think it's it's one that every Christian should pray.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Here it goes.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Otherwise, Philip will betray you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I love that prayer because it's humble, it recognizes weakness and it recognizes dependence.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe today that's your prayer.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Lord, watch over me.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because without you I cannot be holy.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But with you, saints are possible.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Amen.