Thanksgiving

First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Today we, as Americans, gather around our tables with family and friends to give thanks for the many gifts that God has given us. There are many things that we should give thanks for in our lives. We are to be thankful for the gift of life, with all it's issues and challenges; for our families, especially for those in our families that may get under our skin; and we finally pray for those in authority over us in the our government that we may "...lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity."

It may be difficult to pray for our family or friends that annoy us, or for those in authority over us in the government, especially for those who we really feel are not living up to what we feel they should be doing as leaders. We are called to pray for them, that they may be more open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We pray for those family members that annoy us. And we pray for those in government that are leading us in ways that we feel are not according to the Will of God.

St. Paul goes on to say, "This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:3-4)

May God bless our country and our families during this Thanksgiving Day, and give us the peace and joy that can only come from Him.

The Presentation of Mary in the Temple

Today Holy Mother Church Commemorates the Presentation of Mary in the Temple. This feast dates back to the early sixth century and was first celebrated in Jerusalem. It was first celebrated by the Eastern Church, and it was later, in the 11th century, that the Western Church added this feast to it's calendar.

This feast is not based on anything we can find in scripture, but in apocryphal literature. In what is recognized as an unhistorical account, the Protoevangelium of James tells us that Anna and Joachim offered Mary to God in the Temple when she was 3 years old. This was to carry out a promise made to God when Anna was still childless.

This feast gives us an insight as to who Mary was as a person, totally devoted to God since childhood. And thanks to her parents, Anna and Joachim, Mary was prepared to answer the call to be the mother of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

The influence of Anna and Joachim on Mary is a great example of what it means to be good and responsible parents. Not only were they concerned with Mary's physical needs, but they were concerned with Mary's relationship with God. Further, they were grateful to God for the gift of a child, and presented Mary to God in gratitude for Mary coming into their lives.

We can use this as an example in our society where the value of human live has so much diminished. It's diminished so much that abortion (the killing of an innocent life) is seen as a "right". Rather than be grateful for the gift of life, children in the womb are considered less than human, and, as a result, are disposable.

We, as a society, are encouraged to value all human life, from conception to natural death, as sacred. Further, in addition to the physical and educational needs of the children that are born to us, we are to make sure they develop healthy, spiritual lives. We are to present our children to God in gratitude for the gift of who they are: people made in the image of God.

The Kingdom of God

Today's reflection is based on the gospel for today's mass and can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/111518.cfm

In today's gospel, the Pharisees are questioning Jesus as to when the Kingdom of God would come. They are living in a time of great oppression by the Romans and are looking for freedom from their oppressors. Jesus' response is, "For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you." (Luke 17:21

Jesus was reminding them that the Kingdom of God is always among us, living in each one of us. It is through the power of the love of God, living in each one of us, that the kingdom of God dwells. There will always be those in authority that will be unjust in one way or other (whether it was the oppressive Roman empire, or whatever government leader we have in office today), we should always remember that God is at the heart of who we are as people of faith. We are to bring the love of God into society by living lives pleasing to God, and attempting to make the world a better and just place, not only for those near and dear to us, but for all people.

I consider myself "pro-life" and I think that this is what our Lord may be referring to. We are to bring the kingdom of God into our society by encouraging a greater respect for all life, whether it's the unborn from the possibility of abortion, helping the elderly who are either lonely or are suffering due to illness, helping the homeless find decent housing, or helping those attempting come into our country for a better way of life. We are to remember that the kingdom of God is already among us and Jesus is calling us to share that kingdom of God with others in our lives.

The Kingdom of God is for all people. Let us share that Kingdom of God with all we meet by being better followers of Christ! The Kingdom of God is among you!

 

 



Lead us not into Temptation

Scripture readings for today's reflection can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/111218.cfm
Being a follower of Jesus can be challenging and go against what we really want to do. In today's gospel, Jesus tells us that he understands that temptation will always come. He knows and expects that, but also expects us to attempt to lead a life worthy of our call to be His followers. He gets tough, though, when he warns us about leading others to sin. We are called to attempt to lead a life worthy of Him, and to not be hypocritical in our faith in Him and in our actions with others.

There are those in our lives that look to us as examples of what it means to be Christian. If we're preaching love and forgiveness to others, we better be practicing that forgiveness ourselves. We are called to be always forgiving and understanding of the shortcomings of other people. Our Lord tells us, "If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him." (Luke 17:3) We are to lead others to Christ not only by our words of correction, but by our forgiveness towards them! Jesus goes on to say, "And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him." (Luke 17:4)

So, let us attempt to be loving and forgiving of those in our lives today, whether they are family members (usually the hardest to forgive) or the co-worker that can be annoying in his/her actions towards you. Remember, Jesus is asking us to be loving and forgiving at all times with those in our lives. And this may be the way you can lead others to understand the love and forgiveness that God has for each one of us.