Happy Thanksgiving !!

      Today we are given the opportunity to focus on what appears to be a lost art these days and that is the art of being thankful. We are asked to take a brief moment to look beyond our own needs and wants and to recognize the blessings in our lives which surround us everyday, keeping in mind that even the hardships we face in life are never faced alone as we know that God is always offering to strengthen, counsel and console us. This day which is, for a great number of us, a time when we try our utmost to forgo that last bite that makes our stomach feel just a little too full, is also an opportunity to seek out those in need and ,in an act of christian charity, try to ease their burden at least on this day. May we embrace this brief time on earth and faithfully serve our fellow travelers and truly spread the message of the Gospel to each person we meet, leading as many people as we can into the kingdom of God.
Peace be with you and yours this wondrous day,
And may Almighty God bless you, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen

Presentation of Mary

      This feast day commemorates the dedication of the church of Saint Mary which was built in Jerusalem near the site of the temple. With this we recall this day , the presentation of Mary to the Lord by her parents in the temple when she was a small child. This is yet another reminder of the reason why we hold Mary in such high regard. Mary continues to be a shining example of purity, chastity, service and obedience. Through her "fiat", her eternal yes to the will of God, Mary shows us that the human condition need not be a deterrent to obtaining the kingdom of heaven.
       This day especially may we thank her for her willingness to play such an integral part in our salvation history. As Mary acted selflessly on our behalf may we, in our own lives, seek the good of all our brothers and sisters by having the humilty, to ask God to reveal His will to us, and the courage to follow it.

Hail Mary, full of grace
the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of God
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen

Christ the King Sunday

The Church gives us this incredible Solemnity in all Love to help remind us, and so grow in a greater understanding of the dual nature of our Lord Jesus Christ. Fully human yet fully Devine, God become man so as to help us better accept this relationship of salvation which he offers us each day. As Moses was not allowed to stand on the ground near the burning bush, and Elijah hid his face in his cloak as the Lord passed by, lest he die from gazing upon the glory of God, we too need to be reminded of the diety of Christ. A true Brother, Teacher, Friend and Companion our Lord Jesus Christ remains our Lord and God as well. If we allow ourselves to focus on only one nature, whether man or God, we miss the significance of the act of salvation in that the presence of God incarnate was and is the act which allowed our salvation to be made available to us. God allowed Himself to share such intimate communion with his creations so that his suffering and death might be tied directly to us, so that we might better understand and accept this redemptive act. Praise be to God !!
As we come to accept and embrace His Diety, this day also calls us to acknowledge in thanksgiving His humanity as well. As we are all, everyone of us, created in the image of God. Each of us with the same potential for good. Our choices, or responses to life events, direct us either to God or away from Him. Christ Himself was tempted in the desert as the devil tried to use his humanity against him, yet his choices re ia Ed faithful to the Law of God rather than the gratification of man. That example was for our benefit that we would have guidance when asked to decide between our human desires and the ways of God. That we would follow our teacher in all things as we live among and interact with our fellow man.
Today's Gospel reminds us that we are to search the face of Christ in all people and his beauty in all creation. From the lines of perfection in a blade of grass to the wanting eyes of the homeless, we are reminded of the presence of Christ in His handiwork. Sometimes easier said than done, the pressures of appointments, our personal desires or just our unwillingness to acknowledge our fellow travelers, we hurry past the faces in the crowds. We drive by the homeless living under our bridges along the highway, we hurry past the growing number of nursing homes and senior care facilities yet seldom take the time to visit those inside, and we do our best to avoid that uncomfortable eye contact with that guy with a sign asking for money at the red light. All are missed opportunities to encounter the Risen Christ in our midst. There is a church in a Canadian Province that has at it's door a life size sculpture of a beggar squatted on the ground with outstretched hand. At first glance you might think, "Oh great, the church wants to boost collections again.",but under closer inspection we notice the nail print in the hand. As we look under the hood viel of the downcast face, we come face to face with Jesus.
Today take a moment to reassign priorities. Take time for the passing stranger, feed those in need, visit the lonely. We are all traveling the same road, yet the burden is lightened when we take the time to search out the risen Christ in our brothers and sisters along the way.

God Bless you this day!