New Beginnings

Many programs have been looking back to the year that we are about to conclude.  We look at what has happened, the good and the bad.  Each situation shows why we need our faith and our trust in God.  Let us thank God for the gifts and blessings that we have received.  Now we move to a new year, 2014!  What will happen in this year?  What lies ahead?  Many questions, but no answers.  One thing is certain, God is there every step of the way and we need to do our part to move out of the way and let God work in our lives!  We like to be in control or we think that we don't need God until something happens!  My friends, it would be worth our while to get out of that mind set right here and right now, because everything is in the palm of God's hand and it goes according to His time.  I need God every second, minute, hour of every day and I would presume, you do too, but many are lax to recognize it.  Our lives and our reactions would be a lot different if we looked at life from this perspective, God is in control and we need Him!!!!  I ask our loving and merciful God to bless you as we begin this new year.  Mary, the Holy Mother of God, pray for us!!!!

CHRISTMAS Time

We have arrived at CHRISTMAS week!!!!!  I want to wish everyone a Blessed and Joyous CHRISTMAS!!!  When I think of this time being joyful, I think of the word JOY!!!  It is more than just a word, it is a way of life.  A friend told me some time ago this is what JOY stands for J=Jesus, O=Others, Y=You!!!!!!!  Perhaps is we put Jesus first in our lives, along with others, than we can be a well rounded you!!!  I pray that the newborn King will bless you and yours during this CHRISTMAS Time!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Blessed Virgin Mary

This week, we celebrate our Blessed Mother in two feasts.  December 9 is the transferred Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.  Since the Second SUNDAY of Advent fell on December 8, the SUNDAY took precedence, so the feast was moved to today.  With the Immaculate Conception, we celebrate Mary being conceived without original sin in the womb of her mother, St. Anne.  Mary was kept free from sin so that she would be a worthy dwelling for God's only Son.  The Gospel from Luke on this day is the Annunciation and Mary's "Yes" to the will of God.  Her example is one that we can follow in our lives because we are called to say "Yes" and follow God's will in our own lives.  On Thursday, December 12, the Church will celebrate the memorial do Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Mary is the mother and patroness of the Americas.  Truly a great week to rejoice and give thanks to God as we continue our journey to the CHRISTMAS Season.  Mary is a great model and example for us.  May she intercede for us as we live our lives and faith each day!!!

Prepare the Way!!!!

Saint John the Baptist appears in the desert proclaiming a message of repentance and telling his hearers to prepare the way of The Lord!!!  That is what this Advent Time is about.  Of course, everyday for that matter.  We need to be prepared for the coming of The Lord.  We need to make sure our house is in order so that when The Lord returns he will find us watching and waiting.  There are a lot of distractions in the world today.  Many voices calling out to us to seek the goods of this world.  Ah, but there is only one voice we need to listen to and that is the voice of The Lord.  Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.  He has the words of everlasting life.  Another important point that we need to remember is that in preparing for The Lord, it is not just his return, but also the hour of our death.  Those are two unknowns, so let us make sure we are ready for both.  The message from John the Baptist and Jesus is still the same.  Are we listening?

Advent Begins!!!!

This is a new beginning for us as we begin the Advent Season!!!!  What can we do to make this a meaningful time for each of us?  I think the readings for this First SUNDAY of Advent set the tone.  We need to be alert, prepared, and ready.  Jesus is coming again, not as an infant which we celebrate at CHRISTMAS time, but in all his glory.  There are two unknowns that we need to prepare for- the return of our Lord or the hour of our death.  The Lord did not tell us when or how this will happen, but we need to be ready and that means to live our lives accordingly.  Let this Advent Season be a time of renewal.  Take the time to examine your lives and your conscience and when the Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered, get there to be reconciled with God and the body of Christ.  God and the Church gives us the graces and sacraments that we need so do not take them for granted.  Being prepared and ready is the key message for all of us because we do not know so tell your family and friends how much you love them, care about them, and how important they are to you.  Do not let this time be one of regret but one of hope and renewal.  May God bless us as we begin this Advent journey!!!

Thanksgiving Blessings!!!!!

I want to wish everyone a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!!!!  May this time remind us to always be thankful for the gifts and blessings that God gives to us!!!!  Thanksgiving is more than one day a year, it is everyday!!!!  Many of us are taken aback because of how consumerism and materialism has taken hold of our society and many people who fall into the trap.  That stores are opening up on Thanksgiving Day is a tragedy.  Individuals should be able to enjoy these holidays with family and friends.  Unfortunately the power of money takes hold and everyone has to make it and spend it.  Some day, all of that will not make any difference.  Like a friend told me years ago, "In a 100 years will it really matter?"  No it will not because we cannot take anything with us.  We came into the world with nothing and we will live the world with nothing.  We send a very disturbing message, especially to our young people when we focus on the things of this world and not of God.  Let us realize that everything we have is a gift from God and some day we will stand before Him and be held accountable for our very lives.  We all have choices and options.  Let them be the right ones because how we live our lives and the decisions we make have eternal consequences.  May God bless you during this Thanksgiving time and let us make every second, minute, hour of everyday be a time to give thanks!!!

Where Am I Going?

That is a question that probably has numerous answers.  We are always on the move because our lives have become busy, but this question has an eternal answer.  Where are we going to spend eternity?  We have two options, Heaven or Hell.  As Catholics, we believe in Purgatory because who of us is worthy to go directly to Heaven?  The saints are there but for many we will need to be purified of the sins that were on our soul at the time of death.  The time to be answering that question is now, not later, because there are no guarantees.  Thank God for the gift of faith because we believe in the Resurrection.  Jesus is the firstborn of the dead.  He has broken the bonds of sin and death by his own death and resurrection.  As a priest said years ago, "Do you know why the Saducees were sad u see? Because they did not believe in the resurrection"!  We believe and we profess that faith each week in the Nicene Creed.  However, do we truly believe?  Our lives, our actions, our decisions, our choices, our options all have eternal consequences.  So do you, do I, know where we are going?