We celebrate Independence day, an opportunity to give thanks to God for our freedom and for those who have fought over the centuries to preserve it. They didn’t do it alone; God’s hand in this was evidenced all around them as are miracles today for us. Jesus says “take courage, I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33). Courage is our heritage, and now is the moment to embrace it.
“The glory of God is a human being fully alive. And to be alive consists in beholding God.”
Living authentically…being who God created us to be…aligning our everyday life and lifestyle with Him at its center…this is living fully alive.
Joy is a gift from God. Happiness is the choice to live it. Live authentically.
We are commanded to allow God to first love us; to be loved. The overflow of that infinite love is the lifeblood by which we are to live every aspect of our lives. In marriage, the fruit of that love is children. The sacramental bond brings with it graces specific to the couple and family that enable them to live out God’s will within their domestic church.
Our union with God is critical to living out our vocation because it is our vocation.
Putting ourselves in the Gospel scene of doubting Thomas, our ‘take’ on it might be strikingly different from the popular (and disparaging) view of this Holy apostle. He had shown great fidelity and courage. God is wanting to give us that same courageous fidelity and these troubling times are actually the gift of opportunity for us to grow. . It is built by intentional small choices made throughout the day Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.
Twenty-five years ago, a Catholic parish in Arizona had a conundrum serving its mostly immigrant farm-working community. As the immigrants travel the circuit, their children are not in place long enough to be properly educated, including religious education. Two nuns asked a local farmer for permission to use his barn to give religion class to the children while their parents worked, to which he agreed. It eventually morphed to nuns coming back in the evenings to catechize the adults as well. This is the way of proper Catholic action, people helping one another. We have lost sight of this as our vision is distracted by a polarized mentality fueled by the media. It is a heritage and a freedom we risk losing altogether.
It is important that we take part in public discourse promoting the intrinsic value of life at all stages and ages from conception to natural death. However, that discourse needs to be the outcome of a lived faith. A lived faith is one that changes us, the believers.
In December we awaited the Christ Child. On Gaudete Sunday we shouted rejoice! On Christmas day He arrived, and we celebrated for an octave. Christmas is now behind us and we are well into the new year. Jesus continues to give us the gift of His Spirit in every breath; the love between Him and His Father animating our very being. He continues to give His Sacred humanity to us in the Sacraments. The best New Year’s resolutions will be those that serve to focus us on this very reality every day. Review and revise those resolutions so they can bring you more deeply into relationship with Him, and through that bring His love into your relationships with others. Then, take concrete steps to extend that love to others.
In 2021, share the gift of you.