We’d like to think that following Jesus, taking up the cross, just means “being good” and giving up things that are sinful. But there’s a bigger cross, a deeper invitation, to love your enemies and do good to those who annoy you. To love both those who deserve your love as well as those who don’t deserve it. Ask the Lord to show you the undeserving person in your life that you’ve been avoiding or who you’ve failed to love, and pray for the grace to do something concrete for them - to love them, do good for them, for the sake of Christ.

What are you thankful for? That’s the question Fr. Bill asks of our Thanksgiving Day Mass attendees. Consider what you are thankful for as you listen to their responses!

Hopelessness and suffering, for many of us, is what makes or breaks us spiritually. Many of us turn away from God because of such experiences. But God continues to pour His presence into our hearts so that, when we encounter the challenging moments of our lives, we can recognize that He continues to be with us and that we can call on Him. You have heard many times of the different ways we can rely on God. The simplest way to call upon God when you are at the lowest moment of your life is to say, "Jesus, help me." 

There will be all kinds of obstacles, sufferings, and tragedies in our lives - things that can steal away our hope like war, terrorism, corruption, division, arrogance, pride, and cynicism (just to name a few). But Jesus isn't worried. Why? Because Christ crushed sin, death, Satan, and his demons when He died and rose again. Jesus has already won. The game of our lives hasn't ended, but our knowledge of the outcome is the reason for our hope.

In any relationship, it takes work, patience, and a dedicated back-and-forth to truly come to know the other person, not just know about the other person. Unless we’re talking to the Lord and letting His word work on us, regularly, we’ll never develop the strength, freedom, and trust to stand when the world’s storm winds blow against us. So talk to Him this week, and let Him talk to you. There’s nothing more important you can do.

As a saint in the works, it is a response of our faith to go out and help others. We each have a calling to do something, each day, to respond in faith to some need. Ask yourself: "What is that one need? Lord, help me to be aware and sensitive to the need when it presents itself to me." Then press into that need and give of yourself; you won't regret it.

Living out the greatest commandments - to love God and to love our neighbor - is a principle embedded deep within our hearts. This Christian way of life is driven by ourselves being Christian. You share the good news of Christ to others by just being you: your actions, your way of life, your being Christian makes you an authentic role model and a beacon of hope to those around you.

Everything and everyone belongs to God. There's no possible way to "pay" God back for all he has done for you, but a sincere prayer of thanksgiving from the heart is priceless. So, when you wake up and put your feet on the floor, thank God for another day, a day which you did not create and is sheer gift to you.
 
This was recorded at the 11:15am Mass due to partial audio loss during the live stream at 9:30am.