In the end, the Beatitudes are really about God’s love for us, hidden in the cross; God waiting for us in the difficult places. It’s not easy to trust that, to surrender to that. If you haven't yet, pray the Surrender Novena; there's strength and courage in that prayer, a peace that the world cannot give. All of us have those hard places in our life, places that are out of control, ugly, sad, hurting; places that we wish were different. Those places aren’t a barrier to God’s love. Because of what Jesus has done, God now waits for us there.

Borrowing heavily from the book Managing from the Heart, Fr. Bill offers these five principles when engaging with others, as we commit to and work towards greater unity:
1. Hear and understand me
2. Even if you disagree, don’t steamroll me
3. Acknowledge the greatness within me
4. Remember to look for my loving intention
5. Tell me the truth with compassion

During this Ordinary Time, when you leave church after Mass, share your faith. Bring God into your conversations. Be an agent of Christ and his Church in the world in the small moments, even those perceived as insignificant. It is in these seemingly small, ordinary encounters in which Grace abounds.
 
Videos referenced in homily  —  "Newhart" final scene  |  Bob Newhart on "Newhart" finale

Darkness is everywhere. Sometimes it comes from evil actors or outside forces; sometimes it comes from us. But, as baptized Catholic Christians, do not lose sight of the good things born of God’s amazing grace which abound everywhere. His light has been entrusted to you by virtue of your baptism, and you are called to be a light unto the nations.
When you watch the news, pray for every news item, for the victims and the perpetrators of crimes. Give to those in need instead of buying something for yourself. Pray for healing and reconciliation where there are divisions. Strike up a conversation with someone who is struggling. In ways both big and small, you can be a light that overcomes the darkness.

When you became part of the Body of Christ, you became a child of God, and He loves you with the very same love with which He loves Jesus, His only-begotten Son. There’s power in knowing that, and even more power in making that the pole – the stillpoint – around which your life revolves. A parent's love is only a shadow of the love that the Father has for each of us – and we can trust in His love no matter what life throws our way. That's the secret to our lives as Christians: we're dearly loved sons and daughters.

If you are feeling down, left out, lonely; if you are struggling with selfishness, greed, envy; if you struggle with self-worth or are being too critical of yourself: give yourself over to God. Surrender to Him. Then, God can give you a profound gift, one that will set you free to love as He loves and to to be rescued from whatever binds you. Christmas is a time to celebrate what God did when He lowered himself to become a baby in a manger. Christ’s coming in a manger was the plan from the beginning! Yes; God desired that we would be rescued by a baby.

A litmus test of our faith can be, in part, how thankful we are. The Church even proclaims how giving thanks to God is ultimately the best response in the Preface at Mass (“Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.” “It is right and just.”). God is the author of all we give thanks for, so it is right and just to give that thanks back to Him after it passes through us. May we put our gratitude into action as a gift and response to each other and ultimately to God, who is the source of all our thanksgiving!

Do you find yourself captured or afraid? Does the weight of sin or its consequences feel like it will crush you? Know that Jesus sees you. He wants to rescue you from whatever pit you have found yourself in and carry your yoke together. He knows what you are going through - He too was mocked, lied to, felt abandoned, a failure, and wished that his suffering would pass him by. But while he experienced all that it was to be human, He pulled humanity to himself in order to heal it.