Many of us have a go-to "comfort food" when we are sick. During the Last Supper, Jesus entrusted His disciples with the Eucharist, the ultimate "comfort food" that heals us and removes the distance between us as we come together to as one in the Body of Christ. We are entrusted with the same mission at the end of Mass, to bring that Eucharistic healing and comfort to others after having received it for ourselves. Invite someone in your life to go out for a meal, and ask God for the grace to share that healing Eucharistic comfort as you listen to them.

While Mary is full of God's grace, since her immaculate conception, she is also obedient and faithful to the Father and eventually to her Son. Mary's humility and willingness to accept God's plan for her is an example for us to imitate in our own lives. May the Immaculate Virgin Mary intercede for us as we aspire to live an immaculate life: a life of total abandonment to the will of God.

We are all called to love in sacrificial ways. Be watchful this week to the needs of those around you who need to see the love of God through you. Be a catalyst of God's love and give yourself in service to another person in need - or, as St. Ignatius of Antioch described, pour yourself out like wheat to be crushed so as to be bread for the world.

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.