All I want for Christmas is "Peace on Earth".

All I want for Christmas is "Peace on Earth". That's a tall order considering there are over 1500 wars and conflicts taking place around the world as of today. Hundreds of thousands of people in Zimbabwe, Darfur, Sudan and other locations around the globe are fleeing for their lives as rebels terrorize their homes, towns and way of life.

We hear in the news daily about the stories of conflict in Israel and Palestine, and other parts of the middle east. Even Jerusalem, still remains in conflict and has for the past 3000 years. King David prayed, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces'" (Psalm 122:6-7).

Here we are today, still praying for peace. God chose this historical city, He's saved it many times, He's even divided it. It seems to be a symbol for the rest of the world. As we enter the Christmas season, we might ask, can we continue on with world conflict like this? Will men and woman of this world ever be able to live together in world peace? I think we will, in God's time, not ours.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

Saint Francis still plays a part in the role of mankind today, just like Jesus. Merry Christmas to all the world and Peace on Earth.

Thanksgiving for the Poverty Stricken - You're Invited

I met a guy recently who gets up at 4:30 a.m. to catch a bus so he can make it to his part-time job and be there on time by 7 a.m. He had rode his bike to get where he was going today in 27 degree wet icy conditions. He stopped at the food bank on his way home today to get some groceries because he is broke. While he was there he spotted some nice warm coats that would be just right for the winter conditions. This is just one example of thousands of people in need. Is this the country that is blessed? I think we are responsible to help pull someone out of the depths of hell on earth while we're here sucking air.

Poverty in United States is a moral and social crisis that threatens the health and well-being of our country. With record foreclosures, job losses, natural disasters, and family breakups, it has become time to renew our commitment to action on behalf of the poor and vulnerable. The food banks are in need of more donations of food and money, we can clean out our closets to donate warm winter clothing or buy a special gift for that children gift tree at church.

Just think, if every person in the USA who is blessed with the gift of a warm home, a job, and food on their table gave just a few dollars or some can goods to make someones life a little better this Thanksgiving, what a difference it would make.

Make a commitment today to get involved this Thanksgiving by giving or volunteering your time, and thank God you are blessed enough to do so. I'll start tomorrow, how about you?

Have a blessed day, Mike

Peace, Love, and Harmony - Love Your Neighbor - Easier Said Then Done

This past Sunday the homily was geared toward love. The greatest commandment announced by Jesus was Love your god, with your whole heart, your whole mind and your whole soul and with all your strength. Jesus went on to indicate that we are to also love our neighbor as ourselves. Who's our neighbor, the people next door, down the street or half way around the world? This is pretty steep commandment when you have people burning flags, making statements like down with the USA, or wanting to kill those who don't have the same faith or religion that they may have. Realizing that this is the extreme fanatic so-called neighbor we may see on our T.V. sets during the evening news, can we still find room in our hearts to love them as ourselves? My human mind says, to hell with them, however my heart says, "yes" we can love them for who has created them here on earth, however, we do not have to love what they do and say. This is difficult for some Christians to comprehend. I think the best explanation I have heard is when Jesus said; "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." So, here's the test, the next time we see this type of ranting and raving on our boob tubes, are we willing to say, God , forgive them, for they know not what they are doing? Maybe a prayer for them to lighten up on us, be our friends, and get some love in their hearts would do them good or should we say that prayer for ourselves to say, please Lord, help me to love those who have expressed hate for us and cleanse their hearts along with my own with the power of the Holy Spirit, that we may all live in peace, love and harmony. Now, that's loving your neighbor! What do you think?

One Nation Under God. "Say Your Prayers" Give Thanks

With what's going on in the United States right now in the financial crisis, you would think our churches would be filling up again as they did during 9-11-2001. Maybe we are still not hurting enough, fearful enough, or maybe some have just lost their faith entirely. My prayers are with those families that may have lost their jobs, income, savings, or can't make ends meet. Many are feeling the pain and fear that comes from loss of security. The prayer of petition seems to be the most popular among us because we were taught that if you knock, God will answer.

I read a book sometime back by Fr.Thomas Dubay, entitled "Prayer Primer" "Igniting a fire within" Fr. Dubay presents a simple and profound way to become attracted to the many forms of prayer and become more in communion with God on a regular basis.

St. Augustine said in one of his prayers: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you". I think we can become more contemplative in prayer as we develop the habit of asking for God's will, not ours, in the morning and giving thanks at night. As this habit continues, we begin to turn our will over to God more often and give thanks much more throughout the day.

God knows what are needs are, so why ask? I think it's to get our attention off our own greed, selfishness, and waste. Maybe God wants us to be more grateful and return to becoming humble servants of God, who are blessed just to be here in this world.

So, as I begin to get the blues about hard times, I have to remember that there are many, many more people in this world who are worst off than I am. Maybe the best thing is to suck it up and say "Thanks be to God", than get out of my own head and go help someone else who is hurting, have more faith in this Awesome God.