You never know....

Why do I love being Catholic? One of the many reasons is because you never know what people are up to. Only the Lord Jesus Christ knows these things and He is so incredible in leading people to take care of so many things. Each of us, at St. Jude, have so much to be thankful. Each of us have so much more than we think, even when we think we don't have much at all - as a person who makes his living from working for the Catholic Church I can say this with much humility!

Nevertheless, as our eyes turn towards Christ anew and reality of his the celebration of his birth, known as Christmas, let us not forget those who have less. Not only less, but those little ones who are known only to the Lord.

Now most people when you speak of God's "little ones" think of children, and rightly so, for in a special way the creator of all life watches over them and seeks for their good in a very special way... what a blessing to be entrusted as a parent. But let us not forget those "little ones" who aren't so little. As one professor of mine used to refer to such people, in all charity, "the simple people." Many have such spiritual desires but are being led astray in so many ways. This Christmas, as we visit with families and friends, let us not forget the Spiritual works of Mercy, even while we remember the Corporal (bodily) Works of Mercy.

The Corporal works of Mercy are: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, visiting the imprisoned, and burying the dead. While the Spiritual Works of Mercy are: admonishing the sinner, instruct the ignorant, to counsel the doubtful, to comfort the sorrowful, to bear wrongs patiently, to forgive injuries, and to pray for the living and the dead

Its the first three Spiritual Works which I think this time of year often Catholics to action. We must be ready, as our First Pope said, "Always be prepared to give make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is within you, yet do it with gentleness and reverance. (1Pet 3:15)" So many of us will find ourselves in family or social situations where we may be challenged about our devoutness: be it someone using the Lord's name in vain, someone disrespecting our Faith, someone not understanding the true meaning of Christmas - which is Jesus being born, some fellow Catholic neglecting going to Mass on Christmas, some family member who has left the practice of the faith, among so many other situations.

Sure, we all have moments of fear or even moments of temptation to not speak up. But I encourage any one who read this post to consider saying this prayer in preparation for any holiday gathering you may attend - even New Year's eve:

O my Divine Savior,

Transform me into Yourself.

May my hands your hands, Jesus.

Grant that every faculty of my body

May serve only to glorify you.

Above all,

Transform my soul and all its powers

so that my memory, will and affection,

may be the memory, will and affections of You.

I pray you to destroy in me

all that is not of You.

Grant that I may live but in You,

by You and for You,

so that I may truly say, with St. Paul,

"I live - now, not I - but Christ lives in me."

This prayer was written by the Martyr, St. Jean Gabriel Perboyre. I love it.

At any rate don't forget the "little ones" of God. Every human desires to know Christ, but how can they hear about Him if we don't proclaim him!?

In union with all of this, don't forget the "little ones" that are the materially poor as well. In particular, please say a prayer for the success of one of the parishioners of St. Jude whose website seeks to alleviate the suffering of some of these little ones: http://www.guatemalankids.com/ As I began this posting, you never know what the parishoner in the seat next to you is up to. Let us thank Christ our Lord for constantly calling all of us to radically change the world in His Love.

May God bless us this Christmas, each and every one!