Ordinary Time

Humility is knowing who we are as God has created us; knowing our true place in life, not more and not less. We are meant to recognize our God-given talents and tend those gifts to the best of our ability, not for the sake of ourselves but for God and others. To be ultimately motivated for our own sake is arrogance, empty, and vain. Our struggle is that we are prone to slip into the two extremes: “I’m pond scum” and “not worthy to be alive” or “I am the greatest” and “I know more about things than anyone else.” A truly faithful, humble life is one that gives ourselves away, to forget out our narcissistic ideations, and simply serve others without ulterior motives.

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

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!

It's important to be "audit ready" now, for the end may come at any time. But let's not lose sight that there is life after death. We will experience trials, illness, and even death, but in the final analysis, God will completely restore his faithful to a state of perfection in heaven.
This week, make a point of thanking God out loud for accompanying you through the disturbances, catastrophes, and tribulations in your life, knowing that he is with you even when you don’t sense him. And, if you know someone who is struggling, share with them your joy and hope: that today could be your last day on Earth and your first in Heaven.

Pope Francis has said many times that at this time in history, there’s no more important job we have than to seek out the lost, remember the forgotten, and accompany the lonely. If we look, it wouldn’t be too hard for any of us to find a person in our lives that fits that description. Your challenge is to seek out that anonymous individual, to call them by name, and to be the hand of God stretched out to them in friendship.

We all have times when we are lost and distant in our faith. Think about someone (a friend, sibling, child, or parent) whom you know to be living in a way that is not of the faith. Seek them out. Invite them to a dinner or lunch. Rekindle your friendship regardless of the other person’s situation. Have no agenda other than love. Perhaps, if you yourself feel lost, both of you may be found.