Dear Brothers and Sisters,
It gives me great joy to write to you once more. With the coming Thanksgiving holiday, it is a good time to reflect on our interactions with family and friends. The Thanksgiving gatherings give us ample opportunity to become more like Jesus - loving, merciful, and forgiving.
As we prepare for the holiday this week, let us recall that we are all made in the likeness of God. Even, difficult people are made in the image and likeness of God. Consequently, we are called to find Jesus in everyone. We are called to find Jesus in each other especially when we gather. We are to love God by loving the person right in front of us.Love those in the room with you.Yes, I agree. This is easier said than done. The challenge is to make those around you feel the love of God. They should feel love, mercy, and forgiveness from us, the Christians in the room.
The challenge is to really listen to the person next to you. Allow the quiet ones to speak without interruption. Don’t always have a comeback or tell a bigger and better story. Ask questions which show that you are interested in hearing more. Be ready to discuss what you are thankful to God for. Don’t forget to pray to God. Ask him to give you a loving, merciful, and forgiving presence for the occasion. Put your cellphone away for maximum results.
Our presence is a gift from God. It is a grace from God. This is something we all have. When we give our full attention to others, we fulfill our call from Jesus to love our neighbor. We bring the presence of Jesus when we listen again to Grandpa’s old stories. We bring Jesus when we listen to one of the kids tell us what they are thankful for. We bring Jesus when we listen to a brother-in-law go on and on about his, latest and greatest, big idea.
Let us turn our attention to Holy Scripture.Jesus invites us to mercy in Luke Chapter 6:
“Be merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” (Luke 6:36-38) “This invitation to mercy contains a promise of happiness. It’s not easy to live out, but if you live it with God’s help, you will be fulfilled, ‘good measure, … running over.’ “ (Luke 6:38) (Philippe, Trusting God, p. 41)
With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can bring gratitude to God and the love of Jesus into our Thanksgiving celebrations!
My good and holy friends, may you seek Christ. May you find Christ. May you love Christ. Amen!
YBIC,
Deacon Ray Rodriguez
