It can be difficult to forgive those who use their free will to hurt us. It might be difficult but as we learn in the lesson of the Master who forgave 10,000 talents teach us, we will only be forgiven the sins we commit against God if we forgive even the smallest sin someone else does against us. We can never repay God what we owe Him. God has given us everything we have ever done, but He will forgive with mercy and grace, but only if we have also forgiven others.

When we are faced with the difficulties of life and tragic events, it can feel like we are drowning. In those moments when life feels unbearable, the Church reminds us that God is always right next to us holding our hand. He is always there to lift us up when we need Him. In those moments when we are weak, He is our strength. With God our heads will always be above water.

When we are faced with people with needs, we must understand that God has already given to us what we need to help them. Sometimes the needs are physical, but more often the needs are spiritual and emotional. So many of our friends need hope and peace, that can only come from God. We have enough hope and peace from God, so that we can give it to others.

Before healing two blind men Christ said, “Let it be done to according to your faith.” We ask God for many things in our lives, but we rarely ask in faith. Instead of rambling a list of demands for God, ask Him to open your eyes to see the blessings He has already given to you.

We all know people who need God, but for one reason or another, they are unable to bring themselves to God or the Church. We can still express our love for them by bringing them to God in our prayers. When God sees our faith, our love for them will be a blessing to them and to us. Even if they refuse to come to God, or to pray for themselves, never give up on them. Pray every day for them. Pray for God’s mercy and leave the rest to Him.

The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, the Chief-Apostles, we are reminded there is a place for everyone in the Kingdom of Heaven. Saint Peter denied even knowing Christ, and Saint Paul went around killing Christians. Both were called by God and repented to become great saints of the Church. It won’t matter what we have done or how we have sinned, God will accept us in our repentance. There is always a way back for us.

When Christ called His first disciples to join Him on His mission, they immediately changed their focus toward God. Immediately they made their entire life about serving God and sharing His Gospel with the world. With the constant reality of violence and war in the world, it is an opportunity for us to live as followers of Jesus Christ with the same dedication as the Disciples. Now is our chance to use our life to preach, teach and heal the world, through the peace and grace of God.

When God promised, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink,” He was inviting us to come inside the Church and He would quench our thirst for God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God is everywhere, but He is inside the Church in a special way. The physical presence of God has been promised since He first told Moses He would be waiting for us inside the Church.

On Mothers’ Day we turn to the Church as our mother. Like our earthly mothers, the Church knows what is good for us when we are sick. We may not like cure, but just like our mothers’ cure-all, the Church offers us the sacraments and the life of the Church to heal us. We should learn to trust the Church like we trust our mothers, and we will be made well. A life of prayer, fasting, caring for the poor and the sacraments of the Church, are all for our healing.

When Christ first appeared alive with His Apostles after his resurrection, Thomas was absent. The Apostles said, “We have seen the Lord,” but Thomas needed to see for himself. Eight days later Thomas saw Christ with his own eyes and believe. Christ said, “You believe because you have seen. Blessed are those who believe but who have not seen.” The Church has spread through the centuries because the Church stands in the world as eyewitness to the Resurrection of Christ. With our faith and courage, and God’s grace many more will believe in the Resurrection of Christ because of our eyewitness to them. We believe because others share their eyewitness. The Church will continue only if we share our eyewitness. It is up to us.