When we have faith like Joseph of Arimathea who buried Jesus, and courage like the Myrrh Bearing Women, who went in the darkness of the night to anoint Jesus, our actions are blessed by God for the glory of His Church. Through faith, courage, and action, we will go out in the darkness of the world and share the good news of Christ’s resurrection. People need hope. People need the Good News to convince them to come to the Church to experience Jesus Christ, the King of King, Resurrected from the dead.

It is hard to believe that with so many examples of God’s power in the Gospel, and the stories of the Church throughout history, that so many still refuse to believe God. The Feast of Palm Sunday gives us the chance to believe God as our King, even in those moments that we don’t agree with Him. We all like the idea of a king when we agree with the King. Once we no longer agree, like the Pharisees and Jewish leaders, we refuse to believe Christ is our King. If we ask God, He will give us the strength to have faith.

In our weakest moments of faith, we wonder why God chooses to do what He does. We question why He doesn’t give us what we want. When our faith is weak, Christ calls us to a life of prayer and fasting. It our prayer and fasting that gives us stronger faith.

There are many obstacles between us and God. Some obstacles are from the world trying to stop us from reaching God. Other obstacles are from God to protect us from ourselves. The most dangerous obstacles are from our own making, our sins that separate us from God. No obstacle can keep us from God if we are committed to overcoming them to reach God.

On the cusp of Great Lent, we are called to three challenges. All three challenges have one thing in common. We are called to forgive, fast and be generous, all to prepare our hearts for God. Great Lent isn’t about food and prostration. Great Lent is about changing our hearts for God.

On Judgment Sunday we are reminded that God will judge us based on our inaction, not necessarily the sins we commit. We spend so much time avoiding sins, we forget the good things we are called to do by God. We forget to allow the love we say we have for God to translate into our actions toward other people. Doing nothing is not an option.

When we hear the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15.11-32, we hear about a man who decided to return to his father after wasting his inheritance. Rather than interrogate his son, the loving Father opened His arms, kissed him and welcomed him home with a huge celebration. That is what awaits us when we return to God. God is waiting for us without guilt, without interrogation, without fear.

Every time we ask God, He blesses us, but we don’t properly thank Him. In the story of the Ten Lepers, we learn the proper way to thank God for His blessings. It isn’t enough to say ‘thank you’ standing in front of our icons at home. We must come to spend time with Him, in Church to properly give Him thanks. God has already blessed you today. Now, go to the Church and thank Him in person.

The Feast of Theophany reminds each of us that Christ has revealed Himself to us. He brought His Light into the world, so we are no longer living in darkness. When light shines in the darkness, we no longer have anything to fear. Christ has shined His Light so that we could follow the Light into heaven.

The first Christmas reminds us that everyone is invited to find God. Hearing in the Gospel that foreigners were the first who worshipped God at His birth, reminds us that God gives everyone exactly what they need to find Him. He gave the Magi a Star. He gave us the Church. Now, He has given us to those around us to help them find Christ. Merry Christmas