Pilgrim Priest

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (Year B) • Family is a great gift from God. We have to receive this gift and cherish it. We are all responsible for creating a wonderful family. Today we look at St. Joseph. He teaches us three keys to fatherhood: obedience, self-sacrifice, and giving your children back to God. Your family won’t be perfect, but if you follow Joseph’s example, your family will be holy. And that’s what matters in the end.

(31 Dec 2017)

Point to Ponder: I was inspired but one of my relatives who is giving his Christmas bonus to charity. He told me, “I’ve never gotten a Christmas bonus before. I think every year I’ll give my bonus away to charity.” Who in your family inspires you?

Point to Discuss: Talk to a family member about what your family does well, and what your family struggles with. Pray together for your family.

Point for Action: Make a plan for how you can contribute to a better family in the next year.

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) • Jesus looks like you and me but he is God’s precious child. As Joseph gazed on the child he realized that he was too was God’s precious child. The shepherds and the wise men were changed when they realized they were God’s precious children. I hope as you gaze on the manger scene you will also realize, “I am God’s precious child.”

(24 Dec 2017)

Point to Ponder: “Good morning, God! Thank you for being my Father. Thank you for loving me. I love you too!”

Point for Discussion: Talk to someone about how your life would look different if you lived every day as God’s precious child.

Point of Action: Sing Away in a Manger with your family or a few friends:

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.

The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,

The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,

But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.

I love thee, Lord Jesus! look down from the sky,

And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay

Close by me forever, and love me I pray.

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,

And take us to heaven to live with thee there.

Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year B) • Christmas is the birthday of not just of any king, but of the King of Kings. His birth is so important we are still in the Year of Our Lord. He leads us, serves us, loves us, and dies for us. His coming depended on the Yes of one young woman. Will you follow him, serve him, love him, welcome him? The whole world is waiting for your answer.

(24 Dec 2017)

Point to Ponder: What did the Yes of Mary mean for all the souls waiting to enter Heaven?

Point to Discuss: What does it mean to be living in the Year of Our Lord (Anno Domini) 2017, now that you know that the Lord is Jesus Christ?

Point for Action: Sing Joy to the World. Let every heart prepare Him room.

Third Sunday of Advent (Year B) • There is no such thing as a perfect tree. Maybe it just needs a little love. Christmas is all about love: God who loves us and sends his Son to us, even though we aren’t perfect. We must be humble enough to receive what God wants to send us. Being loved by God fills us with joy. So practice Christmas carols and you’ll be ready to rejoice at the coming of Christ.

(17 Dec 2017)

Point to Ponder: What do you have to get rid of so you can humbly receive God’s love for you?

Point to Discuss: What does it mean to just “let Christmas happen” this year? Talk to your spouse or a friend about how to keep Christmas focused on what matters.

Point for Action: Practice singing your favorite Christmas carols this week.

Second Sunday of Advent (Year B) • We want to be prepared for Christmas so we put up decorations, send cards, buy gifts, and bake cookies. And then a little bell calls to us from the wilderness to remind us: Prepare Your Heart! Our heart is prepared when we focus on the things that really matter, and let go of the things that don’t matter.

(10 Dec 2017)

Point to Ponder: Will this help people to know God? Will it help me to love God more?

Point to Discuss: What if all you got for Christmas was something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read? Talk to a friend, spouse, or parent about a simpler Christmas.

Point for Action: What was your favorite memory last Christmas? How can next Christmas be full of more of those favorite times? Make a concrete change to the way your family celebrates Christmas.

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Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception • Before you were conceived in your mother’s womb, God had a concept of you with him in Heaven for all eternity. Mary teaches us two things: 1) God’s plans are worth waiting for 2) All we have to do is say “Yes” to God, and God will do the rest.

(8 Dec 2017)

Point to Ponder: Are you willing to wait for God’s plans to happen, or are you rushing things?

Point for Reflection: Talk to a non-Catholic friend about the Immaculate Conception.

Point for Action: Ask Mary to help you say “Yes” to God today.

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First Sunday of Advent (Year B) • What are we watching for? Christians should be ready for the coming of Christ, not only at the end of the world but every day of our daily. Making time to pray every day will help you be more watchful. This Advent pray for a watchful heart. (3 Dec 2017)

Point to Ponder: You can follow along with the Daily Prayers For Advent from the Creighton University website. The pattern is very simple:

* Gather your family and light the candle.

* Make the Sign of the Cross.

* Pray the daily prayer.

* Brief pause for reflection

* Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

* “Come, Lord Jesus”

Point to Discuss: Talk to a friend about where you both saw Jesus today.

Point for Action: Make a place and pick a time for your daily Advent prayers.

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The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (Year A) • God made you. Why did God make you? To know Him, love Him, and serve Him in this life so as to be happy with Him in the next. Follow Jesus and He will lead you down the path of obedience, service, and generosity. Don’t wait until the last onion to let Him be the King of your heart.

(26 Nov 2017)

Point to Ponder: Read the little fairytale for yourself.

Point to Discuss: What does it mean to see our gifts (money, time, talents, onions) as given from God so we can give them away? What does it mean to see the hungry, thirsty, poor, naked, homeless, needy, sick and imprisoned as opportunities rather than burdens? Talk to a friend about this new way of seeing.

Point for Action: Pick one of the corporal works of mercy and do it this week.

Thanksgiving Day (USA) • Name one thing you are thankful for…. each of these gifts point to the loving care of God for each of us, His children. We can always choose to be grateful. “Thank God in advance,” said Solanus Casey. St. Therese of Lisieux would thank God even for her faults and failings. Do you give thanks in all things?

(23 Nov 2017)

Point to Ponder: “I am much happier to have been imperfect than if, upheld by grace, I had been a model of sweetness. It does me so much good to see that Jesus is always just as gentle, just as tender with me. Why does He not scold me?” – St. Therese of Lisieus, I Believe in Love, p. 66.

Point to Discuss: Talk to a friend about 5 things you are really grateful for, and one thing you have a hard time being thankful for.

Point for Action: Thank God for some difficulty in your life.

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) • The master gives his servants plenty to work with. Everything we have is a gift from God. Do we use it for His glory? When we give and we serve, we become worthy of the kingdom. Dilly Dilly!

(19 Nov 2017)

Point to Ponder: How would your life be different if you saw your daily work for others as a way of serving the Lord?

Point to Discuss: Talk to a friend about what it means to see everything as a gift from God and to use it for God’s glory instead of our own.

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