Homily Cycle I - 11/02/19

November is the month we remember our deceased relatives and friends and remember the saints from our Catholic heritage.  In our first reading we heard that “… the souls of the just are in the hand of God … grace and mercy are with His holy ones.”       [Romans 5:5-11]

St. Paul tells us Hope doesn’t disappoint; God doesn’t disappoint!  St. John in the Gospel teaches us “… everyone who believes in Christ may have eternal life.”  November is, also, a time to look how we are living as disciples of Jesus Christ.  Maybe the Litany of Blessings can help give us perspective on what is important in life.

Daniel Defoe gave us some good advice through the character Robinson Crusoe.  The first thing that Crusoe did when he found himself on a deserted island was to make out a list.  On one side of the list he wrote down all his problems. On the other side of the list he wrote down all of his blessings. 

On one side he wrote: I do not have any clothes.

On the other side he wrote: But it's warm and I don't really need any.

On one side he wrote: All of the provisions were lost.

On the other side he wrote: But there's plenty of fresh fruit and water on the island.

And on down the list he went.

In this fashion he discovered that for every negative aspect

about his situation, there was a positive aspect, something to be thankful for. It is easy to find ourselves on an island of despair.  Perhaps it is time that we sit down and take an inventory of our blessings.

 [Sermons.com 10-13-19]

November might be a good time for us to make our inventory.

May God Be Praised!