“Man, what a beautiful day to be alive”

Today is the first Sunday after Christmas, and we Christians celebrate the “Feast of the Holy Family.” As I went for my walk this morning, in a very beautiful park here in, Connecticut; there was peace. The stream was roaring as the melting snow more than doubled its normal volume, gushing into the lake; I said, “Man, what a beautiful day to be alive.” Hundreds of geese were flying above the lake, seemingly almost in a circle, very high and very load; I said, “Man, what a beautiful day to be alive.” The blue jays were racing by noisy as ever, stopping in the trees and making their presence known; again, “Man, what a beautiful day to be alive.”
The Christmas hustle is now behind us, and we are getting ready to start a new year. With all the negative things we find ourselves surrounded with today, maybe we should all try to take a deep breathe of fresh air, count our blessings, and share our love with family, friends, and those we encounter on a daily basis. This is what Christmas is really all about, and we should live our lives like every day is Christmas.
Yes, even among our noisy and busy surroundings we can find true peace. No matter how difficult life can sometimes be, I pray that we will always be able to say, “Man, what a beautiful day to be alive!” May the peace of the “Holy Family” be with us all today and every day of the year. Happy New Year and God bless us all, today and always.

Have You Seen The Shepherd
Have you seen - the Shepherd
He has lost one of his sheep
Have you seen - the Shepherd
Is he out here searching for me
I drifted away - far from him
Thought I could find my own way
I drifted away - far from him
Now it seems I have lost my way
Have you seen - the Shepherd
He has lost one of his sheep
Have you seen - the Shepherd
Is he out here searching for me
Yes I've seen - the Shepherd
He knows you have lost your way
Yes I've seen - the Shepherd
He has been with you all the way
Have you seen - the Shepherd
He has lost one of his sheep
Yes I've seen - the Shepherd
As the lamb along the Calvary way
Yes I've seen - the Shepherd
As the lamb for the sheep - astray
Written By: Anthony Raymond
　

Reflection / Luke 3:10-18
"What can we do?" "Give to the one with none, if you have two."
"What can we do?" "Take no more than that which is appointed you;
Feed your fellow man, Take not from another with your mighty hand,
Be content with your salary, never point to another person wrongfully."
"Remember, doing this for your brothers and sisters, you do it for me."
People began to wonder in hearts concerning one named John,
Perhaps he is the one that we have waited for so long.
John said, "I baptize you with water, He who comes is mightier than I,
His sandals I am unworthy to loosen, He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire."
"What can we do?" Preach the good news to all those who hunger and thirst.
"Remember, doing this for your brothers and sisters, you do it for me."

Temptation - Then and Now
The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
The devil said to him, “I will give you all this authority, and their glory, for it has been delivered to me; and I give it to whomever I want. If you therefore will worship before me, it will all be yours.”
Jesus answered him, “Get behind me satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.”
The devil, knowing the weak human condition, shows us all the glory of this world in their many materialistic and tempting forms.
The devil says to us, "I will give you all of these things, and their glory, for it is mine to give to whomever I want.
These things, and all the pleasures of this world will be yours for the asking. Partake and enjoy, you are in control of your life, the choices you make are yours alone.
You need not worship and obey the laws of a God you cannot see, these are real, they will fill your life with the fullness of pleasure."
How many more times will we allow the forces of evil to lie and lure our weak human nature into vice and sin? We have all had our share of disappointment and humiliation caused by our foolish decisions and actions. Truth, or lies, the choice is ours to make.
“Get behind me satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.”

Matthew 9:35-38
Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.”
In these verses, the Lord is calling each one of us, his Disciples, to live out our vocations as extensions of his love and goodness. We are all called to love, not to hate; to heal, not to pour salt on the wounds of others; to feed the hungry, food for the body and spiritually for the soul; to comfort the sick, suffering, and less fortunate among us, not to turn our backs on others and think only of our selfish desires. Yes, we are all called to be Disciples of the Lord. Christmas is a great opportunity for us to bring the love of Christ to others. We love and serve our Lord when we love and serve all the less fortunate children of God among us.

The Children Of God
Thank you Father - for revealing the mystery
Blessed are the eyes that see
The little ones and the meek
Blessed are they that hear
They live in peace not fear
Blessed are the children of God
Thank you Father - for revealing the mystery
Prophets and kings filled with desire
In their jealousy they do conspire
Seeking wisdom to know all things
The elite are denied of this blessing
Blessed are the children of God
Thank you Father - for revealing the mystery
Blessed are they that see
Blessed are the humble and meek
Blessed are they that hear
Blessed are the they without fear
Blessed to understand the mystery
Blessed are the children of God

Luke 21: 25-28, 34-36
There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; the waves of the sea shall roar; nations shall be in anguish;
The powers of heaven will be shaken; people will fear for expectation of the things which are coming on the world;
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory;
When these things begin to happen, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.” "Be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly. For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth. Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Strive After Virtue
　
Let your hearts not be filled with dissipation
Weigh you down and fill your life with cares
Unless you spend time striving after virtues
This life will tie you down with all its snares
You have the strength to grow
You have the power to say no
You need to watch all the time
You need to pray and to climb
Virtues are dwelling within you
Bigger things are out there that await you
The choice has been given freely to choose
Escape all the madness go out find a place
Strive and allow your virtues to breakthrough
You have the strength to grow
You have many seeds to sow
You have mountains to climb
So keep praying all the time
Unlock the virtues within you
You have the strength, I know
Remember I have told you so
Out of love I gave them all to you