PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY This week, take one step toward contentment. Each day, name one thing you are grateful for and one thing you can let go of. Write down what you are grateful for Secondly be prepared to “give away” what you could or maybe need to let go of but don’t write it down, rather take it the confessional and give it to Jesus himself. By doing this – gratitude offered to God and what we need to let go of offered to God we move towards what Advent is all about: Creating room in your heart for Jesus

Pull Quotes from this Sunday's Homily: Have you ever thought about the fact that many people you meet in your daily interactions (who may or may not know anything about Jesus Christ or that you are Catholic/Christian) ----- you could be the “only Bible some people ever read.” Practical Takeaway This week, ask yourself each morning, “What can I do today that lets others see Jesus as King in my life?” Maybe it’s showing kindness, forgiving someone, or standing for what’s right. If you have – with God’s grace – overcome temptation, then maybe it is sharing that victory with someone who is struggling so that they can learn and hopefully benefit. Let us pray that Jesus Christ is the King and the only King of our lives!

Takeaway this week: This week, I encourage you to take one intentional step to show your trust in God. Choose something you feel attached to—a possession, a routine, a pleasure, or even an ambition—and practice healthy detachment by giving it to Jesus in prayer, and asking him to help you put right or to stop it. Notice how it feels, write it down so you do not forget and see how God meets you when you place your security in Him alone. The widow at Zerapeth never died of hunger; we do not know how the widow in today’s Gospel died but it is safe to say it was not of hunger; the apostles we sent out by Jesus and told to take nothing with them. None of them died of hunger or exposure. They trusted in God and God did take care of them. Be detached, trust in Jesus and he will bless you!

Two suggestions to help fight SOS (Shiny Object Syndrome) 1) This week, I encourage you to take a moment of reflection. Ask yourself: What is distracting me from seeing Jesus in my life? Identify one “shiny object” that’s pulling your focus away from Him – and maybe inhibiting your relationship with those around you. Once you’ve identified it, take one practical step to set it aside. Perhaps it’s limiting your time on social media or watching too much TV. Then ask Jesus to help you “see” --- which might lead to reprioritizing (as an example) your Sunday around God, ensuring you and your children are getting to bed on time so that you can get up on time and pray. Let’s not allow the distractions that blind us and keep us from seeing Jesus, who is always near, always ready to be in relationship with us. 2) Another practical way of being victorious over giving into shiny object syndrome while praying is this: Before you start your prayer ask Jesus (be very specific about this) to help you check only the news feed that contains your meditation for the day and to check nothing else. Check only what you need for your prayer or meditation. Nothing else. Say all of this or something similar. If you do this everyday before you pray then you will – in time – overcome SOS while praying.

Part of the homily: The need for making sacrifices is similar to what I mentioned last week about John Wooden not allowing his players to think about winning but requiring them to show up at practice and at their games with a “10” attitude. This requires many sacrifices! It forms character! Well, sacrifices help us bring a “10”attitude” to our relationship with Jesus and others, and they form character in the process! These needed sacrifices in your life could about the media you consume, the people you spend time with, or the environments you find yourself, making time to pray, going to bed at the right time. We are made for friendship but if a human friend is leading us away from Jesus then we need to correct it or make the sacrifice to cut it away from our life. Whatever it is, Jesus is inviting you to make wise choices that help you avoid sin and stay close to Him. Imagine what it would look like if we, as a community, made these kinds of wise sacrifices—not because we’re weighed down by rules, but because we’re committed to following Jesus wholeheartedly. We wouldn’t be a community burdened by rules, but a community freed by wisdom—a group of people who understand that following Jesus means being intentional about the decisions we make. We’d be a people who choose sacrifice, not because we have to, but because we see the value in walking closely with God. Practical Takeaway: This week, I encourage you to take some time to evaluate your life. Where might God be calling you to make a sacrifice—not as a burden, but as a wise choice to avoid temptation – which will help you stay close to him? Maybe it’s in the area of your entertainment choices, or the way you spend your time or a friendship that is not healthy for you. Whatever it is, remember that these sacrifices are not about limiting your freedom—they’re about walking in wisdom and staying close to Jesus.

From the sermon: There’s a very real difference between success and significance. Success, as the world often defines it, is about personal achievements —good grades, awards, promotions, wealth, and status, having authority over others. But significance goes beyond and is deeper than personal success; it’s about making a lasting impact on the lives of others, about living a life rooted in values and purpose. Practical Takeaway This week, I challenge you to take one practical step toward servant leadership. Identify one person in your life who might feel overlooked or undervalued. Maybe it’s a co-worker, a neighbor, a friend, or even a family member. How can you serve them? How can you elevate them and make them feel significant? As you do, remember Jesus' words: “Whoever wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” True leadership isn’t about getting ahead — it’s about lifting others up.