Morning Connection:

Today is Wednesday, December 18, 2013.

Good Morning.

A thought for the day:

            God has placed in us a home-ing instinct.

The Church’s 1^st reading for today:                Jeremiah   chapter 23   verses 5-8

Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David;
As king he shall reign and govern wisely,
he shall do what is just and right in the land.
In his days Judah shall be saved,
Israel shall dwell in security.
This is the name they give him:
“The LORD our justice.”

Therefore, the days will come, says the LORD,
when they shall no longer say, “As the LORD lives,
who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt”;
but rather, "As the LORD lives,
who brought the descendants of the house of Israel
up from the land of the north”– 
and from all the lands to which I banished them;
they shall again live on their own land.

* * *

At Thanksgiving, perhaps more than during any other holiday, our thoughts turn toward home. More people travel during this four-day weekend than during any other time of the year - and the destination for the majority of them is ... home. Our homing instincts seem to come alive at this celebration of thanksgiving - but each year, it seems there is more to remind us of just how fragile homes are becoming today.

One of the reasons the TV sitcom "Home Improvement" was so popular is that besides all the goofiness and sight gags provided by comedian Tim Allen, viewers appreciated its realistic yet loving portrayal of a family.

Every family could, more than likely, use “improvements”.

As we leave Thanksgiving behind and Christmas approaches … give time to a few prayerful thoughts about your own family.  Anything you could possibly consider that might add more warmth and faith and spirit to your coming celebration of Christmas?  It’s not up to “them” – it’s up to you.

You wanna know a great, the best, Christmas gift?  Love your family.

God bless,

Father Pat

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