The way we currently celebrate Christmas we miss the cross. We need to look back to how Jesus celebrated the first Christmas as guidance. Our hearts full of love for him? Are we acting as diciplines? We should not separate the the cross from Christmas.

(Deacon Ray) We can comfort those we visit and will receive by being present to them. This Christmas season, let us learn from Mary's example. Let us take the time to visit those we have long been meaning to visit.

In an age of spin (stretching the truth & meaning and bias perspective)John the Baptist is straight forward and clear that we need to do "acts of ritriousness". We must act, not just have nice thoughts. If you have two coats, then you should give to someone in need.

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In the Kingdom of God, the things the world considers important may not be important at all. What if Jesus was President of the whole world?

Only God. The Father knows when the world will end. Creation will not end, it will be transformed. Whatever is God's will will last for ever.

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Being good stewards, growing God's gifts. Breath in - Thank God for a gift He has given you. Breath out - Tell God how you are going to use that gift to build up His kingdom on earth.

"...and Jesus stopped." Arguably the three most beautiful workds in all of scripture. If Jesus stopes for a "nobody" like Bartemaus, He stops for each and every one of us too. Because we matter to Him and He knows each of us by name.

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Christians are under greater persecution today than in ALL of history. People are giving up their lives to follow Jesus. There is no such thing as cheap grace - Jesus on the cross is the cost of Grace!

Jesus tells us we must become like children if we want to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Like children we must trust in God, be dependent on God, be open and honest with God and experience the wonder and awe of life.

Christ is asking us to be decisive in your life and get rid of anything that prevents you from following Him letting Him into your life. Jesus is waiting for you to open the door to your heart. His sheep know His voice and follow Him.

(Deacon Ray) At the altar, Jesus offers us his gentle, merciful, peaceful, sincere heart. We are nourished with the life of Christ with the Eucharist. May the love which we receive in the Eucharist be the love in which we live.

Jesus will take on all the evil and violence and transform it through love and mercy. Jesus says you have to pick up your cross and deal with evil in a way that transforms evil. You have to find a way to transform it. "How do you get rid of an enemy? Make him your friend." Prayer of St Francis - bring love for hatred, pardon for injury, light for darkness.

You are precious to God and He loves you! But in our society, we hear we are not good enough and start to believe it about ourselves and drown up what God says. In society, we reject people who are different than ourselves. If we heard the word of God and don't bury it, we should be able to look at every person and see their preciousness to God. Ensure our ears are open to His word and we don't let society drown it out.

Be doers of the Word, not hearers only. If we don't live out our faith everyday, we are not disciples. What is in our heart cannot help but express itself in what we do. If you want to know who you really are, look at what you do. "Do the Word"

Jesus has conquered death! This is the fundamental of our faith. Eternal life begins now if we are united with Him. We shouldn't postpone eternal life until our death. Be grateful and thankful that God gifts us with everything in our eternal life.

Can we deny that America is becoming bitter? You should deal with one another as Christ deals with you - with mercy. We are all precious sons and daughters of God. We are called to be light to the world and to see everyone as our brother and sister, someone God loves! We are children of the light and living in the light will make our world bright.