PAX ET BONUM: Fr david Berger

Today we reflect on Sacrifice? What is it and what is the purpose of it? How do we live our life as a living sacrifice? St. Paul helps us understand that a little more.

We enter into the month of November. The readings for the Sunday's in November are pointing us toward our end. They invite us to reflect on the four last things: death, judgment, heaven, hell. We are guaranteed three of the four. How do we repent and make reparation so that when Jesus comes, when he calls our number, we shall be ready to go.

Why bother with the saints? What is the deal anyway? The saints remind us an drive witness to the reality that Christ is alive and active in the human heart through the ages. He lives with us amid the darkness and his light continues to shine: the light has entered the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it!

What would we do if some one to kill us? Where would we run? Where would we hide? Or would we stand our ground?

What wills separate us from the love of God? This is the question posed by St. Paul. Do circumstances of our life affect our loyalty and love of God. Is our love for God rooted simply in the goods he brings or is there more to it than that?

A question is asked of Jesus, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" Jesus quickly responds with "strive to enter through the narrow gate." In there words, do your part, aim high, aim for fullness.

We groan within ourselves as we await for adoption, redemption of our bodies. These are the words of St. PAul that strike a chord with all of us. How does our groaning serve us in hope?

We have all had some experience with writing a resume. We know it is a personal marketing tool in which we present ourselves to others in hope they will hire over some one else. What I have discovered is some people look good on paper but not so good in person or in the interview; some people are average on paper but in interviews they are dynamite. But the bottom line is you never know until you sign on the dotted line: one may have to kiss a lot of frogs until the prince is found. What about spiritual resumes? The readings today help us sort it out that we might market ourselves properly in life, love, and faith.

St. PAul speaks of doing what we don't want to do and not doing what we want. Here is every man's struggle.How do we increase performance that is fill the gap between what we propose to do and what we actually do in life and in love?

It easy to defend our principles, to argue for them, to speak about them; it is lot harder to stand upon them. When we stand on our principles then fire falls, division swells, households are divided necessarily so. Love can not be built on counterfeit foundations.

What parts of our bodies should be used as weapons of righteousness? We acknowledge God's help and provision and seek to be as provider to others as God provides for us.

We all know how the impact of one's decision in life can bring havoc to many. It is also true that the impact of one's decision can bring goodness and joy as well. St. Paul reminds us that though we are affected by the decision by Adam in a negative way we are not bound by it. In Christ where Sin Increase grace overflows.

We continue our reflection on stewardship? At the heart of stewardship is joy, "God loves a cheerful giver." How do we discover the joy of giving? Have we truly received that we may give?

Today we remember St. Luke the evangelist who gives us the gospel that introduces us to the Christmas story, the Good Samaritan, the prodigal son and so much more. He invites us on a journey who coming to know Christ: to know Christ and make him known. He was a story teller and by his life the story of Christ spread. What is spread through ours?

Today in the life of the church we celebrate the memory of St. Ignatius of Antioch, a martyr in the early church. In the preface for the mass we hear these words, "Lord in our human weakness your power is perfected." Also, we reflect on being on a soap box.