So just a little light humor before we get serious:
A man named John received a parrot, named CHIEF, as a gift.
    The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary.  Every word out of the bird’s mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity.
    John tried to change the bird’s attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to clean up the birds vocabulary and soften its spirit.
    Finally, John was fed up and yelled at the parrot.  And the parrot yelled back.  John shook the parrot and it only got angrier and even ruder.
    John, in desperation, threw up his hand, grabbed the parrot and put him in the freezer.
    For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed.  Then suddenly - there was total quiet.  Not a peep was heard for more than a minute.
Thinking that the parrot was hurt, John quickly opened the door to the freezer.
The parrot calmly stepped out onto John’s outstretched arm and said, “I’m certain I have offended you with my rude language and actions.  I’m sincerely sorry for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior.”
John was stunned at the change in the bird’s attitude.  So he asked the parrot, “how did this remarkable change in you come about.”
“Pretty simple.”  Said the parrot.  “I sure did not want to end up like that turkey in the freezer.”

    For we Americans, the term “Thanksgiving” conjures up images of turkey and cranberry sauce, parades and football games.  These traditions have come to mark an event made a perpetual institution of American life by President Abraham Lincoln’s decree of 1863 - in the midst of the Civil War.
But why did Lincoln proclaim the last Thursday in November as a national holiday?  
Because it was clear to him that the blessings of food, land, family, and freedom enjoyed by Americans are all gifts from the Creator.  But Americans, he realized, had forgotten this.  >
A special day was needed for us to forget our differences and remember our blessings.  And from remembering naturally flows giving thanks to the Source of those blessings.
And so we do that to this day.  We gather with family and friends to remember our blessings.  And from remembering naturally flows giving thanks to God - the source of those blessings.
But true thanksgiving is not just a matter of words and warm sentiments.  Gratitude for a gift means offering a gift in return.  So as we give thanks today - let us also ask ourselves what we are going to give God in return for all the blessings continued to be showered down upon us.

Which makes today the perfect day to pre-plan our Christmas giving.  Not only what we will give to each other – but also what we will give to the thirsty, the stranger, the sick, the hungry and the lonely.
For when we do these things for the least of our brothers and sisters, we do them for the Lord.
Happy Thanksgiving!

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When Pope Pius XI instituted this feast of Christ the King for the universal Church in 1925 - Christians in many parts of the world were facing grave difficulties.
    In Mexico, the Church was being persecuted:  church property was being seized, religious orders were being outlawed, and public displays of faith were forbidden.
    There was the rise of National Socialism which became Nazism in Germany – and atheistic Communism in the recently formed Soviet Union.
    In this country there was the rise of materialism, consumerism, and the biggest growth of the Ku Klux Klan promoting racism since the end of the Civil War.
    Pope Pius wanted this feast to show the deplorable consequences produced when individuals and governments rebelled against and rejected the Gospel.
    Godless governments, he said, are always anti-life governments which emphasized power over peace.
    The state over the individual.
    And the censor and persecution of religion.
    Pope Pius wanted to strengthen and encourage Catholics facing persecution – hopefully allowing them to continue to work for the spread of Christ’s reign, despite hostilities.


    This feast is also to act as a reminder to all Catholics – that amidst all the trials of life – faith can and will sustain us in the most difficult moments of life - and faith can transform our fallen world into the Kingdom of God– if we LET values of the kingdom reign in our lives.
    On this feast – the last Sunday of this liturgical year – we should consider in the end – what really matters – is not our own status –or it’s  not to impress those around us – but whether in the end we have allowed Christ to reign as king in our hearts, minds, and wills.
    In the Gospel – we heard Pilate ask Jesus:  are you a king?  Notice that Jesus does not answer the question directly. . .
 because like the question posed to his disciples several weeks ago:  who do you say that I am?  – This is a question that each of us has to answer for ourselves. . . is Jesus a king?  If we answer, yes - it determines the course of our lives – a course that Pilate rejected.
    But on another level – what kept Pilate from acknowledging Jesus as a king – was his – PRIDE.  Pride keeps everyone from the truth about Jesus – because pride does not acknowledge a king outside of one’s self.
    Pride says:  I need to be the one in charge.  I need to wield the power over myself and others.  I determine what truth is in my life.

    This type of pride is a rebellion and rejection of God – the sort of rebellion and rejection that leads to broken friendships and families – of persecution and the belittling of others.  History shows this over and over.  God-less-ness leads to self-destruction and violence toward others.
    But pride can be shattered – and it must be – in order to belong to the kingdom of truth and freedom, of peace and justice.  A kingdom where all people are raised up to a new hope.
    The changing of the liturgical seasons are always a good time to do some self-examination:  to ask ourselves is selfishness, pleasure, control, pride, neglect – reigning in our lives – or are our hearts and lives filled with generosity, self-control, humility, prayer?  
    So this week – I encourage you to ready yourself for Advent – which begins next Sunday.  
Plan additional prayer time and time for spiritual reading.  Step it up when it comes to acts of mercy and charity.  Maybe make it to daily Mass once or twice when we have some of the most meaty readings at Mass - -coming from the prophets who foretold the coming of Christ.  And to offer that Mass up to someone who is in need of your prayers.
    And perhaps – put off the Christmas decorations at least for a while longer – and instead letting an Advent wreath be the focus of your holiday decor. 
 Or at best – as you string up your Christmas lights – reminding yourself to invite Christ into your heart – to light up your life with his grace.
    “Long live Christ the King” was the cry of those being persecuted in Mexico in the early part of the 20th century.  May it also be our cry – so that Chrsit the King may reign in our minds and hearts, and in our relationships with family, friends, strangers, neighbors –and even our enemies.
    When we allow Christ to reign in us – he transforms us into instruments of his justice and goodness.  We become partners with Christ uniting people in extending God’s mercy, truth and love – for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
    
    

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Two widows - the most vulnerable people in a patriarchal society.  And they should humble us.
         A starving mother feeds Elijah - even though she only has enough to make one last meal for her son and herself.
         And a woman giving her two last coins to the treasury -- and Jesus praises her for giving all she had.
         These two women - models of courage and faith -- gave the last of what they had because that is what God called them to do.
         Would we have the courage –and the faith -- to do what they did?
 
         Do we have the faith and courage to give up our last dollars and cents -- to the Lord?
         Do we bring an offering of the first fruits of our labor -- or do we wait to see what is left in our purses or wallets after we pay our rent, utilities, bills -- and maybe a nice meal and tickets to a ballgame -- and only then maybe think about what we should offer as a return to God through our parish?
         Are we good stewards and treat our other resources -- our time and talent - as God's – or do we think we own them – and then guard them at any price?
 
 
         Do we pass up the opportunity to help, sometimes in very small ways, while we wait for an opportunity to do something big or impressive –
or something that will catch the attention and praise of others?
                              
         Mother Theresa once said there are no great things -- only small things done with great love.
         With God, even the smallest things are extremely important -- because those are the ones God often uses to work miracles -- a handful of flour -- a couple of coins worth a few cents --- we don't have to wait for something major.  Because God doesn’t consider the size of the gift –
as much as the heart of the giver. . .
         We don't have to wait until we are down to our last two coins or the last bit of food in the cupboard  --To give something.
         What WE DO have to give is – ourselves-- fully and completely to God.
         As we consider this, let's listen to the words of the song:  These alone are Enough, Dan Schutte's song based on the Prayer of Saint Ignatius Loyola.
Take my heart, O Lord, take my hopes and dreams.
Take my mind with all its plans and schemes.
Give me nothing more than your love and grace.
These alone, O God, are enough for me.
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​To peak your interest – and to catch your attention---  our school's spring musical will be Fiddler on the Roof  -- so stay tuned -- and never forget there can always be an unexpected appearance on the stage by someone not in the cast.
         One of the scenes in that musical and movie -- is when the Father, Tevye, finally breaks down -- and gives his blessing for one of his daughters to marry a man who had nothing but a sewing machine-- and the hope of being a great tailor.
         Tevye finally became convinced that the old ways are passing away, that it's a new world -- and people are now marrying each other out of love –
 
and not because the marriage had been arranged by their parents.
         Tevye then turns to his wife and asks the question:  do you love me?
         His wife doesn't know how to respond, she ignores the question, but Tevye persists:  do you love me?
         She finally breaks out in song reciting all that she has done for him for the last 25 years:
washing his clothes, cooking his meals, cleaning their house, birthing his children, milking the cows. . .
 
 
         Much like Jesus in his resurrection appearance to Peter and the others on the side of the lake -- Tevye asks for a third time:  but do you love me?
         And his wife, Golde, persists // too:  saying for twenty-five years I've lived with you, fought with you, starved with you -- if that's not love, what is??
         Tevye’s wife, is saying--  love is not just something we say we have -- we show each other that we have it -- by sharing each other's hopes and dreams, joys and sorrows -- Love always expresses itself through actions.
 
         One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, "which is the first of all the commandments".
         And Jesus says that it is "to love God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and strength"  -- but that's not all -- we then show our love for God by loving our neighbor as ourself -- because love always expresses itself through actions.
         So like Peter standing on the lakeshore -- if Jesus were to ask us:  do you love me?
         What would we have to show for it??
         And do always remember – it never hurts to tell the people we love – that we do love them, and we should tell them often – because we never know when it will be last the opportunity we