Thanksgiving

There are many options for the Mass readings for Thanksgiving Day. One of the options is the story of the ten lepers who were healed. Only one of them took the time to come back and thank Jesus for the healing.

How many times in our lives do we go along and forget to show our appreciation to God for all that he as done for us?  When things go wrong, many of us are quick to blame God. When things go right, we tend to reflect upon the great things that we have accomplished. 

I wonder if the nine healed lepers who did not return thought to themselves, "look how we've healed ourselves by asking Jesus for mercy"?

I want to challenge you this Thanksgiving to truly reflect upon all that you have. Reflect upon all that you have accomplished. Realize that none of it was done simply by your own efforts. You have accomplished them because of the talents God has given you. 

Let us take time this Thanksgiving to offer real thanks, not for the ability to gather for a nice meal or watch a football game, but for all of the blessing which have been bestowed upon us. 

Happy Thanksgiving and may God continue to bless you. 

Reflection shared with Billings Catholic School system

 Good Day to the Billings Catholic Schools Community.

I am Father Leo McDowell, the pastor of Saint Patrick Co-Cathedral here in Billings. Doctor McDonald and I were speaking the other day about ways for the pastors around town could make a connection with the Catholic schools families. The thought came up for the various pastors to write a reflection each month and I am the lucky guy who gets the first shot at this. 

With the elections just behind us, one of the themes that I hold dear is the need for us to love our neighbor as ourselves. This isn't just a message for election season, but for every day. It is so easy to get caught up in the moment that we see the "other side", whatever that may mean, as an enemy when in reality they are fellow pilgrims with us on a journey that we hope ends with us together in heaven. That should be our wish for everyone in our midst; our coworkers, our family, our neighbors, etc. It comes to making a distinction between loving someone and liking someone. Jesus never told us that we had to like everyone, but he did tell us that we need to love everyone (see Mark 12:28-34).

What does that mean? If we love someone we should wish what is best for everyone, even if we don't like them. We should treat everyone with respect, even in the midst of disagreement. We should pray for and with each other that we may run the race and wear the imperishable crown (see 1 Corinthians 9:24-25). 

On Friday, November 8th, we heard this reading from the Letter of Paul to the Philippians:

Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters,
and observe those who thus conduct themselves
according to the model you have in us.
For many, as I have often told you
and now tell you even in tears,
conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Their end is destruction.
Their God is their stomach;
their glory is in their “shame.”
Their minds are occupied with earthly things.
But our citizenship is in heaven,
and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
He will change our lowly body
to conform with his glorified Body
by the power that enables him also
to bring all things into subjection to himself.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters,
whom I love and long for, my joy and crown,
in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.

Let us not get distracted with earthly things, but keep ourselves focused on heaven where we will find our true citizenship. Let us do this by loving God with all of our being and loving our neighbor as ourselves. 

May God bless all of you, your families and your loved ones.