Mary's Birthday

Well we don't really know when Mary was born, but surely it is appropriate to rejoice in the fact that she was born. So today, we do.

Mary is an example for all of us. Whatever our vocation, we can look to Mary because she said "yes" to everything God asked of her. We can follow her example of believing that God would give her what she needed to live in the situations that were part of our life. She trusted that God would provide. We can try to carry the Word within us and bring Jesus Christ to the world. We can be brave in the face of great sadness and suffering as she was as she stood at the foot of the cross--faithful to her love of her son.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.

Labor Day

Congratulations to all who labor in any way. Celebrate and rejoice.

I think of all the great statements about labor that come each year from our church. Labor is a source of dignity (or should be) and it is a participation in God's creative love. We are creating the world that God intends by our labor.

I also know that the way laborers are treated does not always respect their dignity nor promote the dignity of work. Today I pray that all laborers will be treated with respect and that work will be provided that reminds us of our dignity as co-creators with our God.