JOYCE CORONEL

It’s that time of year when Americans turn their hearts toward home and prepare for a Thanksgiving feast, one that brings us around the table to celebrate.

The wind whipped our faces and a steady rain fell as we stood aboard the simple fishing boat that had set sail on the Sea of Galilee.

Tumultuous. That’s the word that comes to mind when I ponder the unfolding crisis in the Catholic Church.

Satan preys upon human weakness and works to undermine the Church from within. He wants nothing more than for you and me to give up all hope.

The Latin root of digital actually means “pertaining to the fingers.” God made us and knows we humans have a need to be touched and thereby loved.

May each of us call them “Father” and lovingly support them until they are called home to the Eternal Father.

Keep moving and trust that God will clear the way. He did it for Mary Magdalene, my friend Tom and countless people in between. He’ll do the same thing for each one of His children who place their trust in Him.

The truth is we’re facing a heart problem. Our heart is not beating in sync with God’s heart. Let us rededicate ourselves to love and serving others, to being good neighbors and parishioners, involved in our communities, seeking out the lost.

If you reflect on the lives of the saints, one of the first things you might notice is that they weren’t comfortable. They embraced the cross and the hardships that came with it. Taming the flesh so as to better follow Christ is a countercultural, revolutionary effort in 2018, but then again, it’s always been a way to swim against the tide.

“Do you want the American Flag stamps or the Forever stamps?” the lady behind the counter asked. “The Forever stamps are, well, forever. Some people have a hard time understanding that,” she added, wrinkling her brow.