Feast of Saint Willibald

Good morning. Today Jesus continues in the Gospel, as He did yesterday, to let us know that we have a responsibility to others if we wish to claim ourselves to be His followers. He reminds us that He is to be found amongst the neediest and that he invites us to minister to Him through these needy people. He makes it quite clear that we must not forget those who need our help. Yet, where are the poor? We live in a culture of material abundance or material want, but where even the poorest of the poor have beyond the imagining of most of the world’s poor. Blessed Mother Teresa noted that the poverty we in America most struggle with is different; she notes among other things that parents are so busy “they have no time for their children.” She notes that the poverty we in America most struggle with is a loss of appreciation for what is truly important. She notes that we in America have become mired in a world of materialism. I find myself in full agreement with this diminutive woman from Albania. I truly believe that marriage is the foundation to a healthy family and that a healthy society is built upon a foundation of healthy, vibrant families, and that the poverty of heart which Blessed Teresa of Calcutta referred to in her words to the American society years ago can only be eliminated by focusing our energies on building strong, healthy families. Blessed Pope John II noted in his Letter to Families that families are the foundation for building a civilization of love. He further noted in Familiaris Consortio that "The family finds in the plan of God the Creator and Redeemer not only its identity, what it is, but also its mission, what it can and should do." If we are going to address poverty in this country it must begin within the family. As parents we must instill in our children an appreciation for Jesus’ call to us to teach the Good News by guiding our children in knowing God’s love for us, for love of our neighbor begins with understanding the love God has already given us. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Willibald.