May God grant you this year.....

The Nativity display in St Francis De Sales Cathedral, Baker City, OREGON

In my homily of the feast of the Epiphany, I shared with the people a list of gifts that we ask the Lord to grant us during this coming year. May they be realized, and may we always appreciate the most precious gift of all - the birth of Christ in our hearts and homes....

May Christ Grant You This New Year:

Enough tears to keep you human, warm and sensitive.

Enough humor to laugh at yourself rather than others.

Enough setbacks to keep you humble.

Enough goodness to be called a person of integrity.

Enough accomplishments to keep you confident and eager.

Enough patience to teach you the virtue of waiting.

Enough discipline to be moderate in eating and drinking.

Enough silence in your life that you become more prayerful.

Enough insight in how you see God, but also in how God sees you.

Enough friends to give you life, strength and support.

Enough grief and sorrow to make you both sensitive and loving.

Enough hope to teach you to trust God.

Enough care to comfort the disturbed, but also to disturb the comfortable.

Enough strength from your faith, family and friends to support you.

Enough warm and wonderful memories to give you comfort.

Enough divine and human qualities to forgive oneself and forgive others.

Enough common sense for you to make healthy decisions.

Enough determination to make each day better than yesterday.

AND, enough faith and prayerfulness to arrive in heaven, with Christ smiling and welcoming you with outstretched arms and saying "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter the kingdom of heaven."