I pray you all had a blessed Thanksgiving, with your family and friends, or even if you were alone this time. We shouldn’t forget those for whom holidays are especially difficult. They are a part of our parish family, too.

Sometimes spending time with extended family can have its tensions too! As we probably all know. But
nevertheless, family is always a blessing. I think of family members as friends that are chosen by God. We
don’t get a say in who they are. And precisely because of that, they have a way of forming us in holiness,
like rough rocks in a rock tumbler. They aren’t always easy and comfortable. But that teaches us to love, no matter what. So family is a blessing.

We give thanks to God for the blessings of our family and friends, the closeness we have with them. The
way they prop us up in our lives. I think God really knew what he was doing!

And let us give thanks also for the family of God that we received at Baptism, the Church. God adopted us
all as his sons and daughters, and that makes us all brothers and sisters. May we always treat one another
with family affection.