I commend you for making this Celebration of the Eucharist a spiritual moment in your holiday weekend. In the celebration of Holy Mass, we are giving thanks to the Lord our God for the blessings we enjoy as a family and as a nation. A question for our reflection is whether our preconceived notions of Jesus hinder us from recognizing his presence in the circumstances of our life. May you find the presence of God in those you know and love so deeply. Pope Francis is a wonderful example to us on the strength of St. Paul. In his first description of himself as our Pope, Francis humbly says: “I am a sinner.” The message of this scripture passage is that recognizing and admitting our shortcomings is essential for us to have the strength Paul demonstrates. The reason St. Paul finds strength in his limitations is because he is aware that the Lord will provide the power needed in the midst of those deficiencies. Paul’s life is God-centered. As a nation as we reflect on the recent decision of our Supreme Court that recognizes the validity of the civil marriage of two people of the same sex. The Supreme Court has ruled that two persons of the same sex have a constitutional right to marry each other. It is important to note that the Catholic Church has an abiding concern for the dignity of gay persons. The Church extends support and love to all families, no matter their circumstances, recognizing that we are all relatives, journeying through life under the careful watch of a loving God. But It is most important to note that the Supreme Court’s redefinition of civil marriage has no bearing on the Catholic Sacrament of Marriage, in which the marriage of man and woman is a sign of the union of Christ and the Church. Our God is to be found in our neighbor, our friends, our family, and even in the midst of the struggles and crosses of life.