Let Us Be the One

  

Readings 11122

Many of us struggle to walk in the will of God.

Not because we don’t believe—but because we’re afraid.
Afraid of upsetting what the world holds dear.
Afraid of losing comfort, approval, control.

But what the world holds dear is often not the will of God.
It’s desire. It’s pride. It’s self.

Even when it comes to giving praise and glory to God, we hesitate.
Instead of unity, many preach division.
Instead of seeking common ground, some declare separation.

And that does not give glory to God.

Today, we remember St. Josaphat—a man most have never heard of.
A bishop. A bridge-builder. A martyr for unity.

He gave his life trying to bring the Eastern Orthodox Church back into communion with Rome.
Not by erasing their traditions, but by honoring them.
Preserving their rite. Calling them home.

He was murdered by a mob who feared unity more than division.
Who clung to what the world held dear.

And still, Josaphat gave thanks to God.

Which brings us to the Gospel.

Ten lepers cried out. Ten were healed.
But only one returned.

Only one fell at the feet of Jesus, glorifying God with a loud voice.
And he was the outsider. The Samaritan. The one who didn’t belong.

Jesus asks, “Where are the other nine?”

It’s a question for us.
For our hearts. For our homes.
For our Church.

Do we return?
Do we kneel?
Do we say, “Thank you, Lord”?

Thank you for the mercy that met me in my brokenness.
Thank you for the grace that carries me still.
Thank you for the miracle of salvation.

Gratitude is not a feeling.
It’s a turning. A returning.
A falling at the feet of Christ.

Let us be the one.

The one who remembers.
The one who glorifies.
The one who gives thanks.

Because when we do, Jesus says to us,
“Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”  

Amen.

Prayer: Let Us Return to You, O Lord

Forgive us, Lord.
Teach us to return.
To fall at Your feet with grateful hearts.
To give thanks not only in words, but in the way we live.

Make us builders of peace, like St. Josaphat.
Make us the one who remembers.
The one who glorifies.
The one who gives thanks.

May our faith rise in mercy.
May our gratitude echo in unity.
And may our lives give glory to You alone.

Amen.

A Reflection from the Heart - Happy Anniversary, Scott and Jennifer

Readings 111225 

Nine years ago, my heart cracked open.
My daughter—the youngest part of my joy —
found someone who became more important than me.
And I didn’t know what to think.
She didn’t either.
If not for the gentle scheming of friends,
and the loving nudge of her big sister,
would there ever have been a first date?

But God had a plan.
And you said yes.

Scott, I’m glad you never gave up.
Jennifer, I’m glad you leaned in.
Together, you’ve built something strong.
Through ups and downs,
through laughter and tears,
love has been your shelter,
your strength,
your tie.

From that love came a wonder of a child—
a living, breathing joy.
A gift wrapped in grace.

Scripture says,
“Authority was given you by the Lord…”
Marriage and parenthood are sacred trusts.
You’ve been entrusted with each other’s hearts,
and with the soul of your child.
Not by chance.
By divine design.

“He shall probe your works and scrutinize your counsels…”
God sees how you speak,
how you forgive,
how you lead and follow.
He sees the quiet sacrifices,
the whispered prayers,
the choices made in love.

“Desire therefore my words…”
The longevity of love
is not built on romance alone,
but on a shared longing for wisdom.
Keep seeking God together.
Keep growing in holiness together.

And in all circumstances—
joy or struggle—
“give thanks.”
Gratitude softens the hard days,
magnifies the good ones.
It’s the heartbeat of grace.

Like the healed leper who returned to Jesus,
may you always return—
to each other,
to God,
to gratitude.

“Your faith has saved you.”
Faith in marriage is not just belief—
it’s trust,
perseverance,
and the courage to keep walking together.

So today, I thank God for your love.
I thank Him for your child.
I thank Him for the way you’ve grown,
the way you’ve endured,
the way you’ve loved.

And I thank Him for the man
who became more important than me—
because he became the one
who walks beside my daughter,
hand in hand,
heart to heart,
in the sacred journey of love.

Happy Anniversary.
With all my love.

- Mom and Dad

💒 A Prayer in Praise of Marriage

Lord of love,
You who bind hearts in holy covenant,

We thank You for the gift of marriage—
for the grace of two becoming one,
for the strength found in shared burdens,
and the joy born of shared delight.

Bless all who walk this path together.
Teach them to forgive freely,
to speak gently,
to love deeply.

May their union reflect Your faithfulness—
a shelter in storm,
a light in darkness,
a song of hope in the quiet.

Let their love be radiant and weathered,
rooted in You,
renewed each day
by grace.

Amen.

A Veterans Day Reflection - For Clint and all Veterans

 Feast of St. Martin of Tours

Readings 111125 

Today, we remember the veterans.
Not just their battles—but their tears.
Tears for brothers lost.
Tears for memories that never fade.
Tears of love, concern, and quiet courage.

I remember those I’ve ministered to over the years
at the Northeast Louisiana War Veterans Home—
men and women whose stories still echo in my heart.

I give thanks for the veterans in my own family:
my father, my stepfather, uncles, cousins—
and you, Clint Culpepper (a veteran soldier, a nurse, and a loving father)
May God’s blessing and the grace of His peace be upon you.

It is a day to also honor St. Martin of Tours—
a soldier who saw Christ in a beggar.
He cut his cloak in half,
and Christ wore it in glory.

That’s the mystery:
when we give what we can,
even if we’re still learning,
even if we’re still broken—
Christ receives it.

Scripture says:
“The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
and no torment shall touch them.”
They may seem forgotten,
but they are held.
They may seem punished,
but their hope is full of immortality.

Jesus reminds us:
“When you’ve done all you were commanded, say,
‘We are unprofitable servants.
We’ve done what we were obliged to do.’”

That’s the heart of a veteran.
That’s the humility of a saint.
That’s the rhythm of the Gospel.

So today, let us honor those who served—
not with fanfare,
but with faith.
Not with empty praise,
but with holy remembrance.

Let us see Christ in their stories.
Let us carry their cloak.
And let us say, with love:
You are not forgotten.
You are in the hand of God.
You are at peace.

A Prayer for Veterans and Saints

Lord of mercy,
thank You for those who serve with courage and love.
Bless our veterans with peace,
and receive their tears as holy offerings.
May we see Christ in every act of compassion,
and walk humbly in Your light.
Amen.