This week we reflect on faith, healing, gratitude, and God’s mercy. God’s love reaches everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from. Faith means trusting Him even when life is difficult or confusing. His mercy is freely given, and He cares for all who turn to Him. This Sunday we are reminded to give thanks. Many people receive blessings but forget to thank God. Gratitude is a sign of true faith because it recognizes that every good gift comes from God. Living with faith and gratitude helps us notice God’s care in our lives and draws us closer to Him. Do you really notice how God has blessed you? Not with material things but through healing, mercy, and the gift of faith. People wake up, go to work, eat meals, and live their lives without thinking about where these gifts come from. It is easy to take blessings for granted. Our faith grows stronger when we trust God and give Him praise.

This week we are reminded about the importance of faith in everyday actions and the power of even the smallest acts of service. We are encouraged to recognize the gift of human life as a sign of hope and to defend life in all stages and circumstances and to understand that nothing can separate us from God’s love no matter what we might do. It is not enough to be a part of a parish family because for our faith to be alive we must share it with others through service. We should see the image of God in our neighbor no matter who they might be. We are encouraged to help those who refuse God’s love even during their difficult times. Phoenix, our state capital, should be a reminder to us. The phoenix is a mythical bird that, when newly hatched from the ashes, has little tender feathers and it can only leap rather than fly.

This week we need to look at how we treat others. The readings warn against selfishness and ignoring those in need. God asks us to live with kindness and care, not to turn away from the poor or weak. Our faith is shown in how we act towards others. We are warned against being self-satisfied while others suffer, We hear about those who live in comfort while others do not. God wants justice for all people not just some of the people. God lifts the lowly and cares for the hungry, the sick, and the forgotten and if we love God and want to follow Him, we should be helping others, not just caring for ourselves.

The readings this Sunday focuses on living with honesty and faithfulness. It calls us to put God above money and what we do have to use to serve others. Wealth and possessions are not bad, but they should never control us. God wants be asking for peace and guidance in the world.

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a sign of the love and victory of Jesus. Jesus made a sacrifice to save us from our sins. We should look at the Cross not as a symbol of suffering and death, but a sign of hope and new life because of His resurrection. God can bring good even from pain. By the Cross we can face our own struggles with courage and offer them to God just as His Son did. We need to learn to accept hardships with love and hope as we place our trust in Christ and believe that His victory over death can guide us through our trials. Today’s Feast has been celebrated by the Church for centuries and is a symbol of our faith. We celebrate this feast on September 14 because on this day in the year 335, the Church in Jerusalem dedicated a new church built on the site where Jesus died and rose from the dead and the church was built to honor both His crucifixion and His resurrection.

Did you really pay attention to the readings today? Jesus who usually tells us about love, such as the love of God, the love of family and the love of neighbor is now telling us to hate. To hate our father and mother, our brother and sisters and even our own selves. We must be careful of how we interpret what Jesus is saying. We need to know that this was ment to be understood in a symbolic manner. We must really love God more than we love others or ourselves.

He must be at the center of our lives. Following Jesus requires sacrifice and we must be willing to put Him above all else, even when it is difficult, even before family or friends. We need to be prepared for whatever happens in life. Faith is like that too. Faith takes real commitment with trust and strength. We need the Holy Spirit to guide us because we can’t know God’s ways on our own.