Money is a gift from God. Debt keeps us from being generous and serving God. Tithing helps us get out of debt and place God as our priority. Tithing is a return back to God of the amazing generosity that God has given to us. Tithing traditionally is 10% of your gross income. Yet, I don't care how much or where that you tithe as much as that you do. Tithing is one of the precepts of the Church. Give, be generous, and be joyful!

In tragic circumstances, we go to God to pray. Why? Well, innately we know that God made us to be with Him. God made us to pray. Prayer is a basic communication with God: a listening and speaking. We need to follow the three "P" words to grow in prayer: Prepare, Posture, and Persevere.

We are all called to be missionaries of Jesus Christ. He calls us, helps us to let go of excuses, sends us, and helps us proclaim his good news. Will you be his missionaries?

St. Paul said that three times he asked the Lord to remove the thorn in his flesh and the Lord replied, "My Grace is sufficient for you." We suffer every day. We can not escape suffering. But, suffering can be redemptive and bring about good if we unite it with Jesus on the cross.

With the Health and Human Services mandate, our Church's freedom to act and govern according to our conscience is being taken away. We need to risk ourselves as Jesus did in the Gospel to ensure that the freedoms we have will be preserved for future generations.