The more aware we become of the blessings we have received from God and others, the more joyful our hearts become. Realizing that everything is a gift from God frees us from our worries, ambitions and shortsightedness.
I give thanks today for the arrival of my nephew Benjamin Daniel, born in April to my sister Fernanda and brother-in-law Norm. He is a tremendous blessing to the whole family. I had the joy of baptizing him at Saint Mary on the Hill in Augusta.
Secondly, I give thanks today for the opportunity to visit the Holy Land with my mother just two weeks ago. Though this was my second visit, it was my first as a priest. I had the blessing to celebrate Mass and preach at the various holy sites, including the cave of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the empty tomb of Christ at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. I will share more experiences from this pilgrimage later.