FROM THE SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR "Thank You, God!"

November has us impatiently looking forward to celebrating another Thanksgiving near the end of the month. But the first day of November centers our thoughts on the Greatest Giver and the greatest gifts for which we give thanks: November 1 is All Saints Day and reminds us to ever thank God that because of faith in Jesus, God's Great Gift to us, and because of the Holy Spirit who gives the eternal gift of faith, every sinner can now also be a saint--a believer and follower of Jesus. The last day of October is important, too, because on that day we remember with thanksgiving and celebrate the Reformation and the gift of God's word in the Bible, which is heaven-inspired but earthly words proclaim and explain God's great gifts to us. 

We thank God for the free gifts of forgiveness and salvation earned for us by Jesus Christ. We remember and thank God for all the saints--friends and family living now, as well as believers who have gone on ahead of us through death into eternal life. The faith and lives of departed saints are an example and an encouragement to us, the living saints, to follow their examples in our lives.

We remember and thank God for all the saints, those living and those departed, who have blessed us through Via de Cristo. We thank God for our weekends and for the joy of serving on weekends for others; we thank God for our reunion groups and for ultreyas. We thank God for the piety, study and actions that continue to feed our faith and uphold our spiritual lives. We thank God for worship and fellowship with other saints. 

There seems to be an endless supply of spiritual gifts given to us by our loving God.  When we add to them all the physical blessings also freely given by God, it is no wonder that the only fitting response from us is praise and thanksgiving to God, not just on one day or even throughout one month a year, but an unending praise and thanksgiving that begins now on earth and will continue forever in heaven above. May our thanks and praise join the thanks and praise of other saints on earth and join the thanks and praise of saints and angels above, as we respond with joy and faith to say, "Thank-you, God!" 

God loves you and so do I!

Pastor Bob Allmann, LVCCM Spiritual Director