Last weekend, I quoted the first commandment in my homily and said that, among other things, it calls on us to put God first in our lives.  That, of course, is a very challenging thing to do, and the temptations to put others or things first is always there.  If one has put God first in terms of the gift of one's resources that have been obtained through hard work or in other ways (which the Bible promotes as at least a tithe or ten percent of resources) then what does this mean upon one's death?  I would argue that it means, as a final act of faith, that a person sees to it that at least ten percent of what they have or own when they die, goes to the Church and/or other charitable endeavors.  While some family members of the departed may be upset by this last act of faith (of putting God first) because they had hoped that all of it would be somehow given to surviving family members, others will learn a very important lesson and hopefully be inspired in faith, to follow that example when making decisions about where their assets will go when they die.  I must honestly say that in my nearly 30 years of priesthood in all of my parishes where I have celebrated the funerals of countless people, I rarely have seen bequests of people's estates coming to the Church.  I can only pray that more of us will recognize throughout our lives that everything we have is a gift from God and that our ongoing response to this truth is a generosity that is consistent till the day we die.

A couple of weekends ago, I mentioned in my homily that Pope Francis has shared the fact that he receives the Sacrament of Reconciliation once every 15 days.  Since most people recognize Pope Francis as a holy man, some might wonder why he receives the sacrament so often.  The answer is that he is committed to growing in holiness, and sees the sacrament as an important means of doing this.  While I hope we will all recognize, in humility, and choose to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation more often (perhaps once a month).

Many people tell me that they struggle with a good examination of conscience.  Recently I read a short article in "Give Us This Day" by Father James Martin in which he summarizes St. Ignatius of Loyola's examination of conscience.  I would like to share that with you.  First, remind yourself that you're in God's presence.  Second, call to mind anything for which you are grateful, then savor it and give thanks.  Third, review the entire day, noticing places of encounter with God.  Ask yourself:  In this moment, did I accept God's invitation?  Fourth, ask God for forgiveness for your sins.  And fifth, as God for the grace needed for the next day.  Being a long time, faithful Jesuit, I'm confident that Pope Francis uses this every day and especially on the day before he receives the sacrament.  I pray we can all follow this humble and helpful exercise as we seek to grow in holiness before God and others.

The greatest blessing of the pastoral visit of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has to be his "public witness" to the tremendous faith he has in God.  Given the "media saturated" culture we live in, it seemed that almost every moment he was here was captured for everyone to see.  In his speeches, along the parade routes in his "Pope-mobile," at Masses, and in visits to a homeless shelter and a prison, Pope Francis spoke in word and action of what it means to be a Christian.  I pray his "public witness" to his faith will inspire many of us to join together in public witness to our faith in the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death through our participation in the annual "Life Chain" in downtown Hot Springs THIS Sunday from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

We will meet behind President Clinton Plaza (across from the post office), get a poster which speaks of the sanctity of life or the evil of abortion, and then stand (or sit if you bring a folding chair) along Central Avenue in quiet prayer.  Some will honk in favor of what we are "standing for," while some may speak out negatively toward us.  Either way, we have a chance for one hour to do what Pope Francis did for many hours in his visit to the United States, be a public witness for Jesus and for "all" the people God has created.  PLEASE join us and other people of faith from the Village and Hot Springs.  PRAY TO END ABORTION!