Preparing our hearts for Thankgiving and Advent

This evening, I received an email from St. Francis Mission, a ministry of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) among the 20,000 Lakota (Sioux) people on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in south-central South Dakota.

Occasionally, groups will write and request a shout-out. This time, I felt the Spirit prompting me to go ahead and post this. We are headed into the Advent season. Soon, we will be giving to many charitable groups. I encourage you to give with a generous heart. We are living in difficult economic times. Let us agree with one another to keep our hearts (and pocketbooks) open to God's gentle call.

As we wait for the Messiah, let us begin by seeing the Lord in those around us.

May God bless the Lakota and the St. Francis Mission. And may God bless all who give and receive this Thanksgiving and Advent.

For more information on this ministry, go to http://www.sfmission.org/