My fellow parishioners, while media is endorsing “change the world” pleas, let’s pause to reflect on how we can “change ourselves.”   In our faith journey every day, we make choices about who we want to become and who we do not want to be.  Sure, we would like to be more righteous, caring, and charitable.  Catholics are motivated by inspirational guidelines like the Beatitudes, Works of Mercy, Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit, and Virtues.  On the flip side, we are counseled by the Ten Commandments ( do this and don’t do that), as we try to stay in our lane on the road toward the “narrow gate.”  [Mt 7: 13-14]. 
Focusing on who I do not want to be has not worked out well for me, though.   Do no wrong is not as motivating for me as the one, single phrase from our Annunciation Mass homily on December 8, 2018.  Father opened his reflection with “Hail Mary, full of grace.”   There is no room for anything but grace in Mary’s heart.  Yes, she always rejected evil, but more than this was full of the graces of Baptism when she was born without Original Sin.  So, at her Immaculate Conception, the Annunciation, and throughout life she remained full of grace.  Angel Gabriel’s recognition of “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you” was beautifully reinforced by Mary’s yes!:  "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." [Lk 1:38]  Mary always proved herself worthy of her special graces when facing challenges and sacrifices through unwavering humility and trust.  What an amazing example for us!
This reflection still reminds me to work towards being “full” of goodness, compassion, and love versus simply working on NOT being angry, self-centered, and apathetic (empty of grace?).  I often fuss about the cup being half-full or half-empty.  Mary’s example is to have the cup overflowing with goodness.  Ancient Psalms reinforce the message: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.”  [Ps 23:5]
Here is a contemporary message about goodness.  A popular car battery manufacturer’s CEO always uses advertising that promotes love and compassion.  “The dad” was one of the animated car “drivers” that are confronted with problems of the day that anger them as they begin to join the fray, criticizing all in their path.  Then, calming music replaces blaring car horns and loving heart symbols enter the scene replacing raised fists and clenched teeth.  Returning home, God’s love enters the home along with the driver dad, as the unhappy children and stressed mom are also enriched by the same heart symbols. The whole family unites in peace.  This series of commercials is called “God’s Love.”  Once again, love and compassion leave no room for any discord.  Full of grace, indeed.
I encourage all fellow parishioners to use this website to browse scripture, search for passages, or simply read the bible:  https://quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/simple.html.  It may seem odd to use a University of Michigan website, however, rest assured that this is our St. Philip source used for all our Spirit and Truth bible references.  I searched several opposite feelings/emotions.  I was surprised how many biblical references there are to guide us and motivate us towards righteousness and grace.  Here are the number of references by searching each word:  Joy 251, Sorrow 93; Light 384, Dark 248; Feast 238, Fast 167; Love 839, Hate (Apathy) 220.   Here are samples of my favorites:    
“And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with  joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.”  [Lk 8:13]
“Take off the garment of your  sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God.”  [Bar 5:1]
“He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness still.”  [1Jn 2:9]
In these polarizing times we need to accept love and compassion in our hearts.  There must be no room for not “loving our neighbor as ourselves” (double-negative intended).  Let us remember Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous 1963 message, which is very true to this day: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
In summary, every day we choose to be full of graces or full of ourselves.  St. Dismas, the Good Thief at the Crucifixion, surrendered to Jesus and earned eternal salvation when he said to the other thief being crucified,  “’Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?  And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’ And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’  And He said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’”  [Lk 23: 40-43] This is something to think about!  Sincerely in Christ, Tim Logsdon