My father was a WW2 combat vet - he was abused as a child and then ended up, lying about his age and joining the Army after Pearl Harbor. He was not a good father by our standards....but the gift I was given by The Church and my 12 Step program was to love my father. The last thing I ever said to him was, "I love you, Dad...see you tomorrow". I am so grateful for The Church.
I am the Uncle Tommy in my family. It's a hard kind of life. We are waiting for you to include us in your lives. Bless you, Bishop, for your care of your Uncle Tommy.
The kids never forget the Uncle Tommy. 70 years old I made my kids help me find the grave of my Uncle Ralphie who died when I couldn't go to California.
God bless you, Scott. Your words touched me deeply. I pray for forgiveness for any Uncle Tommy's I have failed to invite into my life. Maybe it's not too late for me to make amends about that.
Epic words of Bishop Barron ~ "What do families teach us? .... One lesson I think is, we don't always get to choose the people we love, but we're given people that we're then called upon to love." .... "God, through our families ~ is giving us the people He wants us to love. And part of what makes our families holy is that we cultivate this capacity of love, not just the people we like, that we have chosen to be with, but the people whom God has given us to love. .... Thank you, Bishop Barron for your inspiring words of spiritual wisdom! 🙏✝🙏
Thank you for your words I agree wholeheartedly. My family did not have uncle Tommy, but we had an “Unk” ( Uncle Merle) who live next-door to us with my grandparents‼️ What a Legend and a mystery to all who knew him… but a legacy to us! We love him and he Very much loved us‼️🥰❤ I Have four sisters and a family who loves me I am proud to say that “I am AUNT MARY”
I'm also Uncle Tommy in female form. Life threw us a curveball. You try to help your country and be the best you can be for them, but they don't talk about how crippling a mental illness is afterwards. Sadly, I once was the great Aunt Carrie that everyone wanted to be around. Thank God for the love of my mother and my puppy!! They both brought me to God!! Opened my heart wide open for Jesus to walk right through ❤❤❤ Hallelujah, hallelujah!
Bishop Barron, what a blessing to hear about your Uncle Tommy, what a beautiful story of love, he sounds like he was a wonderful man, full of character, personality, just love your Irish roots, think Uncle Tommy's talent for wonderful gift of story telling has been passed on to his nephew. God bless you BB and all your family 🙏🌹
Yep, totally agree. Now we know where Bishop Barron got his amazing storytelling skills. God bless Uncle Tommy and all our hard to deal with relatives too 🙏🏼
It was a good story, reminds me how our entire family rallied around my great, great Aunt Gertrude out of love. Though to be fair, she wasn't a difficult character, and she had a sharp wit in conversation.
Like I said to my niece, "The whole reason God put you on this earth is to learn how to love people you don't like. 😜 NORMALLY, THEY'RE CALLED, 'FAMILY MEMBERS.'" 😜
My dad was in WW2 also in the battle of the bulge like your uncle tommy and suffered from ptsd. 1977 while visiting my dad in a mental institution on Christmas Eve night. I heard a voice and told me to love and pick up my cross . My dad has passed on and I hope is now in heaven and at peace . My peace come that Christmas Eve night .
I had an uncle Tommy who sounded just like your uncle Tommy. He loved us kids and would like to tinker. He’d take things apart. He was a big kid but loved everyone he had a job with the city? He did get married to a very nice women much like himself they had 2 children both college educated!! God works in mysterious ways. Our family did watch over him and his life was a beautiful life as far as Tommy knew. He loved his children who were there to help him in his old days and was very proud of them. I only saw him at Christmas time but he was special in his own way.
Bishop Barron - beautiful story about your uncle. I lost my Uncle Jim three weeks ago today at the age of 91. He was my Dad's brother and last surviving sibling. Uncle Jim was too a bachelor, and a very devout man - I believe he attended Mass everyday as well. Four years ago it was discovered he had dementia, and it fell to me and my brother to move him back home from central Illinois (to Michigan). The last four years have been a blessing taking care of my uncle. In fact, at the funeral I had cousins thanking me and my brother fro taking care of him, and commenting it must have been a burden. I responded it was never a burden; taking care of my Uncle Jim was a joy.
Let us pray for those we know whose family members had really 'let them down'....those who were victims of child abuse and violence...that through the Grace of God they may find peace through forgiveness, and receive support and comfort from family members who love them. And let us be thankful for all those family members like Uncle Tommy who helped us learn compassion and acceptance of all God's children, remembering our child like innocence of love and care for the quirky family members.
@@Bjustis2222 Somehow my remark is in the wrong place. It's not intended to be a response to Mr. Ngumi's comment. It's a remark related to the content of the homily.
Happy Holy Family Sunday Bishop Barron. I had a whole family of uncle Tommys on both sides, but most prevalent in my father’s family. My father and all 4 of his brothers went to WWII and all came back alive, but permanently scarred from the experience. We loved them all. We heard stories too. My own father, a devout Catholic, had an extraordinary story. He was hunkered down in a foxhole, with bombs going off all around him. Our Blessed Mother Mary said very loudly “get out of there.” The foxhole was bombed as soon as he jumped out. He came back against all odds, married my mom, and had 8 children. He was called home shortly after and the loss was very hard on all of us. Incredible stories came out of that war. Miracles happened all day everyday during those dark years in world history and impacted us all for generations. Blessings to everyone and a Happy New Year!
I bless the day a friend of mine sent me a Sunday sermon from Bishop Barron. I recently returned to the church after many years of self indulgence. Bishop Barron was so informative and down to earth. I eagerly look forward to his sermons. What an amazing MAN OF GOD. 🙏🙏
Scott, I think that is beautiful. It sounds like the Uncle Tommy’s of the world have their priorities straight- love, laughter, and being present. They are deeply impacted by the sorrows and turmoil of this world and are therefore more devoted to the Lord than most. Bless you for being an Uncle Tommy.
Thank you Bishop Barron, God bless you always. It's a big cross to love people whom we find "offensive" or "unlikable" for whatever reasons, but we forget that God loves us sinners and broken people. As Jesus says, do not judge and you will not be judged, for the measure you give will be measured out to you. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Love this, and the implication that God gives us people to love on the macro level, as well. Refugees and immigrants, convicts and the unhoused, the disabled and the sick… as a practical matter, the acting of loving these people can be more strenuous, but no less worthwhile, and often not by any particular fault of their own. We’re all sinners. We all need living, loving mercy. This is ultimately granted by God, but it’s a gift we can give to others, also.
Thank you Bishop Barron I have a tear fallen down my face I am that person in my family. I used to be the exact opposite, a project manager at a nuclear plant at age 24, then got PTSD and now I am that person. At Christmas I wonder why I am that person that people don’t want to talk, and I am also like your Uncle Tommy who goes to mass every day. I’m the person that doesn’t get invited places and I just don’t know how to be. I can’t hold a job because I am so weird and then I feel so guilty for not making my own money. I am going to see a counsellor, whose son is a priest. I saw her once and there have been profound impacts on my life. She says she will get me working again. Astounding. That’s not a bad way to go, being struck on the way to church. I’d just rather be struck on my way home from church! I’ve often thought I’d like to die before the blessed sacrament, if that were possible.
I had a relative, who fought in some of the horrible battles in the Pacific (WWII). After he got out of the Marines, he could not hold a job and in a few years, he killed himself. This story was told and retold at many family gatherings.
To the person reading this, you’re absolutely amazing and wonderful! God is SO great! God is SO real!! God bless you!!! God bless everyone!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Yes! And one cannot judge for they walk in their own shoes and are more to many along the way than we could ever meet! God bless them! Pray for and to my dear one in mensa and Cathedral guide to head injury a gift to indigent.
Thank you Bishop Barron for telling us about your Uncle Tommy. May he rest in peace. My brother wo died this year had his struggles. He died penniless and yet at his memorial service the eulogies were all the same everyone who knew him spoke of how kind, helpful, patient and lovable he was. He is missed so much. Rest in peace Paul
Thank Bishop Baron for the beautiful story of Uncle Tommy. I had an uncle Dan he was loved by all nieces and nephews .He to was a bachalor ..He lived a hard life and was taken advantage of because people thought he wasn't smart Which was sad .He lived wirh my mom when dad passed away .He now had a purpose. in life to help mom on the farm .. . He loved music I think the cows loved him too, music was always played in the barn .He loved to dance and took pride in dancing the German polka When we were little he always had juicy fruit gum in his pocket and would give us each a half piece . even the great nieces and nephews remember that We didnt have much money and one day he came home with a present it was a little record player and several country music albums wow . God gave him to us to love and I hope he felt loved
“For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?” Matthew 5:46-47
I’m not sure of Uncle Tommy’s intentions, but “just a priest” may have been his highest compliment. One can lose themselves in career growth, higher education or the fast pace of society. To be, just a house wife, just a mechanic, or just a clerk, can keep one humbled in sprite. While I may be more of the later, I admirer when I meet someone that lives a simple life and is fully content. The greatest people in my life were just these kinds of people.
Your Uncle Tommy sounds beautifully human. You had a smile on your face the whole sermon. Lol. Sounds like there are some hysterical stories . Bless him for his service to our country, and God bless you.
If we are truly honest, we all are Uncle Tommy ( hard to love, understand, deal with etc… in some way to someone), so do not judge, just love.🙏🏻❤️God.s blessings of peace, joy & love to all🙌🏻! Thank you Bishop Barron for your gift of story telling - the great Theodrama of life which we play a part👍!
This is so well said. I know all families have differences of opinion and likes and dislikes. I have a family like this. But, when we are together, we laugh and reminisce. But my heart just breaks when there is anger and words and family members stop talking to each other. How can i keep my family at peace. I pray to God every day to save my family.
I was happy to meet your Uncle Tommy as you shared! Yes, I have grown with some quirky family members and to this day am continuing to love the family members that God has given me to love. Thank you for your honesty!!
What a wonderful story about your uncle, Bishop Barron. I too grew up in Chicagoland. It cracks me up that Tommy called you “just a priest.” We are called upon to love some quirky relatives. Families test not only our ability to love but to forgive 70 times seven!
Jesus did have an eccentric cousin; John the Baptist. As a Protestant we do not agree on alot of theology, but the point of your talk here resonates. Thank you for sharing about your uncle. May God Bless you and your family. I do hope you will be reunited with Tommy one day.
For "just a priest", you surely always do a great job. 😇 My uncle Joe was like your uncle Tommy in a way. No better human being on this earth. Especially loved by children and animals. I learned so much from him. I miss him every day. Blessings to you, Bishop. 🙏🙏🙏
Well you may not have made monsignor in the next two weeks, but you've done okay. Uncle Tommy is certainly praying. Thank you for sharing such a sweet story.
My aunt is really similar story to uncle tommy. Had ptsd from a atrocious car accidentally in loving a train and her school bus. She sadly committed suicide last year. Thanks for your words, father.
The idea is to start by loving the people you've been given, your family. That's good practice. Then work out from the edge of that circle to the next circle around you, your friends or workmates. Then out from there, getting better at loving as you go.
Beautiful lesson Bishop Barron. Very important for us to remember that we must learn to embrace all members of our family without any discrimination nor any misgivings and build our relationships with each one no matter how difficult or maybe not as honoured as others maybe.
Bishop Barron, your sermons, and your scripture commentaries, which I read daily, very often move me, sometimes to tears, as today. I think all families have an Uncle Tommy, or 2 or 3, probably on both sides, and in every generation, as mine. May God continue to richly bless you in this holy Season and in your ministry.
My take on it is I’d sure hate to have been one of Jesus’ brothers… “all the time hearing the teacher compare their homework!! Lol… but seriously, you are lucky Bishop … my “uncle Tommy” lives in my head, I never had a family, I was cast out since I was 17, I eat and drink alone, but I get comfort from the silent wisdom of this kind uncle in my mind.
When I was a teenager there was a very disgruntled veteran of WWI he was a friend of my grandparents who explained to me that he was gassed in the war and was eligible for a pension. He never received it and this was the reason for his bitterness. He was chastised by many of my friends until I told them his story.
Thank you Bishop Barron for reminding me, through your marvellous true story telling that God has placed us in our families for the most important purpose; to love- not just who we like, or who we find the most easiest to get along with! Thank you once again and may God continue to bless you and bless us with these inspiring messages!!!
Wow! Some words reach deep in my heart. The uncle Tommy story brought a smile to my face as well as as sorrow. I remember the tilting point from my innocent enjoyment of my uncle Tommy to a kind of calculating distance mixed with a sense of superiority. Your sheer authentic love of your uncle Tommy, bishop Barron, cuts deep as it reveals how love is anything but calculating. I will pray for my uncle Tommy tonight and ask him forgiveness. Levis Shalom
Nice reflection. I think what we might also reflect on is how those "difficult people" in our lives may have some heroic virtues that they never revealed to us. Maybe Uncle Tommy saved 8 men in his Battalion in the Battle of the Bulge. So, we may pat ourselves on the back at times for tolerating difficult people, but we often have no idea of their unrevealed, inner lives.
Bishop Barron, Sharing your personal life journey I think is so effective for us lay person to hear. We are all on this together, sinners but if we allow the love of Christ in us it will channel that to others, unconditionally. Thank you and Peace in Christ!
"What were the Virgin Mary's cousins like" I will always remember this. As an Irishman on both sides, I can relate deeply to this talk. Fr. baron never misses the mark. God bless Uncle Tommy.
I feel bad for his uncle; the Bulge was a really bad time. In addition to the battle itself, it was one of the coldest winters on record in Europe and a lot of US troops had insufficient cold weather gear (I've heard stories about men stuffing newspaper into their boots just to try to insulate away frostbite and others freezing to death in their own foxholes). Add onto that widespread paranoia in light of rumors the Germans had sent English-speaking commandos behind US lines in captured uniforms, so a lot of men felt they couldn't even trust their own comrades. All this, for over a month (12.16.1944 -- 01.25.1945). I think I probably would've lost my mind after a few days.
Thank you, Bishop. Ya, at the present time (today) to stumble on your Sermon of 2 years ago, there is no mistake. A great challenge to love that someone... I need prayers... Jesus will do it in me if I let Him. Thanks once again. Love your sermon. ❤
Thank you Bishop Barron for your wonderful story of your uncle Tommy. My husband was Irish and a great storyteller. He passed away a couple years ago. Our 5 kids and myself miss him very much.
I think it’s worth noting that sometimes we can love these family members from a distance, when those individuals have caused and do cause harm to us and our family. We love them, we pray for them, we forgive them.
Nice peep into Uncle Tommy's days☆ Compliments for your narration of the conversation in the car. He must be laughing loud. From heaven he prayed *to get you out from being just a Priest!*
The virtue of Charity, the virtue by which you love others and ourselves not for their sake, but for God's sake. Since God is the ultimate good, we must love God and since God loves us, we are obligated to love who God loves. I've found, in my limited practice of this virtue, that placing God as your foundation of love makes your love nigh-unshakeable. Love the ones God has Given. Love your family. Perhaps, even if they can be difficult, remember to do it, at least for God's sake.
I can better love the eccentric Uncle Tommy's in my life and family whenever I remember that I, in spite of my best efforts, or sometimes because of them, can at times be that challenging, eccentric, mixed-bag relative and neighbor. "Whoever is forgiven little loves little."
Thanks for your reflection Bishop Barron. I always think of this day as my 'baby brother Bill' was born to my 39 year mother on this day in 1957. He brought joy to all the family with his intelligence, love, humor and pragmatic acceptance of his pancreatic cancer which brought him to an early death in 2016. This birthday of my brother and the morning of the Holy Family together after Jesus came into Mary and Joseph's lives makes me happy. Merry Christ's Mass!!
Sometimes the smallest things in life are the simplest to do. Just Like clicking on this amazing videos and just saying HI! Lol Everything’s perfect ❤️❤️❤️ Hello Dear, How you feeling today?? Hope everything is Ok with you over there 😊❤️
Sometimes the smallest things in life are the simplest to do. Just Like clicking on this amazing videos and just saying HI! Lol Everything’s perfect ❤️❤️❤️ Hello Dear, How you feeling today?? Hope everything is Ok with you over there 😊❤️
This guy is my favorite catholic teacher.
I do agree wonderful teacher♥️
My father was a WW2 combat vet - he was abused as a child and then ended up, lying about his age and joining the Army after Pearl Harbor. He was not a good father by our standards....but the gift I was given by The Church and my 12 Step program was to love my father. The last thing I ever said to him was, "I love you, Dad...see you tomorrow". I am so grateful for The Church.
Thanks for sharing. God bless you! 🙏🌹
Uncle Tommy just made a difference, posthumously, in thousands of people's lives. God bless him, and you, Bishop Barron.
YES❤
We lost our “Uncle Tommy” to COVID recently. You only have limited time. Glad we made it count.
Trauma can make people 'quirky. '
War, abuse, childhood cancer, abandonment. Family are the very people they should be able to count on.
God help us.
I am the Uncle Tommy in my family. It's a hard kind of life. We are waiting for you to include us in your lives. Bless you, Bishop, for your care of your Uncle Tommy.
Life can indeed be very hard. God bless you.
Scott Wilcoxson 🙏🏼🤗🌸
The kids never forget the Uncle Tommy. 70 years old I made my kids help me find the grave of my Uncle Ralphie who died when I couldn't go to California.
I always feel so good when I hear a sermon of Bishop Baron!!!
God bless you, Scott. Your words touched me deeply. I pray for forgiveness for any Uncle Tommy's I have failed to invite into my life. Maybe it's not too late for me to make amends about that.
Epic words of Bishop Barron ~ "What do families teach us? .... One lesson I think is, we don't always get to choose the people we love, but we're given people that we're then called upon to love." .... "God, through our families ~ is giving us the people He wants us to love. And part of what makes our families holy is that we cultivate this capacity of love, not just the people we like, that we have chosen to be with, but the people whom God has given us to love. .... Thank you, Bishop Barron for your inspiring words of spiritual wisdom! 🙏✝🙏
Thank you for your words I agree wholeheartedly. My family did not have uncle Tommy, but we had an “Unk” ( Uncle Merle) who live next-door to us with my grandparents‼️
What a Legend and a mystery to all who knew him… but a legacy to us! We love him and he Very much loved us‼️🥰❤
I Have four sisters and a family who loves me I am proud to say that
“I am AUNT MARY”
Btw, if you can’t find who’s your Uncle Tommy in your extended family, it means it’s probably you. But it’s fine, God loves you either way.
I'm also Uncle Tommy in female form. Life threw us a curveball. You try to help your country and be the best you can be for them, but they don't talk about how crippling a mental illness is afterwards. Sadly, I once was the great Aunt Carrie that everyone wanted to be around. Thank God for the love of my mother and my puppy!! They both brought me to God!! Opened my heart wide open for Jesus to walk right through ❤❤❤
Hallelujah, hallelujah!
Bishop Barron, what a blessing to hear about your Uncle Tommy, what a beautiful story of love, he sounds like he was a wonderful man, full of character, personality, just love your Irish roots, think Uncle Tommy's talent for wonderful gift of story telling has been passed on to his nephew. God bless you BB and all your family 🙏🌹
Yep, totally agree. Now we know where Bishop Barron got his amazing storytelling skills. God bless Uncle Tommy and all our hard to deal with relatives too 🙏🏼
Such beautiful love!
It was a good story, reminds me how our entire family rallied around my great, great Aunt Gertrude out of love. Though to be fair, she wasn't a difficult character, and she had a sharp wit in conversation.
Qqqqqqqq
AMEN!
Like I said to my niece, "The whole reason God put you on this earth is to learn how to love people you don't like. 😜 NORMALLY, THEY'RE CALLED, 'FAMILY MEMBERS.'" 😜
My dad was in WW2 also in the battle of the bulge like your uncle tommy and suffered from ptsd. 1977 while visiting my dad in a mental institution on Christmas Eve night. I heard a voice and told me to love and pick up my cross . My dad has passed on and I hope is now in heaven and at peace . My peace come that Christmas Eve night .
No wonder this man became a Bishop.
I had an uncle Tommy who sounded just like your uncle Tommy. He loved us kids and would like to tinker. He’d take things apart. He was a big kid but loved everyone he had a job with the city? He did get married to a very nice women much like himself they had 2 children both college educated!! God works in mysterious ways. Our family did watch over him and his life was a beautiful life as far as Tommy knew. He loved his children who were there to help him in his old days and was very proud of them. I only saw him at Christmas time but he was special in his own way.
Bishop Barron - beautiful story about your uncle. I lost my Uncle Jim three weeks ago today at the age of 91. He was my Dad's brother and last surviving sibling. Uncle Jim was too a bachelor, and a very devout man - I believe he attended Mass everyday as well. Four years ago it was discovered he had dementia, and it fell to me and my brother to move him back home from central Illinois (to Michigan). The last four years have been a blessing taking care of my uncle. In fact, at the funeral I had cousins thanking me and my brother fro taking care of him, and commenting it must have been a burden. I responded it was never a burden; taking care of my Uncle Jim was a joy.
Let us pray for those we know whose family members had really 'let them down'....those who were victims of child abuse and violence...that through the Grace of God they may find peace through forgiveness, and receive support and comfort from family members who love them. And let us be thankful for all those family members like Uncle Tommy who helped us learn compassion and acceptance of all God's children, remembering our child like innocence of love and care for the quirky family members.
Amen. We do not choose the families we are born into, but God calls all people to love their families.
Word
@@katherynrice8887 I think he was trying to describe the story not trying to insult him personally?
@@Bjustis2222 Somehow my remark is in the wrong place. It's not intended to be a response to Mr. Ngumi's comment. It's a remark related to the content of the homily.
Wow good job we got god there telling us to love our families, what a horrendous world it would be without god saying that, amazing
I once had a coworker who told me, "We choose our parents." Seems unlikely.
Happy Holy Family Sunday Bishop Barron. I had a whole family of uncle Tommys on both sides, but most prevalent in my father’s family. My father and all 4 of his brothers went to WWII and all came back alive, but permanently scarred from the experience. We loved them all. We heard stories too. My own father, a devout Catholic, had an extraordinary story. He was hunkered down in a foxhole, with bombs going off all around him. Our Blessed Mother Mary said very loudly “get out of there.” The foxhole was bombed as soon as he jumped out. He came back against all odds, married my mom, and had 8 children. He was called home shortly after and the loss was very hard on all of us. Incredible stories came out of that war. Miracles happened all day everyday during those dark years in world history and impacted us all for generations. Blessings to everyone and a Happy New Year!
I bless the day a friend of mine sent me a Sunday sermon from Bishop Barron. I recently returned to the church after many years of self indulgence. Bishop Barron was so informative and down to earth. I eagerly look forward to his sermons. What an amazing MAN OF GOD. 🙏🙏
Dear Bishop Baron, thankyou for insight. I believe I'm uncle Tommy in my family. God Bless.
Scott, I think that is beautiful. It sounds like the Uncle Tommy’s of the world have their priorities straight- love, laughter, and being present. They are deeply impacted by the sorrows and turmoil of this world and are therefore more devoted to the Lord than most. Bless you for being an Uncle Tommy.
@@asmith6101
As "beautiful" a response!
Scott, your not alone. I’m an Uncle Tommy as well.
God Bless you and Merry Christmas too you.
And God bless you Scott.
@@asmith6101 🤗🙏🏼
*"Don't grow weary of loving those whom you are with everyday."*
- (From the Book titled 'Our Lady's Message of Mercy to the World')
Justice is good and reasonable, but merciful is for the divine.
I have this book and was thinking the very same thing
@@marypinakat8594 Why should it be difficult and it hurts a lot???
@@danserrano100
Sorry for the delay. What exactly are you trying to convey?
Thank you Bishop Barron, God bless you always.
It's a big cross to love people whom we find "offensive" or "unlikable" for whatever reasons, but we forget that God loves us sinners and broken people. As Jesus says, do not judge and you will not be judged, for the measure you give will be measured out to you. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Love this, and the implication that God gives us people to love on the macro level, as well. Refugees and immigrants, convicts and the unhoused, the disabled and the sick… as a practical matter, the acting of loving these people can be more strenuous, but no less worthwhile, and often not by any particular fault of their own.
We’re all sinners. We all need living, loving mercy. This is ultimately granted by God, but it’s a gift we can give to others, also.
Thank you Bishop Barron I have a tear fallen down my face I am that person in my family. I used to be the exact opposite, a project manager at a nuclear plant at age 24, then got PTSD and now I am that person. At Christmas I wonder why I am that person that people don’t want to talk, and I am also like your Uncle Tommy who goes to mass every day. I’m the person that doesn’t get invited places and I just don’t know how to be. I can’t hold a job because I am so weird and then I feel so guilty for not making my own money. I am going to see a counsellor, whose son is a priest. I saw her once and there have been profound impacts on my life. She says she will get me working again. Astounding. That’s not a bad way to go, being struck on the way to church. I’d just rather be struck on my way home from church! I’ve often thought I’d like to die before the blessed sacrament, if that were possible.
I had a relative, who fought in some of the horrible battles in the Pacific (WWII). After he got out of the Marines, he could not hold a job and in a few years, he killed himself. This story was told and retold at many family gatherings.
God bless your Uncle. It is so sad that there was no help for him.
To the person reading this, you’re absolutely amazing and wonderful! God is SO great! God is SO real!! God bless you!!! God bless everyone!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Yes! And one cannot judge for they walk in their own shoes and are more to many along the way than we could ever meet! God bless them! Pray for and to my dear one in mensa and Cathedral guide to head injury a gift to indigent.
We should all love whoever comes into our lives…they are,each a lesson from God.
So true.
@Roger Mills exactly!!!
Thank you Bishop Barron for telling us about your Uncle Tommy. May he rest in peace. My brother wo died this year had his struggles. He died penniless and yet at his memorial service the eulogies were all the same everyone who knew him spoke of how kind, helpful, patient and lovable he was. He is missed so much. Rest in peace Paul
Arranged marriage in India is an example to the said above. Thanks be to God. 🙏🏽
Thank Bishop Baron for the beautiful story of Uncle Tommy.
I had an uncle Dan he was loved by all nieces and nephews .He to was a bachalor ..He lived a hard life and was taken advantage of because people thought he wasn't smart
Which was sad .He lived wirh my mom when dad passed away .He now had a purpose. in life to help mom on the farm .. . He loved music I think the cows loved him too, music was always played in the barn .He loved to dance and took pride in dancing the German polka
When we were little he always had juicy fruit gum in his pocket and would give us each a half piece . even the great nieces and nephews remember that
We didnt have much money and one day he came home with a present it was a little record player and several country music albums wow . God gave him to us to love and I hope he felt loved
Beautiful story, Jane. Really beautiful!
“For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?”
Matthew 5:46-47
Beautiful reply.
I’m not sure of Uncle Tommy’s intentions, but “just a priest” may have been his highest compliment. One can lose themselves in career growth, higher education or the fast pace of society. To be, just a house wife, just a mechanic, or just a clerk, can keep one humbled in sprite. While I may be more of the later, I admirer when I meet someone that lives a simple life and is fully content. The greatest people in my life were just these kinds of people.
God bless you.
Dear Bishop Baron,I'm touched by your story of your Tommy and the lessons we can learn from it. Thank you very much.😮
Your Uncle Tommy sounds beautifully human. You had a smile on your face the whole sermon. Lol. Sounds like there are some hysterical stories . Bless him for his service to our country, and God bless you.
If we are truly honest, we all are Uncle Tommy ( hard to love, understand, deal with etc… in some way to someone), so do not judge, just love.🙏🏻❤️God.s blessings of peace, joy & love to all🙌🏻! Thank you Bishop Barron for your gift of story telling - the great Theodrama of life which we play a part👍!
We are all Uncle Tommy. Right on the mark.
This is so well said. I know all families have differences of opinion and likes and dislikes. I have a family like this. But, when we are together, we laugh and reminisce. But my heart just breaks when there is anger and words and family members stop talking to each other. How can i keep my family at peace. I pray to God every day to save my family.
I was happy to meet your Uncle Tommy as you shared! Yes, I have grown with some quirky family members and to this day am continuing to love the family members that God has given me to love. Thank you for your honesty!!
What a wonderful story about your uncle, Bishop Barron. I too grew up in Chicagoland. It cracks me up that Tommy called you “just a priest.” We are called upon to love some quirky relatives. Families test not only our ability to love but to forgive 70 times seven!
Jesus did have an eccentric cousin; John the Baptist. As a Protestant we do not agree on alot of theology, but the point of your talk here resonates. Thank you for sharing about your uncle. May God Bless you and your family. I do hope you will be reunited with Tommy one day.
Thank you Dear Bishop for your wise words...... Thank you Dear Bishop for your wise words......
For "just a priest", you surely always do a great job. 😇
My uncle Joe was like your uncle Tommy in a way. No better human being on this earth. Especially loved by children and animals.
I learned so much from him.
I miss him every day.
Blessings to you, Bishop. 🙏🙏🙏
Well you may not have made monsignor in the next two weeks, but you've done okay. Uncle Tommy is certainly praying.
Thank you for sharing such a sweet story.
And also with you Bishop Baron, Peace be with you
Beautiful message. Spoke as if from God’s own heart.
My aunt is really similar story to uncle tommy. Had ptsd from a atrocious car accidentally in loving a train and her school bus. She sadly committed suicide last year. Thanks for your words, father.
The idea is to start by loving the people you've been given, your family. That's good practice. Then work out from the edge of that circle to the next circle around you, your friends or workmates. Then out from there, getting better at loving as you go.
PTSD... I hope all the WWII vets, combat ones especially, found a family like yours who made the effort to reach out and listen.
Thank you Bishop Barron my brother is Uncle Tommy
Beautiful lesson Bishop Barron. Very important for us to remember that we must learn to embrace all members of our family without any discrimination nor any misgivings and build our relationships with each one no matter how difficult or maybe not as honoured as others maybe.
Thanks Lord for the life of Bishop Barron, Please do not forget his Uncle Tommy and my uncle Tommy.
Excellent as always
I might be uncle Tommy to my nieces and nephews. God bless him me and us.
Thank you for this inspiring story. Not only love whom we like. Love those, God has given upon us.
Bishop Barron, your sermons, and your scripture commentaries, which I read daily, very often move me, sometimes to tears, as today. I think all families have an Uncle Tommy, or 2 or 3, probably on both sides, and in every generation, as mine. May God continue to richly bless you in this holy Season and in your ministry.
Lord please hold Uncle tommy close to You. Amen
My take on it is I’d sure hate to have been one of Jesus’ brothers… “all the time hearing the teacher compare their homework!! Lol… but seriously, you are lucky Bishop … my “uncle Tommy” lives in my head, I never had a family, I was cast out since I was 17, I eat and drink alone, but I get comfort from the silent wisdom of this kind uncle in my mind.
God Bless you, Bishop Barron.
Bishop Barron God Bless you and may uncle Tommy RIP.What a beautiful story.,
When I was a teenager there was a very disgruntled veteran of WWI he was a friend of my grandparents who explained to me that he was gassed in the war and was eligible for a pension. He never received it and this was the reason for his bitterness. He was chastised by many of my friends until I told them his story.
I humbly think that this is one of M. Baron's best sermons, thank you and God bless you
Thank you Bishop Barron for reminding me, through your marvellous true story telling that God has placed us in our families for the most important purpose; to love- not just who we like, or who we find the most easiest to get along with! Thank you once again and may God continue to bless you and bless us with these inspiring messages!!!
Wow! Some words reach deep in my heart. The uncle Tommy story brought a smile to my face as well as as sorrow. I remember the tilting point from my innocent enjoyment of my uncle Tommy to a kind of calculating distance mixed with a sense of superiority. Your sheer authentic love of your uncle Tommy, bishop Barron, cuts deep as it reveals how love is anything but calculating. I will pray for my uncle Tommy tonight and ask him forgiveness.
Levis Shalom
Thank you Bishop ❣ With God's help it is possible. 🙏
Nice reflection. I think what we might also reflect on is how those "difficult people" in our lives may have some heroic virtues that they never revealed to us. Maybe Uncle Tommy saved 8 men in his Battalion in the Battle of the Bulge. So, we may pat ourselves on the back at times for tolerating difficult people, but we often have no idea of their unrevealed, inner lives.
Wonderful comment that reminds us of what we don't know and yet judge.
Yay! Great Holy Family homily!
I love this. Thank you Bishop Barron.
I had a Great Aunt who always said, "You can choose your friends, but not your relatives" Happy Holy Family
Some people cut off family members.
UT was your gift. Don't forget it!
It's refreshing to hear that give a little insight to Bishop Barrens younger years.
Bishop Barron, Sharing your personal life journey I think is so effective for us lay person to hear. We are all on this together, sinners but if we allow the love of Christ in us it will channel that to others, unconditionally.
Thank you and Peace in Christ!
“Just a priest” Wow. I have no words
I ❤ uncle Tommy. Rest in Peace Tommy.
Thank you for your light and wisdom sermons. I always love to hear your messages.
Remember to love others as Christ has loved you especially the unlovable because remember you were unlovable when Christ first loved you. ❤️🙏
"What were the Virgin Mary's cousins like" I will always remember this. As an Irishman on both sides, I can relate deeply to this talk. Fr. baron never misses the mark. God bless Uncle Tommy.
They probably kept asking when she was going to have a second child and thought she's the weirdo in the family.
I feel bad for his uncle; the Bulge was a really bad time. In addition to the battle itself, it was one of the coldest winters on record in Europe and a lot of US troops had insufficient cold weather gear (I've heard stories about men stuffing newspaper into their boots just to try to insulate away frostbite and others freezing to death in their own foxholes). Add onto that widespread paranoia in light of rumors the Germans had sent English-speaking commandos behind US lines in captured uniforms, so a lot of men felt they couldn't even trust their own comrades. All this, for over a month (12.16.1944 -- 01.25.1945). I think I probably would've lost my mind after a few days.
Thank you, Bishop.
Ya, at the present time (today) to stumble on your Sermon of 2 years ago, there is no mistake.
A great challenge to love that someone...
I need prayers...
Jesus will do it in me if I let Him.
Thanks once again.
Love your sermon.
❤
A beautiful story!
Wow. And, it's Bishop Barron now. Uncle Tommy, pray for us!
Thank you Bishop Barron for your wonderful story of your uncle Tommy. My husband was Irish and a great storyteller. He passed away a couple years ago. Our 5 kids and myself miss him very much.
Thank you bishop for making me understand what I have ignored for so many years . Praise the Lord
Again a blessed message of love. Thank you Bishop for sharing uncle Tommy ❤️❤️❤️🙏
Amen
God bless my Aunt Katie. ❣️
I think it’s worth noting that sometimes we can love these family members from a distance, when those individuals have caused and do cause harm to us and our family. We love them, we pray for them, we forgive them.
Thank you, Bishop Barron. I enjoy listening to this episode and I’ve reflected it on myself. God bless!
Hilarious and very kind. Thank you, dear Bishop Barron.
Nice peep into Uncle Tommy's days☆ Compliments for your narration of the conversation in the car. He must be laughing loud. From heaven he prayed
*to get you out from being just a Priest!*
Thank you for sharing your Uncle Tommy!
Uncle Tommy probably interceded much in your behalf, Bishop Barron. You’re a bishop now! 😀
NO ONE ever defines love,it is to do and say the right thing, NOT emotion.
Thank you Bishop Barron 🙏 🙌 it's a challenge to love the hard ones....
The virtue of Charity, the virtue by which you love others and ourselves not for their sake, but for God's sake. Since God is the ultimate good, we must love God and since God loves us, we are obligated to love who God loves. I've found, in my limited practice of this virtue, that placing God as your foundation of love makes your love nigh-unshakeable.
Love the ones God has Given. Love your family. Perhaps, even if they can be difficult, remember to do it, at least for God's sake.
What a way to honour an uncle, this made me cry. Thanks BB
at a wonderful sermon, thank you and God bless you!at a wonderful sermon, thank you and God bless you!
I can better love the eccentric Uncle Tommy's in my life and family whenever I remember that I, in spite of my best efforts, or sometimes because of them, can at times be that challenging, eccentric, mixed-bag relative and neighbor. "Whoever is forgiven little loves little."
Thanks for your reflection Bishop Barron. I always think of this day as my 'baby brother Bill' was born to my 39 year mother on this day in 1957. He brought joy to all the family with his intelligence, love, humor and pragmatic acceptance of his pancreatic cancer which brought him to an early death in 2016. This birthday of my brother and the morning of the Holy Family together after Jesus came into Mary and Joseph's lives makes me happy. Merry Christ's Mass!!
Sometimes the smallest things in life are the simplest to do. Just Like clicking on this amazing videos and just saying HI! Lol
Everything’s perfect ❤️❤️❤️
Hello Dear, How you feeling today??
Hope everything is Ok with you over there 😊❤️
Thank you for reminding us to love our families no matter what shady characters they have.Please pray for us Bishop.Merry Christmas.
I loved hearing about your Uncle Tommy. We DO all have quirky family members and it's a great time to be thankful for them and love them.
Sometimes the smallest things in life are the simplest to do. Just Like clicking on this amazing videos and just saying HI! Lol
Everything’s perfect ❤️❤️❤️
Hello Dear, How you feeling today??
Hope everything is Ok with you over there 😊❤️
A few tears came down ...🙏
Happy Feast Of The Holiday Family. Bishop Barron
What a beautiful sermon! Thank you.