I have been thinking a lot lately about hope.  The recent dramatic rescue of four Israeli hostages from Hamas has brought home the intolerable situation in the Middle East.  Humanly speaking, I could not imagine the pain of those families whose loved ones were abducted and kidnapped and being held as political pawns for leverage in negotiations.  How do they live from day to day? 

It seems, at first blush, that we must always choose God over everyone else, including our family.  When circumstances force us into making a choice, we must always give God our preference, even if it means I might have to disown or reject my flesh and blood. 

Deacon Pashley's homily from Corpus Christi Sunday.