It is important that we realize the significance of today’s feast. We end the season of Christmas with the Lord’s baptism by John, an act which marks the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. With his baptism he officially begins the work he was sent by the Father to accomplish.

I would like to take this occasion to thank you all for your generosity in our Christmas collection. The sacrifices that were so evident in your contributions are appreciated by me, as your pastor, and are certainly not unnoticed by God. This is one of the most important collections of the year, and so I want you to be sure that your generosity is not only appreciated but very necessary for the upkeep of our parish.

Scripture tells us practically nothing about the first years and the boyhood of the Child Jesus. All we know are the facts of their sojourn in Egypt, their return to Nazareth, and the incidents that occurred when the twelve-year-old boy accompanied his parents to Jerusalem.

As Christian people, it is important that we keep things in perspective. Maybe the COVID pandemic, economic difficulties, social unrest, and the lack of peace that we continue to face, along with the multiple other crosses with which we are confronted, as a Church and as a society, can serve as a reminder to us of what is important.

We celebrate this weekend the Third Sunday of Advent, traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday, which literally means “Rejoice.” This is taken from the first line of the Introit, or Entrance Chant, of the Mass for this Sunday: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again, rejoice!” 

Our Advent journey continues as we celebrate this second Sunday of the season, with the figure of John the Baptist reminding us to “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Let us Pray for peace in our country, and, at this moment, especially in our city.  Lord, have mercy on us!

  I am filled with so much joy in welcoming you all back to church! Our church building, as beautiful as it is, has been so empty, in every way, without all of you, and the fact that we are able to gather once again to celebrate the Eucharistic Liturgy and the sacraments is certainly cause for us to rejoice and thank God.