Blessings to you on this First Sunday of Advent and all through this marvelous season of hope and expectation! These three and a half weeks invite us to reflect deeply on the unfolding of God’s plan that ultimately led to the “advent” (the arrival, the coming) of Jesus. That is God’s plan for you and me, for our redemption, for our ultimate fulfillment.

Advent is like a symphony with multiple movements. We reflect upon and celebrate the past coming of Christ, born among us in Bethlehem so many centuries ago. We reflect not only on that mysterious, magnificent moment of Christ’s birth, but also on the centuries of preparation for the coming, culminating in Mary’s “fiat” (her “yes”) to the Angel Gabriel accepting her vocation to be the Mother of God. But Advent is not simply about the past; this season moves us as well to the future, the “advent” that lies ahead when Christ will return in glory with the fullness of salvation. That first coming inaugurated a new age directed toward this ultimate fulfillment of the second coming. The first “advent” only reaches its completion with this “advent to come.”

Yet while Advent symphony has us look both to the past and the future, it also moves us to recognize the sacredness of the present moment. “Now is the acceptable time, now is the age of salvation” as St. Paul tells us (2 Corinthians 6:2). “The Reign of God is at hand” as both John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-3) and Jesus tell us (Mark 1:15; Matthew 4:17). And so, Advent is a time of wonder, of gratitude, and of anticipation. It is a sacred time in which we are called to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:3). Christ comes to us each and every day.

Traditionally, the weeks of Advent have a special focus. The first week of Advent emphasizes hope (the other three weeks emphasize peace, joy and love). This focus on hope is particularly relevant this year as we will enter a Holy Year with the theme Pilgrims of Hope. Below is a prayer for hope that is designed to be used in personal or family prayer throughout the first week of Advent as you light the first candle of your Avent wreaths:

    --Today we light the first candle of Advent, the candle of Hope [light candle]. We put our hope in the one to come, the promised one who comes from God to bring good news of salvation. We hope in the one who will lead us to walk in the light of the Lord. We hope he will not let us live in dark valleys, but on the high mountain of God. We light this candle in Hope. On this day, we remember to hopefully look for the coming of Christ. (from Liturgy Link)--

Advent also begins the Church’s new liturgical year. This year we will use the Cycle C readings of the Lectionary, and most of those readings will be taken from the Gospel according to St. Luke. Let me suggest that during this season of Advent, you make it a point to read the entire Gospel of Luke. You might aim to do a chapter a day, which will allow you to complete the twenty-four chapters during Advent. Luke’s is a gospel of hope and joy, a gospel that emphasizes the compassion of our God, and especially God’s tender loving care for the poor and lowly. Prayerful reflection on Luke’s Gospel will definitely nourish your spirits.

Jesus, the long-awaited Emmanuel, may we take advantage of these days of Advent and prepare your way in our hearts. Holy Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, may we live as you lived, with a heart open to God’s grace and a willing ness to put yourself at God’s service.

​Father Craig 

 
I am grateful to Father Enrique for his bulletin messages over the last two weeks during my absence.  Following up his message from last Sunday, we conclude our observance of National Vocations Awareness Week by welcoming to our parish a number of people from various religious institutes who will be speaking at our Masses.  Please join me in welcoming our speakers.   
 
God does indeed have a call for each and every one of us.  The first and foundational vocation, of course, is our baptis
mal vocation to be disciples of Jesus Christ and to share in his mission.  Every other vocation is rooted in this baptismal calling to friendship with our Lord.  When we are truly aware of our identity and dignity as children of God and sisters and brothers of Jesus, then we will be eager to accept the more individualized calls which God presents to each of us. My own calling to priesthood only makes sense upon that basis of my appreciation that Jesus is my Lord and Savior, that he loves me and sacrificed his life for me.   
 
I am so grateful that God called me to the vocation of being a priest.  This calling is a precious one that has been full of surprises and blessings as well as plenty of challenges.  I love being a priest, find great joy and satisfaction priestly ministry.  Just as with every other vocation, there are bad days as well as good, there are sorrows as well as joys.  But my 46 years as a priest have been so fulfilling.  As I mentioned to some of the school children speaking with them about vocations in this past week, serving as a priest has not simply been rewarding but truly fun.  Serving as a priest has also been inspirational as I have been privileged to journey with so many people on our pilgrimages of faith.  Please continue to pray for me and all priests, that we live our vocations faithfully, and please pray for an increase in the number of vocations to the priesthood.   
 
Whatever our specific vocations – and most of us here at OLPH have already discovered and are living those vocations – I hope that none of us ever lose sight of the reality that God has given us that calling as a means of our sanctification and fulfillment.  And God has not only called us to those vocations but walks with us as we live them out.  May we always pray for God’s help in living out our calling and finding genuine fulfillment in them. 
 
Last weekend we celebrated the great feasts of All Saint and All Souls.  We extend those celebrations throughout November which is a month dedicated to prayer for the faithful departed.  As is our custom here at OLPH, from All Saints Day until the feast of Christ the King, we post the names of the people whose funerals were celebrated in our parish over the last twelve months.  I invite you to walk up and down the aisles, peruse those names, and offer prayer that each and every one will pass through the purification of purgatory to the fullness of joy at the banquet of heavenly glory.  Some of those names will be familiar to you, others will be names you have never encountered.  Each is a brother or sister in Christ.  And as we pray for the deceased, we know well that someday we will face the moment of our own death.  Since we have that vocation of being disciples of Jesus, we need never fear death.  So let us pray for ourselves as well, that we will live well and be prepared for that inevitable moment when the Lord calls us to our final vocation – the perfect fulfillment of the beatific vision, of eternal union with Him.   
 
Jesus, thank you for your vocation as our Lord and Savior.  Holy Mary, who said “yes” to God’s call for your role in the plan of salvation, “pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.”   
 
Father Craig

  In the Gospel of Mark, the narrative of Jesus and Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52) is a profound encounter that reveals essential themes of faith, healing, and discipleship. Bartimaeus, a blind beggar sitting by the roadside, represents not only the marginalized of society but also those who seek healing and redemption. His story invites us to reflect on our own spiritual blindness and the ways we may encounter Christ in our lives.

  As Jesus and his disciples approach Jericho, Bartimaeus hears that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. In a moment of desperation and hope, he begins to cry out, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me." His cry is an act of faith that transcends his physical blindness. He recognizes Jesus not merely as a wandering teacher but as the Messiah, the one who can restore sight and dignity. This recognition is significant; it speaks to the pow er of faith to see beyond our circumstances. 

  Bartimaeus faces opposition from the crowd, who tell him to be silent. Yet, undeterred, he shouts all the more. This moment highlights the challenge of perseverance in faith. In our own lives, we may encounter voices that discourage us from reaching out to God. Yet, Bartimaeus teaches us the importance of persistently seeking Jesus, regardless of the obstacles that may arise. His willingness to call out, even when told to be qui et, illustrates the urgency of his need and the depth of his faith.

  When Jesus calls Bartimaeus, he responds by throwing aside his cloak, springing up, and coming to Jesus. The act of discarding his cloak symbolizes leaving behind his old life of begging and despair. It is a rad ical act of trust—he is willing to risk everything for the chance of healing and transformation. This calls us to consider what we might need to shed in our own lives to fully embrace the call of Christ. Are there burdens we cling to that prevent us from moving forward in faith?

  Upon reaching Jesus, Bartimaeus is asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" This question is both simple and profound. Bartimaeus responds, "Master, I want to see." His request reveals a deep longing not just for physical sight but for a fuller understanding of life and faith. Jesus, moved by his faith, declares, "Go your way; your faith has saved you." In that moment, Bartimaeus receives his sight, but more importantly, he is re stored to community and purpose. He then follows Jesus on the way, becoming a disciple.

​  Ultimately, the encounter between Jesus and Bartimaeus is a beautiful illustration of grace—how Jesus meets us in our brokenness, restores us, and calls us to follow Him. May we, like Bartimaeus, have the cour age to cry out, the faith to seek healing, and the willingness to follow Jesus on our own paths of discipleship.