Numbers 6:22-27  | Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8  | Galatians 4:4-7  | Luke 2:16-21

Jeremy wants a PlayStation 5 Console for Christmas really badly, but the kid is a real bad seed, and he knows it. He writes a letter to Jesus. "Dear Jesus, if I get a PlayStation 5 for Christmas, I'll be good for a whole week." He thinks about it, crosses out what he wrote, and says, "I can't be good for a whole week, I'll be good for five days." He crosses that out and writes, "I'll be good for four days." Then he thinks again and says, "Can't do that." He gets down to one day and says, "I can't even be good for a day." Then in frustration, goes in his mother's room and get the statue of the Virgin Mary, wraps it up in a blanket, puts it in a paper bag, throws it in the closet and says, "Dear Jesus, if I don't get a PlayStation 5 Console for Christmas, you'll never see your mother again!

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Think about that for a moment: we call Mary the “Mother of God”. In 431 A.D., the Council of Ephesus taught that Mary is truly the Mother of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. This does not mean however that she is older than God or the source of her Son's divinity. She is the Mother of God because she carried in her womb a divine person, Jesus Christ, God "in the flesh" (2 John 7, cf. John 1:14). Our evangelical brothers and sisters will argue that there is only one mediator between God and man (cf. 1 Timothy 2:5). Yes, Catholics agree that there is only one Mediator with the Father — Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, we pray to Mary that she may intercede for us with her Divine Son. As an ancient adage admirably puts it, “Ad Jesum, Per Mariam”. To Jesus, through Mary. When we pray to Mary, we ask her to intercede with her Son for us. It sure helped at the wedding feast in Cana. Jesus told her it was not yet the time to begin his public life, and then did as she asked (cf. John 2:1-12). St. Teresa of Calcutta often shared, “If you ever feel distressed during your day — call upon our Lady — just say this simple prayer: Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now!" No excuses, no explanations, just bury yourself in her arms. A mother always has the best interest of her children at heart. Mary always desires to bring us to her son. Mary is indeed our own back door into Heaven!

Isaiah 9:1-6 | Psalm 96: 1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13 | Timothy 2:11-14 | Luke 2:1-14

​A Blessed and Merry Christmas to you brothers and sisters! 

2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8B-12, 14A, 16 | Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29 | Romans 16:25-27 | Luke 1:26-38

We are now on the fourth Sunday of Advent, and as the song goes, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! 

Isaiah 61:1-2A, 10-11 | Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54 | 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 | John 1:6-8, 19-28

​We are now very close to celebrating Christmas Day! The Third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin for “rejoice.” This Sunday is so named because today’s Mass begins with the antiphon from Philippians 4:4,5, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near.” As we light the rose candle on this Third Sunday of Advent, the church once again bids us to be joyful, insisting that we have every reason to rejoice.

​Second Sunday of Advent (B)

Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 | Psalm 85:9-10-11-12, 13-14 | 2 Peter 3:8-14 | Mark 1:1-8

​Isaiah 63:16B-17, 19B; 64:2-7 | Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 | 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 | Mark 13:33-37

Christmas time is here and once again we are all looking forward to it. Heavy traffic is back, along with overcrowded shopping areas, which are typical during the Christmas season. The radio airwaves are filled with Christmas songs both old and new. Prominently displaying an Advent wreath in the sanctuary makes the liturgical season of Advent appear to be the countdown to Christmas. However, there is nothing “Christmasy” about the readings for the First Sunday of Advent. Instead, the readings call us to direct our attention to the future, to Christ’s return or at least at the end of our personal time here on earth.  ​