On this last Sunday of Advent, Mary, the mother of Jesus, is presented as an example of one who believes in God’s promises and acts upon them. From birth until death, she was always a woman who listened to God’s will.

God permits the great mystery of our salvation and even asks for human cooperation in his divine plans. Each person has a role to play in God's plan of salvation. We must learn to wait and meet Christ in our openness to others.

The witness of John the Baptist helps us prepare for the Lord's coming. John's life proclaims that we must persevere in our recognition of Jesus as God's word among us. Even the announcement of John the Baptist's birth, a miraculous event that signaled the beginning of a new era, shows how Jesus enters our human history to give us a share in God's mission and help us prepare a way for the Lord.

As we embark on this new Liturgical year, we are filled with joy and anticipation. We will be reading passages from the Gospel of Luke.

This Sunday, we celebrate the last Sunday of the liturgical year. We recognize Jesus as King of the universe, ushering in God's earthly kingdom rooted in love, justice, and community. Unlike the kings of earth, Jesus shows us God's compassion.

As a community, we are swiftly approaching the end of the liturgical year. The scriptures reassure us that God is steadfastly close to his people. With collective courage and strength, we must await the Lord's arrival.

This Sunday, we hear of the widow who contributed a small coin, which was probably all she had to survive on. We are called to be for others as God has been for us, giving and not counting the cost.

Jesus reminds us that our actions toward others show our love for God. We are on a transformative journey.

The scriptures of the 30th Sunday point us to the reality that being spiritually blind can seem worse than physical blindness for believers. With the eyes of faith, we can view the interior of our lives and the direction our lives are headed.

Jesus teaches that those who wish to be great must be servants of all. Service and sacrifice are not just part but the heart of discipleship.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, a rich man asks Jesus, “What must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus reminds us that eternal life in the kingdom of God is worth more than all our earthly possessions.

In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus uses the image of marriage to speak about the Kingdom of God. Just as marriage is a gift from God, so is the kingdom of God. We have a permanent connection with God.

Jesus reminds his disciples and us that the call we received is to bring people together even those who are not of our “group.” Moses’ disciples struggled with this as well when they wanted to stop others who were not of their group speaking in God’s name. Moses answered them, "Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!"

Jesus’ disciples argued about who would be first in God’s kingdom. He reminded them that the one who is a servant of all will be considered the first. Discipleship is about service, not status or honor.

Saint Peter proclaims Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do people say that he is?" Puzzled by the question, they responded with various answers.

Today's Scriptures remind us to "be open" to God's power to heal and say to frightened hearts, "God comes to save us. We need you, Lord."

Today’s Gospel reminds us to be “doers of the Word and not just hearers.” Christians are called to be active in the world. Each one of us is a missionary disciple who, through our Baptism, is the presence of Christ, bringing joy and hope to each other.

Jesus, in His role as the Bread of Life, has been sharing His teachings with us. While many found His words challenging and chose to depart, Jesus turned to His disciples and offered them a choice. Their response, filled with reassurance, was, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of everlasting life.”

In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus had to tell the people that he was the bread sent by God. Jesus, the bread given for the life of the world, unites us with Him as He is one with God.

Jesus says again, "I am the bread of life." He promises eternal life through this bread, which is given for the life of the world. He gives us himself as food, leading us to the promise of eternal life.