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This day has been traditionally called Gaudete Sunday, or Rejoice Sunday, marked by the contrasting rose candle on the Advent wreath and vestments. The fulfillment of Christmas is near and today’s readings revel in it with phrases like these: Shout for joy, Sing joyfully, Rejoice in the Lord always!

The time of year is upon us where the days become shorter and colder as the warmth of summer becomes a faded memory. Advent arrives just in time! We are invited to embrace the dark and quiet, steadfast in the knowledge that the light will surely come.

We begin the new Liturgical Year in the Church on this First Sunday of Advent. Here we are, four Sundays before Christmas, and we enter into a season packed with prayer and reconciliation services, concerts, feasts, rehearsals and Masses.

A big thing in life is where you are from. We say “your accent betrays you.” Sometimes we judge totally on where people are from. Pilate was the same with Jesus. With all he knew of him and heard, the miracles and the speeches — where are you from? Are you a king really? What sort is your kingdom?

Even in our darkest hour, the Lord does not abandon us. He watches over us night and day. In today’s reading, Jesus speaks of being our guard for we do not know the day or the hour when we will be called to Him. This could certainly cause some degree of anxiety. Like any anxious reader disciple, it’s often not enough to know what and where, but also when. At times, we all feel like the child in the back of the car, repeatedly demanding to know Are we there yet?

Our Gospel from Mark deals with wealth issues. One such issue regards spiritual wealth in those who think that they are more important than everyone else. In verses 38-40, Jesus specifically denounces the scribes. In the Gospel writer’s estimation they are self-important, arrogant, and self aggrandizing.

There is no greater love than to give up one’s life for others. Jesus proved what He meant by His own life and death. He insists that love of God and love of people are one and inseparable.

Some observe that we live in a time of chaos. Chaos causes insecurity. When humans create chaos, they find there is power in producing fear.

n today’s Gospel, James and John make their “it’s all about me” request to Jesus for the prime place of honor in heaven. When the other apostles were indignant, Jesus invites them to a deeper path of radical service. As members of the community of believers, how do we respond to those who ask for a privileged role?

The Gospel story begins with a wealthy man running eagerly to Jesus and kneeling before Him in humility and submission. However, when Jesus asked the wealthy man to give up that which stood between him and full discipleship, the man was unable to do so.

The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary. Our Holy Father has asked that we all encourage our Clergy and Faithful to pray the Rosary to protect The Church from the devil’s attacks in these troubled times of crisis.

In the Gospel reading this Sunday, the disciples try to prevent a man from driving out demons in Jesus’ name because “he does not follow us.” But Jesus teaches them that even those who are not part of the inner circle can lead others to him, for “whoever is not against us is for us.”

Jesus chides His disciples on the journey to Capernaum, learning that they were discussing who was the greatest. This is a popular argument among adults. We probably do this more than we should.

An important aspect of our shared journey in faith is one’s identity, established by our name. When we greet someone or vice versa, we generally use that person’s name. This brings us into a personal relationship with that person. If we don’t know the person, we usually ask them what their name is so that we again bring it to a personal level. Did you know that there is another name that we inherited?

How do you expect the Lord Jesus to treat you when you ask for his help? Do you approach with fear and doubt, or with faith and confidence? Jesus never turned anyone aside who approached him with sincerity and trust.

Jesus teaches that we are not defiled by the food we eat, but rather by the sin that emerges from our words and actions. As we continue to pray for healing in our Church, we listen to the Lord’s words which profoundly resonate with us.

Jesus told His disciples that His words were “spirit and life” (John6:63) — His words came from the heavenly Father who is the Author of life and the One who breathes His Spirit into those who believe in Him.

We try to be an inviting and welcoming parish community. We know that in the Old Testament, God was very inviting. God extended many invitations to feasts (Isaiah 25:6-12) as the feast of life to come. We feasted on manna in the wilderness and ate bread and fish with thousands of people on the hillside and we come to know Jesus in the “bread come down from heaven” as we continue with the Bread of Life Discourse in the Gospel.

Sometimes we all feel like Elijah. We see and hear the terrible things that are going on in the Church. We sense that the challenges of our jobs and lives are uphill battles. We feel the frustration, anger, and bitterness. We imagine our journey to be desert-like when we become fed-up, tired and weary. We are tempted to say, “This is enough, O Lord!” just as Elijah did.

A promise is a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen. This Sunday’s Scriptures remind us that God keeps promises.