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Today’s Word: First Sunday of Advent – November 30, 2025

Isaiah 2:1-5

Psalms 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Romans 13:11-14

Matthew 24:37-44

Today marks the First Sunday of Advent and is the beginning of a new liturgical year (Year A) in the Catholic Church. It focuses on the theme of hope and the call to stay awake and be prepared for the coming of the Lord. The readings encourage us to reflect on actively waiting for Christ’s arrival at Christmas. And not only that, but we also anticipate his promised return in glory. 

As mentioned, Advent is a time of preparation. It is the preparation of our minds and hearts to fully accept the Lord Jesus Christ at Christmas. Advent is an invitation to introspection and spiritual renewal. It encourages setting aside time for quiet and prayer, turning away from distractions, and seeking reconciliation with God and with others. Each week of the Advent season does represent something. Beginning with the first week is the theme of hope. It is followed by faith in the second week, joy in the third and finally peace in the fourth week.

This first week of Advent focuses on the theme of hope. It is symbolized by the first candle lit on the Advent Wreath. John’s Gospel says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that they might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17, The Great Adventure Bible, RSV – 2nd Catholic Edition). This is the hope we have in Jesus’ coming, that we are saved through him. The vision of Isaiah in the First Reading, offers hope amidst current global crises and personal anxieties. The reading speaks of a future time when all nations will walk in God’s light, and weapons of war will be transformed into tools for peace. 

In the second week, the focus turns to faith. It is when the second candle is lit, which reminds us of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, where Jesus would be born, as it is noted in Luke’s Gospel and in Chapter Five in the Book of Micah, which says, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” (Micah 5:2, , The Great Adventure Bible, RSV – 2nd Catholic Edition).

The third Sunday of Advent presents the theme of joy. The Prophet Isaiah says, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” and the people “rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest.” (Isaiah 9:2-3, The Great Adventure Bible, RSV – 2nd Catholic Edition). The third candle is lit, usually a rose-colored candle and puts the light of joy in our hearts that our Lord Jesus is near.

Lastly, the fourth Sunday of Advent brings peace. In Isaiah, Jesus is called the “‘Prince of Peace.’” (Isaiah 9:6, The Great Adventure Bible, RSV – 2nd Catholic Edition). Jesus came into the world to bring peace. This peace is the knowledge that we, as believers, have in the Lord that he is the Savior and Redeemer.

As a reminder, preparing for Jesus at Christmas can be difficult and challenging. Just as Jesus warns his disciples in the Gospel reading of Matthew to “stay awake” and “be prepared,” he is telling us to be diligent and be aware for his coming. Jesus does emphasize that the exact time of his return is unknown. So, therefore, the reflection here is on spiritual readiness, urging us to look beyond the superficial hustle and bustle of the holiday season and examine the state of our hearts to be prepared.

The First Sunday of Advent is a reminder that salvation is near and that we are called to be vigilant and active in our faith, ensuring our hearts and lives are prepared to welcome Christ whenever he comes. Therefore, Jesus has an urgent call to action for us. He does not want to passively sit by and wait. St. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, “Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light,” (Romans 13:12, The Great Adventure Bible, RSV – 2nd Catholic Edition). Paul further says in his letter to live honorably as children of light by putting on “the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 13:14, The Great Adventure Bible, RSV – 2nd Catholic Edition). This means actively working for justice and peace, embodying God’s love, and making the prophetic vision a lived experience in the here and now, rather than speculating on end times.

So, as I will leave you with this scripture, “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, The Great Adventure Bible – RSV – 2nd Catholic Edition)

Stay strong with your faith and try to persevere through all hardships. And always…ALWAYS…give thanks to God!

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Today’s Word: 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe) – November 23, 2025

2 Samuel 5:1-3

Psalms 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5

Colossians 1:12-20

Luke 23:35-43

The readings for November 23, 2025, in the Catholic Church celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. This also is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time. We are quickly approaching the new liturgical year with Advent just a week away and Christmas soon following. It will soon be a time of reflection and preparing ourselves for the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. The readings this week focus on Christ’s kingship as manifested through his death on the cross. The readings emphasize that Jesus’ kingship is one of service and salvation, not earthly power, and that his rule is established through his sacrifice, his love, and his ultimate victory over death on the cross.

The First Reading from the Second Book of Samuel talks about David’s anointing as King from the tribes of Israel at Hebron. They believe David will shepherd the people because the Lord said, “‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’” (2 Samuel 5:2, The Great Adventure Bible – RSV – 2nd Catholic Edition). It appears this reading foreshadows Jesus’ kingship, who is the true shepherd and king of his people.

In the New Testament Reading, St. Paul describes Christ as the image of the invisible God and through him all things were created. Paul writes, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the Church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” (Colosssians 1:17-18, The Great Adventure Bible – RSV – 2nd Catholic Edition). This powerful passage establishes Christ’s universal authority as the creator and sustainer of all things, both seen and unseen. It emphasizes that all creation is directed towards him, and his reign is ultimate and complete, because in him “we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:14, The Great Adventure Bible – RSV – 2nd Catholic Edition).

The Gospel from Luke today tells a little of the time of when Jesus was hanging on the cross. I will get to more of that in a moment. But first a quick look at the Psalm for today. As most of the Psalms are songs of praise and worship, giving glory to God. This Psalm is one that depicts the people, Israel, to go “to the house of the Lord!” (Psalm 122:1, The Great Adventure Bible – RSV – 2nd Catholic Edition), and offer praise and to “give thanks to the name of the Lord.” (Psalm 122: 4, The Great Adventure Bible – RSV – 2nd Catholic Edition). The Psalm seems to connect the Old Testament Reading from Samuel to the New Testament Readings, from David, a strong and wise king who was shepherd to the people of Israel, to Jesus, who is Shepherd and King to all people.

While Jesus was on the cross, he was ridiculed by the rulers and soldiers. However, Jeses receives a repentant confession from one of the criminals, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingly power,” and Jesus responds, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43, The Great Adventure Bible – RSV – 2nd Catholic Edition). This moment, I believe, is a poignant and pivotal moment where Christ’s kingship is most clearly revealed in its suffering and salvific nature. He is not a king of worldly power, but a king who saves others from the cross, and he welcomes a repentant sinner into his kingdom at the very moment of his death. I feel the reading asks us to consider our own response to Christ the King: Do we mock him or acknowledge him in our time of need?

We must ask ourselves that question. And the answer should be that we acknowledge Jesus as Christ the King, the Savior. He is our Redeemer. Just as the Psalm shows his people offering him praise, so shall we do likewise.

So, as I will leave you with this scripture, “O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name.” (Psalm 63:1, 4, The Great Adventure Bible – RSV – 2nd Catholic Edition).

Stay strong with your faith and try to persevere through all hardships. And always…ALWAYS…give thanks to God!

kellym40 faith

Today’s Word: 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (All Souls Day) – November 2, 2025

Wisdom 3:1-9

Psalms 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6

Romans 5:5-11

John 6:37-40

Today is the thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time. It is also the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day). Yesterday, Nov. 1, was All Saints Day. These days are typically celebrated where large Christian populations reside, like Europe, South America and the United States.

Speaking from a Catholic point of view, we recognize and honor the blessed holy ones (saints) who have gone before us. We recognize those that are known and unknown. For All Souls Day, it is a time where we honor and recognize all those (family, friends and so on) who have gone before us, and especially those souls that may still be in purgatory.

Therefore, the readings for today (All Souls Day) seem to emphasize hope in God’s mercy, the importance of prayer and love for all those who have departed before us, and the purification of those souls in purgatory before entering heaven. The key themes include the understanding that the souls of the just are in God’s peace, the belief in salvation through Christ’s sacrifice while still sinners, and the hope for resurrection for all the faithful departed. 

The souls of the just are in God’s care, as it says in the Book of Wisdom (the first reading) today, “But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them.” (Wisdom 3:1, The Great Adventure Bible – Revised Standard Version – 2nd Catholic Edition). We know this brings them peace as the passage continues. It says, “In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be an affliction, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace.” (Wisdom 3:2-3, The Great Adventure Bible – RSV – 2nd Catholic Edition). This appears to provide a sense of comfort and security, while pointing out that those who have died in God’s grace are not truly lost.

Jumping to the New Testament theme, the reading from Romans emphasizes the idea Christ died for us while we were still sinners, proving God’s love. “But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:8-10, The Great Adventure Bible – RSV – 2nd Catholic Edition). The passage further demonstrates that if God has already reconciled us through Christ’s death, we can have even greater confidence in being saved through His life.

Jesus speaks a promise to those listening that he is doing the “will of him who sent me.” (John 6:39, The Great Adventure Bible – RSV – 2nd Catholic Edition). The promise is that for everyone who “sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life;” (John 6:40, The Great Adventure Bible – RSV – 2nd Catholic Edition), and Jesus will raise them on the last day. This is the hope for resurrection.

Take time to pray for loved ones and all those departed from us. Lift them up in prayer. Pray for yourself as well. You, me, all of us are on a journey to sainthood and purification. Offer those petitions to the Lord this day, and every day.

So I believe this message is good for this week as well as last week. It always seems appropriate. So, as I will leave you with this scripture from Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, take heart in Paul’s words, where he writes, “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – RSV – 2nd Catholic Edition)

Stay strong with your faith and try to persevere through all hardships. And always…ALWAYS…give thanks to God!