Our Lady Queen of Peace

   After a year of recalling and celebrating Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and seeking to grow as Jesus’ followers through the Sunday Masses, we come to the end of the liturgical year and renew our loyalty to Christ the King.  We profess that he is Lord of our life.  And how do we live as subjects of the King?  The gospel this weekend, Matthew 25:31-46 sums it all up.  It all comes down to serving others, especially in serving the least of our brothers and sisters.  The last two weekends we heard of the foolish bridesmaids and their lack of preparation and the servants who did and those who did not invest their master’s talents.  The context of these readings was preparing for the coming of Christ and the end time.  This weekend tells us very clearly that how we prepare for his coming and what he expects of us to gain everlasting life is serving others. 
 
   We paused this past week to give thanks as a nation we celebrated Thanksgiving Day.  As a church we look back at the year and give thanks to God for the blessings of the year and how we have grown in faith.  Now we step out into a new liturgical year with the mission of using our gifts and talents in service of others.  How is God calling you to make a difference in someone’s life through the gifts and abilities he has given you?  Will this coming year be different in how you step out of your comfort zone to become more involved in the life of the parish or local community?  Although we have great volunteers who have done so much for the parish, I have been seeing a decline in people willing to get involved.  This is making it more and more difficult to maintain the ministries that we offer here in the parish.  Be attentive to the Holy Spirit in your life and see if you are being called to become more involved by sharing the talents, the resources and the time that God has given you.
 
   This week, Thursday, November 30^th we begin nine consecutive nights of Night Prayer.  The prayer of the Church which is being prayed in the diocese in nine different parishes is a short (15 minutes) but impactful prayer to end the day.  I would encourage you to come at least one of the nights to see for yourself or challenge yourself to come every night.  Bring a friend or family member.  
 
   NEW LITURGICAL YEAR:  Next Sunday, December 3^rd is the First Sunday of Advent and the beginning of the Church’s Liturgical year.  The color is purple, and the tone of the readings will be on preparing and longing for the coming of Christ as well as preparations to celebrate his first coming as a baby.  It has been called the peaceful season as well as a season of hope.  Which among the business of preparation for Christmas we could all use some peacefulness.   The readings for Masses during this new Liturgical Year come from Cycle B in the Lectionary.  This is the year of the Gospel of Mark which will be read throughout the year except during Christmas/Lent/Easter and break during the summer where the Bread of Life Discourse from John’s Gospel will be read.  The Gospel of Mark is the shortest gospel, and I would encourage you to read it in the coming weeks. 
 
         --Fr John          
 
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