We begin the Lenten season on Ash Wednesday, February 22nd . The annual observance of Lent is a special season for the ascent to the holy mountain of Easter. Though its twofold theme of repentance and baptism, the season of Lent disposes both the catechumens and the faithful to celebrate the paschal mystery. Catechumens are led to the Sacraments of Initiation by means of the rite of election, the scrutinies, and catechesis. This year we have one young man who will receive the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil. Tavin Jackson, a seventhgrade student at St. Peter School will be fully initiated in the Roman Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil.

As we enter the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time, we are invited to hear from Jesus the Teacher, as He speaks to us from the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus the Teacher has gone up the mountain and sat down, and His disciples have gathered around Him. We too are the disciples of Jesus the Teacher, and we have gathered here to be with Him. As we listen to the Gospel today, let us take this opportunity to be enlightened by the teachings of Jesus. Remember He said, “He has come not to abolish the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them.”

We continue t hear Jesus speak to the crowds and us today from the Sermon on the Mount. Today He tells the crowd and us that “ You are the Light of the world.” Jesus wants us to shine that light for everyone to see. Jesus Himself is the light who shone through the darkness from the very moment He was born. Now He challenges His disciples to be that light—the light of Christ—for others. We are given that same challenge. May we be conscious of receiving the Lord today in the Word and the Eucharist, so that we may go forth to shine the Light of Christ, transforming the darkness around us.

This week, January 29th through February 4th is Catholic Schools Week. The theme this year is “Catholic Schools: Faith, Excellence, Service.” The theme reflects the core tenets of Catholic education. Our schools are supported through prayer, and by sharing our time, talent, and treasure.

Today, we celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God, recognizing the centrality of God’s word in the life of the Church. On September 30, 2019, the memorial of St. Jerome, Pope Francis announced that the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time would be celebrated as the Sunday of the Word of God. I invite and encourage everyone to take a few minutes today to begin reading the Bible.

I extend a very warm welcome to the Msgr. Jean Eyraud Knights of Columbus Council # 2436 as they will celebrate their 100th Anniversary on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at the 5:00 P.M. Vigil Mass. The Knights of Columbus was established in St. Peter’s Parish exactly 100 years ago on January 14, 1923. I welcome all members of Council # 2436 and their wives or special guests. Also in attendance will be members of the Knights of Columbus from the National Office as well as the State Office. After the Mass, a banquet for the Knights and their invited guests will take place in the Msgr. Eyraud Knights of Columbus Home. Congratulations on this momentous occasion.

The Christmas season officially ends tomorrow, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Epiphany. Today’s feast illuminates God’s particular revelations for the good of all. God chose one nation, the people of Israel, to be a light for all peoples. God revealed Jesus as king to the Magi. The bright star in the sky drew the Magi from their distant kingdom to see the newborn King and offer Him their treasures. We were drawn here today by our King, Christ the Lord, and we offer Him our treasure—our hearts, our hopes, and our lives. As God continues to touch and bless each of us, let us consider how His light may shine through us to others.

​​​​​​​HAPPY NEW YEAR! As we begin the new year, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. This feast of Mary has an interesting history that dates back as far as the fifth (5 th ) century. The liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council restored the original Roman practice of beginning the new year in honor of Mary.

Merry Christmas! With great longing, we have been preparing our hearts and our homes for this day. As the Scripture tells us, “Today is born our Savior— Christ the Lord!” As we gather with family and friends, let us remember the reason we celebrate Christmas: The Word became flesh and dwells among us! His name is Jesus. He is Emmanuel a name which means ‘God-with-us!’” In the midst of darkness and sadness, the world rejoices because Jesus our Savior has been born for us!

We are now only a week away from the day when we celebrate the Lord’s coming in the Incarnation. We have a full week of the Fourth week of Advent. In Jesus—Emmanuel—God is with us, as we are reminded in today’s readings. For thousands of years, a waiting world yearned for this momentous event. Now we know that God’s actual, physical presence in the world has been realized. Amid all the hustle and bustle of these final days before Christmas, let us not overlook his greatest gift of all—the birth of Jesus: Emmanuel: God -with-us.

Today, the Third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday. The word “Gaudete” means rejoice. On this day we rejoice with all the earth in anticipation and preparation for Jesus’ birth and the coming of His kingdom. We, like John the Baptist, are blessed and included in the kingdom of heaven, not because of what we do but what Jesus did for us.

​​​​​​​Today, we hear the familiar reading from the eleventh chapter of the Prophet Isaiah with its enchanting imagery of the peaceable kingdom. The first half of the reading describes qualities of the ideal future king of Israel. In the second half, we are given a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven is perfect.

Today, we begin a new liturgical year as we begin the season of Advent. We are invited to reflect on the entire Christian journey of faith to its end goal. On the First Sunday of Advent in all three lectionary cycles, the Gospel focuses on the Parousia, when the “Son of Man will come” (Matthew 24: 44). In Year A, (the one we begin today) Saint Matthew’s Gospel emphasizes how this moment will happen during ordinary things of daily life—eating, drinking, marrying, working, etc. The Advent season is a two-fold character, for it is a time of preparation for the Solemnities of Christmas, in which the First Coming of the Son of God to humanity is remembered, and likewise a time when, by remembrance of this, minds and hearts are led to look forward to Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time. For these two reasons, Advent is a period of devout and expectant delight. (Universal Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, # 39).

Today, is the last Sunday in Ordinary Time and we celebrate it with the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Leaders of nations come and go. The world mourned the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and the end of her seventy-year reign. Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, is ruler over all people both now and forever. The idea to celebrate this feast was born out of a growing nationalism and secularism one hundred years ago. The world had just lived through the horrors of four years of war unprecedented in its spread over the whole world. This led to Pope Pius IX instituting the feast of Christ the King in 1925. Today we recognize Christ’s preeminence and pray for the day when peace and goodwill forever overcome war and aggression.

Life is described as a journey with an ultimate destination. As we near the end of the liturgical year, we are invited to reflect on the last things—death, judgment, heaven, and hell. We do so not in fear, but in hope, for while this earthly life might end, the promise of life eternal shines brightly in Christ.

Today’s Scripture Readings show difficult situations, whether physical in the first reading or moral in the Gospel. In each setting, the Scripture lifts our sights to what is most important. We are the children of God, and our strength is in the Lord. This is what truly matters in the world, no matter what we might face.

In the Gospel, Zacchaeus was not looking for a miracle; he just wanted to see Jesus. When Jesus called him, he came down quickly with great joy. When Jesus calls us, do we come quickly, or do we hesitate? Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist. As Zacchaeus did, we ought to receive Him with great joy. For Zacchaeus received and was changed by the encounter. We, too, are meant to be transformed, for the sake of the world.

Today is World Mission Sunday. Pope Francis reminds us that in Baptism we are all called by the Lord to be His missionaries: “You shall be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). Joining Catholics worldwide this Sunday, we offer our prayers and financial support, through the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, to the Pope’s missions. Your prayers are most treasured, and they, along with financial support offered today, WORLD MISSION SUNDAY, answer Christ’s call to be His witnesses.