On this feast of the Holy Family, we want to offer all families blessings. "Family" may have a lot of different connotations these days. In the United States, the "father, mother, child" family is less common now, and large Catholic families are not as common as they once were. The concept of family is more fluid with many forms of blended families due to second marriages, multi-generational households, and other living arrangements. In a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, 4 in 10 babies are born to single mothers. Other children are being raised by grandparents or foster parents.

"Where does God dwell?" is a question on the minds of many as we continue to adjust to the pandemic. David wanted to build an ornate swelling for the Ark of the Covenant, but God said, "No, that's not what I had in mind!" The reading from Romans teaches us that God is present in the Word, and in Luke's Gospel passage today, Jesus is residing in the womb of Mary. We know that Jesus is present in the assembly gathered, the Koininia, as well as within the Eucharistic species. But no matter how one experiences the presence of Jesus, these days are challenging. In many places, only limited numbers continue to be allowed in church, while others are only able to worship via live-stream. Non of the past answers to where God dwells really fit. We need to try and answer this with new eyes and ears and heart.

The readings this week bear a certain similarity to those of last week - we hear a prophecy from Isaiah that is reiterated by John the Baptist in Mark's Gospel - but today the focus is different. Last week John told us to repent. Today he is the light leading us to God. Today is know as "Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday," as the reading from First Thessalonians commands us to "Rejoice in the Lord always." We are to rejoice. Right now. Combined with last Sunday, this seems like a mixed message. "Which is it? Repenting or rejoicing?" But John is telling us that one leads to the other. As we prepare for the coming of our Savior we must first repent and then rejoice.

In 2020, we heard plenty of voices speaking out and sharing their opinions, but many of those words were not comforting or hope-filled. Sometimes, it was hard to know which expert or "instant expert" to listen to, and it is still difficult to hope as we struggle to regain our balance as a nation and as a Church. The Word of God offers us peace this day. 

With Advent we begin a new church year as we renew our preparations for the coming of Christ. The scriptures show a profound movement from despair in the first reading, as we feel the wrath of God's anger and a sense of being abandoned, to the responsorial psalm, which begs us to turn toward God, and the second reading where we see a glimmer of hope. Brimstone returns in the Gospel.

Dear San Francisco de Asis Parishioners,

For the past couple of years I have been spiritually moved by the Companions of Christ, a community of diocesan priests in Denver, Colorado who are committed to a common life of prayer, fraternity, and a rule of life inspired by the evangelical counsels of obedience, chastity, and poverty. After consultation with Bishop Olmsted and other priests and seminarians from the diocese, we believe there is a potential calling from the Lord to establish a community like the Companions of Christ within the Diocese of Phoenix, and the bishop has given me his blessing to take a sabbatical (from January through May of 2021) to live with the Companions of Christ in Denver, so as to experience their way of life and further discern the possibility of establishing a similar community within the diocese. In addition, while living with the Companions of Christ, I have been invited by St. John Vianney Seminary to assist with the spiritual formation of seminarians for the spring semester.

As we celebrate the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, many of the traditional hymns and images for the day are joyful and triumphal. For some, these connotations may be perceived as negative. In these days when there are strong divisions within the Church, and when some government leaders are so far away from the people, we need to hear all of today's scriptures, and draw a bigger, fuller picture of Christ as servant king. In Ezekiel, we see God as both the tender, loving shepherd and the one who will judge at the Second Coming. This ties in with Matthew's Gospel and separation of sheep and goats and "whatsoever you do." We pray Psalm 23 with great familiarity and hope. First Corinthians carefully explains to us the order in which all will happen. This is not an evil dictatorship, or a power-hungry leader, but the culmination of a plan that was carefully laid out in love.

Paul Harvey was a popular radio broadcaster with a daily program during which he would relate a historical anecdote, but it would have a twist at the end, and then he would intone "and now you know the rest of the story." Our scriptures today are like that. We await the coming Christ as the readings describe for us how to be good servants, but they give us a limited picture. The famous Proverbs passage, "The Valiant Wife" is edited down from the full selection (31: 10-31) to just a few verses. Take a couple moments to explore the fuller selection. Psalm 128 proclaims, "Blessed are those who fear the Lord," but in this context "fear" doesn't mean dread and trepidation. Rather, this kind of fear means "to show awe" and there are wonderful promises made to those who do. The letter to the Thessalonians continues the call to be alert, and Matthew shows us various ways that people might respond to God in the parable of the talents. The Gospel is presented in long and shortened versions, be sure to read the whole thing so you can get "the rest of the story."

I was born and raised in the Southwest and lived in Oklahoma, Texas, California,and Arizona by the time I was in fourth grade. I grew up in a Catholichome where my parents lived their faith simply and steadfastly. I am thethird of four children where my sister is the oldest and I am the middle ofthree boys. I definitely experienced my family as the first school of lovejust as the Church documents teach.

Dear Parishioners,

As time moves on and restrictions implemented to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus are still in place, we find ourselves in a dilemma. While it is advantageous to keep the church doors, windows, and air intake system open during Mass to allow for increased ventilation, the colder weather, wind, and upcoming snow will make it more difficult to maintain the church temperature at a healthy level.

Today we celebrate a glorious family reunion, the solemn feast that gives us a glimpse of all our brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone home to God before us. When we quiet ourselves to hear the Word of God today, we recall the mystery of our salvation. We praise the Lord who saves our loved ones who have died and who promises to have mercy on us as well. The reading from Revelation amazes us with its sweeping images of countless souls basking in God's glory. The Responsorial Psalm echoes our own longing to join those saints and look on the face of God. Saint John's letter affirms our deep desire to be with God, providing robust advice about how we may realize our hope: by living purely. The familiar words of Matthew's Beatitudes show the way to purity - and to genuine happiness, now and forever.