Second Sunday of Advent

Dear Parishioners,

I am very excited to welcome you all to the Rectory this Saturday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm for an Advent Open House!  There will be refreshments and food, but please feel free to bring what you like!  If you are interested in helping me decorate, please email or text me. 😊

“Whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4).  Disciples of Christ are called to Hope.  A hope rooted in Faith in Jesus Christ, His resurrection (which we share in through baptism), the promises of salvation, and eternal life!  Advent is a time of Hope!  Everything God promises comes to fulfillment.  The preparations are complete, and now is the time.  One of those key preparations was our Blessed Mother’s Immaculate Conception in the womb of her mother, Ann.  The Immaculate Conception refers to the belief that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was conceived without original sin.  This special grace prepared her to be a pure vessel for the Incarnation of Christ.  Mary's Immaculate Conception is a sign of hope for all humanity, symbolizing God's grace and His plan for our redemption.

Advent calls us to reflect on this hope, reminding us that, through Christ, we too can be renewed and cleansed from sin. Just as Mary's immaculate state was a precursor to the birth of our Savior, so too is Advent a time to prepare our hearts for receiving Christ anew.  Mary's role in this plan shows us the beauty of God's work in salvation history. Her "yes" to God's call at the Annunciation set in motion the fulfillment of God's promise to send a Savior. In the same way, our "yes" to God, especially during the Advent season, can bring us closer to the hope and joy of Christ's presence in our lives.

What steps can you take this Advent to prepare your heart more fully for the coming of Christ?

In Christ,

Fr. Luke Fleck