This week we hear about Jesus as he is in the desert and fasts for forty days and is tempted by the devil. Jesus stays faithful and He chooses what is right. This is a reminder that Lent is a time to turn away from sin and follow Jesus more closely. Try to picture what the world would be like if Adam and Eve did not give in when Eve was tempted in the Garden of Eden. Man brought about sin, but another man, Jesus, brings us life. Through Jesus we are made right with God again and gives us hope. Lent is a season for change, to say no to things that pull us away from God. We need to trust, to pray and to begin again during Lent.

This week we are asked to think about our choices. God gives us the freedom to choose between good and evil. He doesn't force us. God gave us the commandments, not to burden us, but to guide us to make the right choices. We hear this Sunday, that Jesus didn't come to get rid of the law for the Jews but instead to have the people learn its full meaning. Jesus tells us that it is not just by our actions that we gain the entrance to heaven, but that we need to be honest, to be pure, to let go of anger, and to speak with truth. Anger can be just as harmful as violence, and impure thoughts can lead a person away from God. We need to live with self-control and be guided toward holiness with love as its center. We are reminded by Saint Paul that God has good things planned for those who love Him.

Our faith is not something we should keep hidden. This week we hear Jesus say that we should be like salt and light. These are simple items, but they help us understand what it means to be followers of Christ. This Sunday we read that we should help others, we should care for the poor, we should be kind and trust in God. We need to point ourselves to Jesus and live in a way that points others to God. Our faith must show in our actions not just in our words. By serving and helping others we reflect God's love.

Have you looked through your high school yearbook lately? Did you look at the fashions such as haircuts, clothes, jewelry that were the coolest thing in their time? They might seem a little silly today, but everyone thought they were the things to wear or have. If you wanted to be cool and fit in, you wore whatever was the rage like big hair, or bowl cuts, from leisure suits to poodle skirts because the reality is, when we were young, one of our greatest desires was just to fit in.

This week we are reminded that God brings light into darkness that He does not leave us alone but is near even in hard times. Isaiah tells us about a people who once lived in gloom but now see light. Jesus begins preaching and calling his first followers and He brings light to Galilee, a place people often forgot about. Jesus tells them to turn their lives around and follow him and His message is simple but clear: the kingdom of heaven is close. Saint Paul tells us to stop fighting and focus on Jesus because we belong to Christ and not to any group or leader.

This Sunday we hear that God calls people for a purpose. Isaiah, a servant, and a faithful person listens and obeys God. We also hear how John the Baptist points to Jesus while calling Him the Lamb of God. Each person has a part in God's plan. John the Baptist sees the Spirit come down on Jesus. He tells everyone that Jesus is the Son of God. This moment shows us who Jesus is and why he came. God chose him, and now he is ready to bring light and life to others. Paul also reminds the people in Corinth that they are holy and called and this message is for us too.

The Baptism of the Lord reminds us of who Jesus is and what He came to do. He walks into the Jordan River, not because He needs to, but to show us the way. This moment tells us that Jesus is ready to serve. He stands with us, not above us. As He comes out of the water, something amazing happens. The Holy Spirit comes down like a dove. God speaks from heaven and calls Jesus His beloved Son. This is the first clear sign that Jesus is sent by God to bring peace and healing.

Today we celebrate The Epiphany of Our Lord, and it is a feast that celebrates Jesus being made known to the world. It remembers the visit of the magi, also called wise men, who traveled from far away to find the newborn King. They followed a star that led them to Jesus. This story reminds us that Jesus came for all people. The magi were not Jewish, but they were still welcomed. They brought gifts and knelt before Jesus. This shows that anyone who seeks the truth can come to Him.

Reflecting on the Feast of The Holy Family should encourage us to look at our own family relationships with faith and humility. It invites us to honor each other, show compassion, and trust in God's plan. By embracing these values, we can build stronger, more loving families rooted in faith and respect. Today we honor Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as a model of faith and love. We are reminded, that Jesus lived in a real family.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent brings us very close to Christmas. Most people by now have purchased Christmas gifts for loved ones and parents are planning to place gifts for their children under the tree to watch the joy as they open them. Most of us have planned Christmas Dinner, know where it will be hosted and know what outfit we will wear. One thing remains clear: we are celebrating our love, presence, and the bond of relationship we share with one another, which has been made possible by the story of God's presence among us.

The Third Sunday of Advent is also called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete means "rejoice." This Sunday reminds us that even while we wait, we can be joyful. Advent is a time of hope and preparation. But this week, we pause to smile, sing, and take heart. The readings for this weekend are full of life. Isaiah tells us the desert will bloom. James encourages us to wait with patience. Jesus reminds us of the signs that God's kingdom is near. In these readings there is strength to those who are tired or uncertain.This Sunday we are pointed towards joy. Not because everything is perfect, but because Jesus is near. His coming brings healing, justice, and peace.

The Second Sunday of Advent leads us to something new. John the Baptist tells the people to repent, to turn around, to get ready because someone greater than he is coming. This greater person will bring the Holy Spirit and fire. We are reminded that real faith shows not so much in our words but in our actions and that we must bear good fruit. We hear about a branch growing from Jesse's stump and this is a sign of hope that shows us God is doing something fresh. Scripture should give us hope because God is faithful in what He promises us and that all people are part of His plan.