Advent is a time of New Beginnings, to turnover a New Leaf, to be renewed, blessed, and to change our hearts and minds to work for the good of all in Christ. Our Catholic Faith has some remarkable ways of growing spiritually, as this Advent we seek to put our hearts in motion. Yes, our hearts and minds must be in synch with Christ at all times, otherwise we lose our way very quickly.

The First Sunday of Advent is a time of waiting and hope. We look forward to Jesus coming again, and we remember His birth in Bethlehem. Advent reminds us to be ready, not just for Christmas, but for the day when Christ will return. It is a season to pray, watch, and live in the light of the Lord. This First Sunday begins the season of preparation for Christmas. During Advent, we focus on Jesus and try to set aside distractions. Though holiday activities can be busy, Advent reminds us to keep what matters most which is our faith and relationship with Christ, at the center. We are called to "walk in the light of the Lord" with hope through repentance and trust in God.

The Solemnity of Christ the King reminds us that Jesus is the true King. His rule is not about power or wealth. It is about love, mercy, and peace. He leads us by giving His life for us. This feast helps us see what real kingship means in God's eyes. We remember that Jesus is the head of all creation. Everything belongs to Him. Yet He chooses to care for us as a shepherd would care for his sheep. Today calls us to follow His way of kindness and service. This feast also gives us hope. Christ's kingdom is not broken or temporary. It is forever, and He invites us to be part of it. When we live in His love, we share in the joy of His kingdom, both now and in the life to come. The Solemnity of Christ the King reminds us that Jesus is a different kind of king.

The final day of the liturgical year is upon us. The Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe. This culmination of all the events surrounding our viewfinder of the liturgical year that leads us to realize more profoundly what it means to declare Christ the King of the Universe and to be his disciple. How can it be that the Church calls us to receiving Christ as king, when most of the kings depicted in sacred scripture were corrupted, diabolical, barbaric and not interested in giving away any semblance of power to a Deity. What is it about Christ as king, that he leads us with attributes of love, accountability, charity, forgiveness while being humbled, and a servant leader?

A November to Remember allows us to reflect and pray whole-heartily for the souls of the faithful departed. The Corporal Works of Mercy are a necessary part of living our faith practically in response to the Gospel. The Church teaches through these corporal works great compassion and Christ-like behavior.

The readings this Sunday encourage reflection. They ask people to think about justice, hard work, and staying strong in faith. These lessons are important in everyday life. Take some time to reflect on these messages. The readings teach us to be just, work hard, and stay faithful and through them we are remind that God's justice and rewards are certain, and we must survive trials with faith. God reminds us that He sees all and will bring justice. The first reading warns that the wicked will be punished, but those who honor God will be blessed.

Today the Church celebrates the dedication of the Basilica St. John Lateran in Rome as the church gifted to the Church by Constantine in 313 A.D. It was under the reign of Constantine as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, that Christianity under the universality of the Catholic Church became legalized and began to flourish. Today we honor the fact that this church becomes the cathedral Church of Rome where the Pope of the Universal Church is also the Bishop of Rome.

Did you know that we are God’s building and Jesus Christ is our foundation? That is what today’s readings tell us. If we do not build upon the foundation of Jesus with the bricks and tools that are from God, our construction of our relationship with God and with others will form cracks, it will weaken and even collapse. We are told that we are God’s temple because the Holy Spirit dwells in us because of our baptism. Sometimes the doors to our temples are closed because we close our hearts to others by denying them the opportunity to experience the Holy Spirit by not reaching out to them.

Many of us have questions about death and what happens after we die. We may feel unsure, afraid, or curious. The Church gives us hope through the promise of eternal life. All Souls Day is a time to remember those who have died and to pray for them. Love does not end with death. When we pray for the dead, we are showing love and trust in God’s mercy. We believe that our prayers can help those who have died. This is not just a nice idea. It is part of what we believe as Catholics. This practice goes back many centuries. It reminds us that we are still connected to our loved ones. Some people do not understand about purgatory, what it is or may have a wrong idea about it.

Dear St. Catherine Laboure Family,

Today we celebrate All Soul’s Day, as a way to commemorate the Faithful Departed. The Church has a long tradition of commemorating the dead, because one of the corporal works of mercy, and our Christian responsibility, is to bury the dead. We bury the dead by offering proper Christian burial that includes a funeral mass. And proper burial in a cemetery. Hopefully we had given the opportunity for the dying person to receive the final sacraments of the Church with Anointing of the Sick and Viaticum, Food for the Journey, by receiving the Eucharist.

The month of October allows us to move deep within this autumnal season. This time of year, is a necessary part of the spiritual life because it’s a season of renewal in that we are called to shed the old to make way for the new. How have we grown or matured in the spiritual life? How might we better identify with the cross of Christ and instead of wavering, actively embrace our cross each day? We are blessed to have somewhat of a sense of four seasons here in Chino Valley, as the night air begins to turn colder, and our morning sunrises are crisper. The change of seasons is also a signal for the changes we are moving through as well interiorly. St. Teresa of Avila speaks of the way to perfection, or the interior castle which reflects our soul.

This Sunday we hear that God listens to those who come to Him with sincere hearts and that He cares for the poor, the weak and those who depend on Him. Being proud and self-righteousness does not bring us closer to God, but a humble heart will sure do the trick. We have been hearing these past few weeks that we need to stay faithful even in hard times and this week’s readings stay with that same message. God knows that we need to hear something several times before we truly believe it. We are reminded that God sees the heart, and He listens to those who are humble and who cry out for justice. He does not turn away from the poor or the weak but instead, He cares for those who trust Him.

This Sunday is about prayer, faith, and trust in God. We are called to keep praying, even when life is difficult or when answers take time. God listens and cares for His people and we need to have Faith and trust that God will act at the right time, even when we do not understand why it sometimes take a while for his answer. We should ask our friends to pray for us and with us because we gain strength from others through encouragement. By reading Scripture and praying we gain wisdom and strength for daily life. Staying close to God, praying with patience, and relying on our faith community help us remain strong and hopeful. The readings this Sunday all share the same message and that is God is faithful, and we can depend on Him because God does not leave us alone.

Fervent praise and thanksgiving prevent us from ever losing our sights on God. Fervency is tough, because it requires consistency. Consistency is tough because it requires tenacity. Tenacity is tough because it requires commitment. This is what Jesus is asking, are you up for it? Jesus wants fervency. He wants a commitment. This is the message of breaking open the Word this week. Just like Jesus asked us recently in a Gospel a few Sundays back, “will you be my disciple” This is not just an “at whim” question, but is one that requires our contemplation, because Jesus is asking us for a commitment. It’s a radical decision to be His disciple. He does not want us to be wishy washy, fence-sitting, or lukewarm. He wants us to be faithful to him 24/7/365/52. That’s it.

This week we reflect on faith, healing, gratitude, and God’s mercy. God’s love reaches everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from. Faith means trusting Him even when life is difficult or confusing. His mercy is freely given, and He cares for all who turn to Him. This Sunday we are reminded to give thanks. Many people receive blessings but forget to thank God. Gratitude is a sign of true faith because it recognizes that every good gift comes from God. Living with faith and gratitude helps us notice God’s care in our lives and draws us closer to Him. Do you really notice how God has blessed you? Not with material things but through healing, mercy, and the gift of faith. People wake up, go to work, eat meals, and live their lives without thinking about where these gifts come from. It is easy to take blessings for granted. Our faith grows stronger when we trust God and give Him praise.

This week we are reminded about the importance of faith in everyday actions and the power of even the smallest acts of service. We are encouraged to recognize the gift of human life as a sign of hope and to defend life in all stages and circumstances and to understand that nothing can separate us from God’s love no matter what we might do. It is not enough to be a part of a parish family because for our faith to be alive we must share it with others through service. We should see the image of God in our neighbor no matter who they might be. We are encouraged to help those who refuse God’s love even during their difficult times. Phoenix, our state capital, should be a reminder to us. The phoenix is a mythical bird that, when newly hatched from the ashes, has little tender feathers and it can only leap rather than fly.

Oh, to have the faith of a mustard seed! That would be some incredible faith! Is it possible to muster up such faith in the midst of our doubt, fear, or lack of trust? All eyes are upon Erika Kirk these days, due to the death of her husband Charlie Kirk, some may have known her, while many have gotten to know of her because of that horrific day. Faith requires hardship, and in the face of hardship, we either can fold or have faith to move mountains. That was the display recently as Erika Kirk was dealt an unfair blow, that had changed her course indefinitely as wife, mother, and now as CEO.