Today we celebrate the baptism of the Lord as we can hear in the first reading how God the Father presents us with his beloved Son in whom he is pleased, but he also reminds us that it is through Jesus that salvation will come to all of us, yes, through baptism Jesus helps his chosen people by sharing that baptism to reincorporate us to God the Father. Later, Peter shows us how Jesus shares this salvation without distinction to all nations, whoever they may be, since we are all children of God.

Today we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord, the revelation of God to all peoples and as we already know that the wise men represent precisely the nations of the world, they had the privilege of knowing how to distinguish a star different from the others that would guide them to God born in a manger.

The Feast of the Holy Family highlights the profound mystery of family life as exemplified by Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. This occasion invites reflection on the sanctity and importance of familial relationships, encouraging us to model our own families after their example of love, respect, and unity. As we gather in worship, we are reminded to cherish our families, nurture our bonds, and recognize the blessings and challenges that come with family life. This feast serves not only as a celebration of the Holy Family but also as a call to enrich our own families with faith, compassion, and understanding, fostering environments where love can thrive.

Happy Advent! This season of waiting and preparation is just what we need in order to joyfully welcome the Lord at Christmas. In Holy Scripture we hear of - “a just shoot” - a tender shoot sprouting, rising, promising new life. Jesus is the true “just shoot.” In the midst of all the busyness, we are invited to embrace a sense of peaceful waiting and joyful expectation during the season of Advent. We are called to “prepare the way of the Lord” deep within our hearts.

This weekend is Gaudete Sunday; meaning Joy! The prophet Zephaniah of the 7th Century B.C. exhorts Israel to rejoice, to be glad for her King is with her to defend her from misfortune and fear. The hardships Israel endured was the consequence of her own waywardness by having strayed from ‘communion’ with the Lord. She was beaten down by rival nations and exiled from their homeland. Israel’s king is the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Joseph.

In the year 1995, in the seventeenth year of my life, when Fife Symington was governor of Arizona, Bill Clinton was president of the United States, Chuck Keiffer was pastor of St. Theresa parish in Phoenix, Arizona, and Ron and Mary were my parents, the word of God came to my youth minister Eric and through him I started to see the salvation of God. Soon, Christ came into my life never to leave. I’m thankful beyond words.

Today, is the First Sunday of Advent, which is also the first Sunday of the new liturgical year. The Advent season includes the four Sundays that precede Christmas. Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord. In this season, we recall two central elements of our faith: the final coming of the Lord in glory and the incarnation of the Lord in the birth of Jesus. The key themes of the Advent season are watchful waiting, preparation, and justice.

With modern technology that is all around us, everything becomes automatic and instant. I noticed that people nowadays can easily become impatient with little things. They cannot simply wait. This is what Advent teaches us – the value of waiting!