November 26, 2023, 12:00 PM

On this Feast of Christ the King we celebrate the Lord of the Universe. We look forward to the Advent Season and a theme of Hope that our Savior will come again. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Hope is the theological (from God) virtue (habit to do good) by which we desire and expect from God both eternal life and the grace we need to attain it (CCC #1817). We desire Heaven as our happiness. Through Hope we persevere to the end of this life with the desire to obtain the joy of eternal life in Heaven. Advent is a time to prepare ourselves for Christ's return in glory. So, for Advent, each Deacon’s Corner will preview the next Sunday’s Readings with the Hope that you will read and reflect on them before Mass. In next Sunday’s First Reading from Isaiah the people acknowledge their sinful ways and Hope that God will reveal Himself to them. Isaiah gives the people Hope when he pleads to God to continue to bless them despite their sins. St. Paul gives us Hope when he says we are specially favored by God who has sent His Son as our Savior. He reminds us that God is faithful and will continue to sustain us until the day of salvation. Our Hope is truly in the Name of the Lord. In Mark’s Gospel Jesus tells us that just as a servant watching over the master’s house does not know when he will return, we do not know when Jesus will come again. The Gospel rouses us from worldly sleep to always be on guard, to be filled with Hope. Will Jesus find us awake? I Hope so! Now you know!