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This next Wednesday, we celebrate the Feast of the appari- tions of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In our parish we have been pre- paring ourselves to celebrate this feast with a novena.

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Happy New Year to everyone! This greeting might seem a little odd at first, but it is actually very appropriate as we begin a new liturgical year. The Solemnity of Christ the King ended the liturgical year and today, December 2nd, marks the beginning of Advent and the new year.

Let us ask the Lord that we might be able to be thankful for what we have and always express our gratitude to the Lord.

As the liturgical year draws to a close, the Church asks us to reflect on our behavior here and now, and the potential consequences we may experience in the next life.

This coming week, the bishops of the United States will be gathering in Baltimore Maryland, to discuss how to respond to the recent reports of sexual abuse by clergy bishops and subsequent cover up by some bishops. This is a horribly difficult time in the Church. It is painful for victims. It is the cause for shame among all priests, and it is a source of discouragement for young people considering service to the Church as a priest or consecrated religious.

The Annual Catholic Appeal: This is the time when we prayerfully consider how we will support the ministry of the Catholic Church in central Washington. That ministry includes formation of our seminarians, retirement funds to support our senior priests, youth ministry, prison ministry and so much more.

This weekend gospel focuses our attention on blindness. The reality is that all of us are blind in one way or another. Many times things like insecurity, greed, fear, arrogance, or even prejudice can limit our sight. These things can keep us in darkness. They hide the truth.

From my trip to Mexico here is a concrete example of the admonition of Jesus in today’s gospel: “Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.”

Without a doubt each one of us wants to be saved and enjoy eternal life. We try to do as many good things as possible to go to heaven, but realize many times how difficult it is to do good. In the gospel this weekend we find a tool that can help us on our way to eternal life with God in heaven. This tool is simply called, “generosity.”

This weekend we have our annual festival with good food, dances, a raffle, singing and fellowship. I am so glad that there is a time for everything.

We would like thank our Deacon Bill Dronen for his dedication and loving service as a Shepherd of God's flock. Congratulations on your 33rd Anniversary of permanent Diaconate. May God reward you with many blessings. Thank you Deacon.

Jesus gives some radical advice in today’s gospel. He proclaims, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”  This advice is radically different than the dominant values in our culture. It is also difficult to live out, even for Christians.

Jesus poses an important question in today’s gospel. He asks his disciples, “who do you say that I am?” Except for Saint Peter, the disciples do not know how to answer the question. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Saint Peter is able to answer that he is the Christ.

Jesus, of course, comes to save us. As we call to mind our own impediments and deficiencies, let us be open to the power of healing which Jesus wants to give to us. Jesus call us to “be opened!” which means opening our hearts and spiritual ears to the ways in which Jesus is speaking to us.

The point which Jesus is making is that our focus should be on our “insides” which is to say our souls. Externals do not matter. Instead, we are to strive for integrity, honesty, genuine compassion, and a clean heart. Sin undermines these virtues and defiles the body.

When faced with controversy, we can leave the Lord and his Church but then where do we go? This is exactly what Peter struggled with when he said to Jesus, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."

Let us pray, therefore, for open hearts and minds to the teaching of Jesus. May our own love, devotion and reverence for the Blessed Sacrament inspire others to seek this important truth of our faith.

This coming Wednesday, August 15th, we will have the opportunity to celebrate the patroness of our parish---Our Lady of the Assumption.

To this end, Jesus reminds his followers that the bread which Moses gave to them was temporary. It only satisfied them temporarily. In contrast, he desires to feed them with the true Bread from Heaven. Eating this Bread means they will never hunger again. The Jews are excited about this possibility and say to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”