Pastor's Message - November 29/30, 2025
My Dear Friends in Christ,
I trust you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, surrounded by loved ones and filled with gratitude.
I spent mine driving along Highway 1, taking in the breathtaking colors of Autumn before
joining my family. It was truly a day to marvel at God's creation, and I thanked Him for the
beauty around me. Indeed, God is an artist, delighting us with the vibrant colors of the season.
GOD IS SOMEONE WHO LOVES COLORS!
Last Sunday, we celebrated the Solemnity of Christ the King— a feast that invites us to place
Christ at the very center of our lives. His kingship is not one of distance or dominance, but of
love. His reign is one that dwells within us, shaping our hearts and guiding our actions. Christ,
our King, offers us the wellspring of truth, and through Him, we are promised a hope that
looks toward a better tomorrow.
As we enter this season of Advent, we are reminded of the profound hope that it brings. Hope
for a world transformed by the coming of the Messiah, a hope rooted in God's promise to be
with us and to guide us toward His Kingdom.
This Sunday, we begin the new liturgical year with the start of Advent. The word "Advent"
comes from the Latin adventus, meaning the arrival of an emperor in a town under his rule. It
is a season of waiting and preparation—not only for the celebration of Christ's first coming at
Christmas but also for His glorious return at the end of time. As we hear in today's Gospel
from Luke, we are called to "be vigilant at all times, and pray for the strength to face the trials
ahead, so that we may stand before the Son of Man."
The General Instructions of the Roman Missal remind us that Advent serves a twofold pur-
pose: first, to prepare our hearts to celebrate Christ’s first coming, and second, to renew our
longing for His second coming, when He will make all things new.
Advent can be a difficult season to embrace fully. The rush of Christmas preparations often
overshadows the quiet reflection and waiting that this season calls for. But Advent is a time for
active preparation—not just through shopping or decorating, but by reflecting deeply on the
true meaning of Christ’s coming into the world.
There are two kinds of waiting. Passive waiting is when we simply wait for time to pass—
waiting for a holiday, a vacation, or a visit from a friend. But Advent calls us to active waiting,
a time of personal transformation. It is a season to examine our hearts. Are there any attitudes
or behaviors that hinder us from receiving Christ fully? Do we hold onto grudges? Is there
pride, envy, or anger that needs to be released?
This is the time for a spiritual housecleaning, a time to make room for Jesus in our hearts. Just
as we prepare our homes for guests during the holidays, so must we prepare our hearts to re-
ceive the child Jesus.
I recall a conversation I had with a man who was eagerly awaiting the birth of his first child.
He shared how this joyful anticipation inspired him to make significant changes in his life. He
promised to stop gambling, to drink less, and to become a better husband and father. This
kind of transformation, this desire for renewal—is exactly what Advent invites us to experi-
ence. We are called to prepare for the Holy Child by opening our hearts to change.
Let us not miss this moment of grace. It is easy to get caught up in the external preparations
for Christmas, but the most important preparation is the one that happens within us. Advent
invites us to humility, openness, and prayer. As the psalmist reminds us, "No one who waits
for Him will ever be put to shame."
May this Advent season be a time of deep reflection and joyful anticipation. As St. Paul re-
minds us, "You know the time; it is now the hour to awake from sleep. For our salvation is
nearer now than when we first believed."
May the peace and joy of Christ fill your hearts this Advent.
Your Servant in Christ,
Fr. Geoffrey
