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Dear friends, 

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We are two weeks away to the end of the liturgical year. As we approach the end of the Church year, our Gospel invites us to consider Jesus’ predictions and teachings about the end of the world. Last Sunday we heard Jesus’ observation about the contributions being made to the temple treasury and the example of sacrificial giving that he saw in the poor widow’s offering. When we read Mark’s Gospel continuously, we will hear Jesus predicting the destruction of the Temple, his teaching about the costs of discipleship, and the woes that will accompany the end times. We will also hear him instructing his disciples about the need for watchfulness so that they will not be caught unprepared for this final day of judgment. 

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In this weekend’s Gospel, Jesus’ words and images draw upon Old Testament imagery, especially images found in the Book of Daniel. Next, Jesus offers the lesson of the fig tree, a parable that teaches that if one knows how to read the signs, one can be prepared for the end times. Jesus also teaches however, that no one knows when the end time will come, except the Father, he continues to warn his disciples to be on watch for this end time. Jesus’ words are not spoken to frighten his disciples, nor should they frighten us. Rather, they are offered to prepare us for the changes we will experience during our lifetimes and at the end times. Our consolation and hope are found in the lasting nature of Jesus’ words and God’s never-ending love for us. 

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Friends, I would like to remind you all that on November 28th we will be offering our Thanksgiving Day Masses at 9am at both St. Patrick and St. Joan of Arc. Please come join us as we give thanks to God for His countless blessings to us. 

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Also, friends, during this time when we enter into Winter, we are called to support the needy in our community, some ways of doing so are supporting our Giving Tree, our canned goods food items collection, and our poor box collection. Please check our bulletins on more ways to help the needy in our communities. 

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May God Bless you always. 

Fr. Francis