Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ, Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord a feast that reveals something essential about who God is and how God chooses to work in the world. The Gospel presents us with the Magi: seekers from a distant land, outsiders to Israel, scholars who studied the heavens and followed a star they could not fully explain. They were not kings of power or people of privilege in Jerusalem. They were watchful hearts, attentive minds, and open souls. And to them God chose to reveal the birth of His Son. That alone tells us something important about God.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, A blessed and joy-filled Christmas to you and to all those you love. Each year, as the Church gathers around the manger, we celebrate the deepest truth of our faith: God sent His Son into the world because He loves us—completely, personally, and without hesitation. Jesus is God’s answer to a world longing for hope. He is the Father’s response to every human heart searching for peace, healing, and meaning. The birth of Jesus is God’s way of saying, “You are not alone. I am with you.”

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, This Fourth Sunday of Advent brings us right to the edge of Christmas. In today’s Gospel, the Church gives us a quiet but powerful moment, the story of Joseph, a man who planned an ordinary life but found himself face-to-face with the extraordinary. Joseph discovers Mary is with child. Confused, hurt, and uncertain, he begins to step back quietly, trying to do the right thing. But God interrupts his plan. An angel speaks into Joseph’s fear and says: “Do not be afraid… for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” And then, we hear one simple name: Emmanuel — God is with us.

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, This weekend, the Church invites us into one of the most beautiful moments of the Advent season—Gaudete Sunday, the Sunday of JOY. We light the rose candle, a color that surprises us right in the midst of Advent’s deeper purple tones. And maybe this year it surprises us even more, because we may not feel very joyful in the busyness of Advent.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As we enter the Second Week of Advent, and as I prepare to celebrate the Children’s Mass this weekend, my heart turns toward the unfolding story of how God chose to enter our world, quietly, humbly, and through people who said yes to Him. Advent invites us not only to prepare for Christmas, but to remember the astonishing way God chose to come close to us.