First Sunday of Advent--November 30, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
 

Today, we begin a new Liturgical Year (Church Year). The Liturgical Year is in three cycles – A, B, and C. Each year covers a particular Gospel. Year A focuses on the Gospel of Matthew, which we begin today and concludes on December 24th. Year B focuses on the Gospel of Mark. Year C focuses on the Gospel of Luke, which we just concluded last Sunday. Following the life of Jesus gives shape to our year. This is demonstrated through the different seasons. Each year we begin with the Season of Advent which is the anticipation and the announcement of the coming birth of Jesus. The Season of Christmas is about the birth and the early life of Jesus. Christmas begins with the vigil Mass on Christmas Eve and concludes with the Baptism of Jesus on January 11th. After the Christmas Season we have 5 weeks of Ordinary Time which is about the public ministry of Jesus. On February 18th we begin the Season of Lent which takes us into the Passion and Death of Jesus. On April 4th, with the Celebration of the Easter Vigil, we begin the Easter Season – The Resurrection, Ascension and the Sending of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the life of the Church - which last for 50 days. On May 25th we continue with the Ordinary Season of the Year which will take us to November 28th of 2026. Today, we begin Year Cycle A, during which most Sundays of the year the Gospel will be taken from Saint Matthew. The Gospel of Saint Matthew was the first of the four Gospels to be written. He wrote in Antioch to a mixed population of Greek-speaking Gentiles and Jews. With such a mixed congregation there was much tension. His Gospel answers the question how obedience to the will of God is to be expressed by those who live after the death and resurrection of Jesus. This Season of Advent is marked by the Liturgical color Purple and on the third Sunday of Advent, Rose. Purple is a penitential color, thus a call to repentance and conversion to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. The Rose color is for Joy. We rejoice as we begin the second half of Advent because the birthday of Jesus and His final coming is all the more nearer. Also, we refrain from singing the “Gloria” during these 4 Sundays as we wait for the night that the Angels sang it for the first time

announcing the Birth of the Savior on Christmas Eve. The Church calls us to simplicity during the Season of Advent in style of music and in decoration. On the third Sunday of Advent along with the 2 celebrations of the Blessed Virgin Mary that lead us to the third Sunday we add flowers to the decorations. The Season of Advent has a two-fold purpose – prepare for the annual celebration of the birth of Jesus in time and the preparation of his second coming in Glory. Our Old Testament readings during these 4 weeks call our attention to the long foretold and long awaited coming of the Messiah, while the New Testament readings call our attention to the awaited second coming in Glory. Our Gospel readings will be two-fold, preparing for the end time and the coming in Glory the first two Sundays and the telling of the coming birth of Jesus. As we live this Advent Season let us not get lost in Christmas to fast, but rather, let us prepare not only our homes, but our hearts for Jesus in the here and now and for the life to come.

Happy Advent to All,

Fr. Steven Guitron