The reading from Isaiah is paired with the Gospel because Matthew sees the prophecy fulfilled in Jesus' revelation of Himself in Galilee. During this time, the kingdom of Israel was divided into two (2): the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Both, unfortunately, were in a state of decadence and destruction. So, when the Assyrians, the dominant empire of the time, expanded to their southern borders, they invaded the northern tribes of Israel, and the land of Zebulun and Naphtali was the first to be destroyed and to experience darkness. These two tribes of Galilee were once allotted to the two Sons of Jacob and part of the twelve tribes of Israel.

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John the Evangelist masterfully weaves the theme of the Lamb of God throughout his Gospel and the book of Revelation. In his writings, Jesus is presented as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world - a deeply meaningful title, rooted in the sacrificial traditions of the Old Testament. The image of the lamb, innocent and unblemished, already carried powerful symbolism for the Jewish people. In the Temple liturgy, an innocent lamb was sacrificed as a burnt offering, emphasizing the victim's innocence and the totality of the offering. This act of sacrifice provided a vivid foreshadowing of the Savior: The Lamb of God.

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A call from my cousin in Michigan brought back a flood of memories. She asked if I could baptize their first grandchild - a request that fills me with both honor and nostalgia. Just last year, I celebrated the marriage of my niece, and now, their first child, a boy, has arrived. I remember the days in the Philippines, cuddling my nieces and nephews. Time flies: they're grown, some now in the US, and my cousins turn to me for weddings - and, now, baptisms.

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In the Gospel, the Magi from the East, tasked by King Herod to seek the newborn Jesus, found themselves transformed by their encounter with Him. They came, they saw, and they were conquered - not by power, but by the humble presence of the Child Jesus. Their journey did not end at the manger; instead, it marked a new beginning. Choosing not to return to Herod, they went home "by another way," symbolizing a break from their old paths and a commitment to a new vision and mission.

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From the moment their children are born, many parents already dream of their future. Grandparents and godparents eagerly share stories, predicting who the child will become. Yet all these dreams ultimately rest on the foundation of the home - a place where a child must grow strong, gain God's wisdom, and learn to live as a true child of God.

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When Joseph learns of Mary's conception, his first instinct is to protect. He loves Mary enough to shield her from shame, even at the cost of his own hopes. Yet it is precisely in that moment of uncertainty that God enters-not with thunder, but with a dream.

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Leaders come and go. Elected political leaders serve a term and literally have to court voters from where their mandate comes. In some dioceses, church leaders, Priests or Pastors, after the period of their assignment expires, are re-assigned to another parish - they also come and go. Whatever the length of the tenure of office, there is a saying: one period is too short for a good leader and too long for a bad one. There are many examples of leaders holding on to their positions and power and not wanting to relinquish them - until the ugly side of power manifests. Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely. When this happens, the people the leaders wish to serve are the most affected and become victims of tyranny. Herod the Great and his successors have all succumbed to the folly of too much power.

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One of the responsibilities entrusted to me during my four years as Associate Pastor at St. Theresa in Phoenix was overseeing the Marriage Preparation. Each year, there was always at least one couple who hesitated when asked to participate. They would question the need for preparation: Why prepare for marriage when we already love each other and have known each other for so long?

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ADVENT is the four-week season dedicated to the reflective preparation of the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ at Christmas and His return in the Second Coming. Liturgically, it has two focuses: 1.) The Second Coming at the end time (the first two weeks of Advent), 2.) The First Coming at Christmas (readings on the final days of Advent). Thus, the readings of the Gospels invite us to stay awake and be ready, for the Lord's coming will be unexpected. And this mystery of His Second Coming is only known to the Father. So, when Jesus was asked, He replied: "About that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Mt 24:36).

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Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. This feast always invites us to look at the true Kingship of Christ, not one of domination, but one of mercy, patience, and relentless love. Our hero is the repentant thief; let us also have the posture of a remorseful heart, aware of our frailties, yet drawn back again and again by the goodness of our Lord and King. And this is precisely the mystery we celebrate, the Lord's reign not by crushing the unfaithful, but by welcoming the humble and contrite heart.

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The historian Josephus agrees with the people about the beauty of the Temple in Jerusalem. He writes: No one except Herod the Great adorned it better - that made the Jews proud of their Temple. The massive white stones made it appear (from a distance) like a mountain covered by snow. Gold covers the facade of the sanctuary, and the entrance is adorned with golden vines for votive offerings; gifts of golden grape clusters dedicated to God draped it.

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The Feast marks a pivotal moment for the universal church. It frames the archbasilica as the cathedral of Rome and the mother church that shapes how Catholics worship today.

Consecrated in AD 324, this unique basilica honors Christ the Savior and the twin patrons John the Baptist and John Evangelist. It holds the papal cathedra and bears the inscription naming it “Mother and Head of All Churches in Rome and in the World.”

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All Souls' Day is the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed. Jesus tells his disciples in the Gospel that He will raise them on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life (John 6:37-40). Meaning, He is the resurrection and the life. He fulfills this revelation through the promise of eternal life. Everyone who believes in Him will not perish but will have new life on the last day.

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