Here, today in 2024, we are still faithfully reading the scriptures and sift- ing through the teachings which give us our identity as the children of God. In 2024 we are still devoted to the faithful preaching Gospel of Jesus Christ and praying for his return in glory.

It’s Christmas time. No doubt you’ll get a few Christmas cards with traditional depictions of the Child Jesus, Joseph and his Mother Mary—the history of our Savior according to Matthew and Luke, as illustrated by St. Francis. But John from the very beginning took a different approach. He bears witness to the meaning of Jesus’ entrance into our world.

November: one month to go. It’s countdown time; countdown to Thanksgiving, countdown to Black Friday, countdown to Christmas. The first Sunday in November celebrates All Saints’and we get an extra hour of sleep on November 5. That’s all well and good, but it also signals to pastors that there is three weeks until the Feast of Christ the King.