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Reflecting on St. Joseph’s singular role in God’s plan of salvation, we easily find parallels with Bl. Michael’s vocation as a priest, and his unique role as the founder of the Knights of Columbus.

Pointing to the Lord’s presence, being an instrument of his presence, helping those he serves to respond with obedient faith to the Lord’s presence – these are the principal responsibilities of your good and loving pastor, Father Kim.

When we are asked to do what is humanly impossible, it is Gabriel standing before us. God communicates with us through the things we find most challenging and difficult.

So perhaps what we need for the balance of Advent is a simple little formula for welcoming the Lord, a few simple bywords we can refer to at will . . . so here they are: Let us welcome the Lord with open hearts, open minds, and open arms.

This is the joy of Gaudete Sunday: that nothing in our lives, not our worst instinct, not our gravest sin, not our most secret thought —nothing is outside the purview of the Redeemer’s healing love, and the Lord never grows tired of working with us and in us.

Juan Diego’s encounter with Mary speaks to us, nearly 500 years later. Mary’s tender words to Juan give us confidence amid the storms of life.

Perhaps that is how we should think of tonight’s feast of the Immaculate Conception: the dawning of salvation amid the night of sin and death.

The newly renovated church is a metaphor of our Advent journey. Like our reading from Isaiah, it is a link to times past, indeed, to the original church built on land that once belonged to Charles Carroll.

May you enter into candidacy with hearts filled with expectant hope and jubilant praise, for the Lord who comes into our midst every day of our lives ready to accomplish in us and through us more than we could ever ask or imagine.

In taking this step towards the diaconate, you seek to answer Jesus’ prayer for laborers for the harvest. An acolyte, “akalouthos”, is a follower of Jesus Christ, a disciple, and a co-worker with him in the vineyard.

When we are doers, not talkers, when we build on solid rock, we experience over time a growth in intimacy with the Lord, a greater sense of communion with his Church, and a greater affinity with the poor with whom Jesus identifies.