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If we keep in mind what hope truly is, I think we will see how the Holy Family exemplifies the enduring and authentic hope that is essential to the Christian vocation of marriage and family life.

What we do hope for is that, like the shepherds, we will be amazed, like the angels, we will worship in spirit and truth, like the stars, we will shine with the radiance of Christ, and like Mary, we will carefully preserve this great mystery in our hearts.

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.