Dear Parishioners,

This Sunday is the second to last Sunday of our liturgical year. As we approach the end of the Church year, our Gospel invites us to consider Jesus’ predictions and teaching about the end of the world. In the context of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ words about this are spoken to his disciples as he prepares them for his passion and death.
            
Before we consider Jesus’ words, it is important to note the political backdrop against which many think Mark’s Gospel was written. Most scholars concur that Mark wrote his Gospel for Christians living in or near Rome about 30 to 40 years after the death of Jesus. This was a time of political turmoil in Rome. Christians experienced persecution by the Romans during the reign of the emperor Nero (about 64 A.D.). Jewish revolutionaries rebelled against the Romans, which led the Romans to destroy the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. In this time of political turmoil and persecution, many in Mark’s community might have wondered if the end times predicted by Jesus were, in fact, quite near. In today’s Gospel, Jesus continues this teaching by offering his disciples signs to look for that will indicate that the coming of the Son of Man is near. His words and images draw upon Old Testament imagery, especially images found in the Book of Daniel. Next, Jesus offers the lesson of the fig tree, a parable that teaches that if one knows how to read the signs, one can be prepared for the end times. Jesus also teaches, however, that no one knows when the end time will come, except the Father. In the verses that follow this reading in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus continues to warn his disciples to be on watch for this end time.

Jesus’ words are not spoken to frighten his disciples, nor should they frighten us. Rather, they are offered to prepare us for the changes we will experience during our lifetimes and at the end times. Our consolation and hope is found in Jesus’ words of love.

Congratulations to C.J. and Martha [Riley] Nye whose daughter, Lola will be baptized next Saturday at our 4 p.m. liturgy. We pray that this beautiful child will always know the love and support of her family and our church community.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  There will be a Mass at St. Mary's church at 9 a.m.
We did very well with this year's HARVEST DINNER!  We made $3,007 on the dinners and $251 on the raffle proceeds for a grand total of $3,258.  Many thanks to all who helped with the dinner and those who came to enjoy the evening.

Our thanks to Boy Scout troops 85 and 79 who helped to collect food for our thanksgiving and Christmas baskets for the needy.    A total of 890 items were collected.  Thank you to our Scout troops!

Many thanks. God Bless You,  Fr. Paul J. Alciati