Beloved in Christ,

​"Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come" (Mk 13:33). Two words from Jesus' admonition to his disciples capture the meaning of the season of Advent: "watchful" and "time." The word "advent" is derived from the Latin "adventus," which means "coming." It is a liturgical season marked by watchfulness, alertness, and vigilance for the coming of the Lord. Advent invites us to be awake to the Lord's presence among us, not just in the past but today. The Lord has come. He will come again. We look back to when he came over two thousand years ago, at Christmas. We also look forward to his Parousia, his coming in the future at a time we do not know. What is the clarion call at this time? "Be watchful! Be alert!"
 
To keep watch is to be attentive to the moment, to devote ourselves to the life of holiness in our daily living. Prophet Isaiah says this clearly in the following words addressed to God: "Would that you might meet us doing right, that we were mindful of you in our ways!" (Is 64:4). Advent as an in-between time helps us focus on what is most important- Jesus, and his Lordship over us at every moment of our life. Advent is the time to focus on spiritual preparation for Jesus. We must strive not to conform to the secular spirit of worries and anxieties over decorations and shopping for gifts (though they are essential, they have their proper time). Ecclesiastes wrote, "There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens" (3:1). Advent is primarily a time of preparation and expectation.
 
The four weeks of Advent, the next twenty-two days, is a time for spiritual preparation for the coming of Christ. We ought to be ready now and always for his coming. We must always long for him and be firm in our resolution to be attentive to his presence at every moment. As St. Paul encourages, use this time meaningfully to keep your body and soul in union with Jesus "as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 1: 7-8).
 
We offer spiritual opportunities to help us all keep a watchful disposition during this preparation time. Consider spending more time on what is essential:
 
· Attend daily masses if God gives you the time and health.
· Get an Advent wreath candle, and pray as a family after you light a new candle each week of Advent.
· Participate in daily adoration from 7 am before weekday masses.
· Please plan to attend our monthly Eucharistic adoration on Monday, December 4.
· Go to confession during opportunities provided between Sunday masses, especially at our Advent penance service on December 15.
· Make sure you attend Mark Forrest's led Eucharistic adoration parish mission on Sunday, December 17.
· Find quiet time to meditate on the coming of Jesus by reading the bible daily.
· Advent has a penitential character (no Gloria, limited display of flowers, purple vestments, etc.), so make sacrifices and do penances.
 
There is one more "coming" that we should prepare for. Bishop Timothy Senior, the bishop of our diocese, is coming to celebrate the 10:30 am mass with us on December 10. I invited the bishop, who chose to visit us on that date (we are not in the dark about this coming!). As your pastor and servant, I highly implore everyone who can attend that mass to please do so, even if you already attended mass on Saturday at 4 pm and 8:30 am mass on Sunday. The more, the merrier. We should strive to fill the pews. We will have a reception in our parish hall after mass. Please, let us come and meet our bishop and pray with him. Thanks for planning to attend.
 
Please remember the coming Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of BVM. It is a holy day of obligation, and I will offer three masses between Thursday evening and Friday evening to make it possible for many to attend. If you did not start a novena in honor of the Immaculate Conception on November 29, it is okay to join now. May our Blessed Mother pray for us as we strive for holiness.
 
In Christ,
 
Fr. Alayode Bernard Oniwe, OP
 

​ 
Beloved in Christ,
 
"And the king will answer... Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me" (Mt 25:40). Are you prepared to enter the Kingdom of God? This Sunday's apocalyptic masterpiece reminds us of our supernatural destiny, which will commence when Christ returns in glory at the end of time to judge the living and the dead, as we mention in the Creed. On his day, the dies irae- the day of wrath, Jesus will discharge judgment between those who live for others and those who live for themselves; he will judge between the rams and goats, one sheep and another. 
 
This Matthean discourse is a call for preparation to enter God's Kingdom. It presents practical acts of love as the way to get ready for the final judgment that Jesus, the king of the universe, will carry out when he returns in glory at the end of time. The world's judgment will be based on deeds of love that the faithful have carried out. This emphasis on good deeds is not a denial of the essence of faith in Christ and his church membership. The necessity of faith is implied, and it is a natural assumption of the expectation of the Christian community to which the gospel is addressed. Faith and work of charity and mercy go hand in hand; one cannot be untied from the other.
 
In verses 35-36 of Mt. 25, Jesus presents six of the seven corporal works of mercy (the additional one is to bury the dead)that our faith catechetical tradition considers a prerequisite to entering the kingdom of God. All these charitable acts to the poor and those in need, when done due to faith in Jesus, are done to Jesus. This teaching considers human moral acts as a consequence of faith in God as profitable in the eyes of God because God takes them seriously. Moral actions and charitable deeds done in the name of Jesus will count on the judgment we receive on the day of the Lord.
 
Jesus is the Lord of Lords and the king of the universe. We must accept this item of faith as meaning that Jesus must reign and have dominion over our soul, mind, spirit, thoughts, and body. When we accept his kingship, then we necessarily will act in ways that are pleasing to him; we must serve him and his kingdom. In the next four weeks of Advent, we must intensify our preparation for the coming of Jesus and his judgment. There are always sufficient means to help us in our preparation. The parish has a lot of spiritual activities, both liturgical and extra-liturgical, to help us in the lifetime of preparation for the coming judgment of the King of kings. Please check your advent leaflet and bulletin frequently and respond to the invitation.
 
I'll conclude with the following questions for your meditation as we prepare for Advent in preparation for Christmas: Is Jesus the king of your life? What are you doing for Jesus?
 
In His Joy,
 
Fr. Alayode Bernard Oniwe, OP
 

​Beloved in Christ,
 
"Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy" (Mt 25: 20-21). What is Jesus teaching us in the parable of the talents? God has granted us gifts according to our abilities for the sole purpose of serving others. We are stewards of all the gifts we have, both natural and supernatural. Gifts of time, wealth, virtues, service, and other gifts of various forms are generously bestowed on us as a church to equip us for our mission to the world. The talents in this Sunday's gospel refer to gifts, among others, meant to bear fruits that benefit people needing help, both at home and abroad. 
 
Of particular importance to Jesus is to use our God-given gifts to serve the needs of people experiencing poverty. The gift of charity and mercy shows in our selfless giving in support of the poor and the needy (c.f. Proverbs 31: 20) that abound today. This primary global scourge of poverty and misery is the inspiration behind Pope Francis' designation of this Sunday as "World Day of the Poor." In his Apostolic Letter, Misericordia et Misera, the vicar of Christ wrote that "It will be a day that will help communities and each baptized person to reflect on how poverty is at the heart of the Gospel, and on the fact that as long as Lazarus lies at the door of our homes (cf. Lk 16: 19-21), there can be no justice or social peace" (21). God has given many and sufficient numbers of people in our world talents of wealth to serve the financially less privileged others. 
 
I want to highlight how our parish has lived up to this call to use our resources to help others. Let's consider, for example, our response to the Angels of Hope giving- we have fruitfully used our talents to support this charity giving. Thanks to all who have been generous in providing. Another area is with the DAC giving. Thanks to those who have used their resources and talents to support this good course. I can also point to the generous giving to St Vincent de Paul and "the Poor Box in the narthex." These are just a few ways we, as a parish, have responded to the call to use our talents. There are more. There are other ways we have been using our God-given talents to serve the church. 
 
I also want to add that other forms of talent must be placed at the church's disposal. The survey I encouraged you to fill out a couple of weeks ago also requires you to indicate the areas in which you are talented or gifted to serve the church. Please see this as coming from Jesus. He wants you to use all your talents to serve his church of St. Peter, Elizabethtown. When we use our talents holily, we are confident of heavenly reward when, at the end of our life, Jesus says to us, "Come, share your master's joy."
 
Let me use this opportunity to wish us all a Happy Thanksgiving. We must always show gratitude to God for all the talents he continues to rain down on us. Above all, God is the one to whom we render thanks. With this understanding, I hope we all turn out in large numbers with our family to attend mass at the Historic Church on Thanksgiving Day.
 
In His Joy,
 
Fr. Alayode Bernard Oniwe, OP
 

​Beloved in Christ,
 
"Stay awake and be ready!" (Mt 24: 42). Jesus urges us to be expectant, watchful, alert, and prepared for his coming. Jesus and the fullness of his kingdom will come upon us at a time we do not know or expect. St. Paul assures us that the Lord will come from heaven to take the living and dead to his heavenly kingdom (1 Thes 4: 13-18). Like the bridal train waiting for the delayed bridegroom's arrival, we can fall into the temptation of becoming drowsy and sleepy as we await the Parousia. We can quickly become lukewarm, inattentive, distracted, and lingered in getting ready for his arrival. There is the danger of delay.
 
Let's not defer to do tomorrow what we can do today. To stay awake and vigilant is to act now on the graces God bestows generously on us. Let's watch for Wisdom, for "whoever for her sake keeps vigil shall quickly be free from care" ( Wis 6: 12-16). Jesus is the Wisdom who seeks us out. Jesus comes to us always. We will be aware of his coming if we stay awake and attentive. We must respond quickly to what he is saying to us every moment. We need to respond to his calls instantly and no longer procrastinate. 
 
Why and what makes us delay in responding to his love in the first place? What are the things that put us to sleep and make us drowsy like the five foolish virgins? Why do we restrain our readiness for the wedding feast with Jesus? Pleasure: indulging in the pleasure life presents us keeps us from taking bold steps to pursue holiness, which comes from bearing our crosses daily. Distractions: many things- from sports to politics, engage our attention to the exclusion of the central focus on Jesus. Power and status: sometimes, our job or career takes the place of Jesus. Time: We have much time to prepare; we can always do it later. So we think. I pray we never regret acting too late. Let's respond to the voice of Jesus without delay. Stay awake!
 
In His Joy,
 
Fr. Alayode Bernard, OP
 

Beloved in Christ,                                                                  

I am a leaf peeper! Fall foliage is one of the reasons why autumn is my favorite season. Why the leaves? What do they mean to me? The autumn leaves speak to me of God's beauty in the complex blend of their multiple colors on the trees around us. I look forward to a leaf-peeping drive to Jim Thorpe or PA 322 to State College every autumn. You will get a good view of fall foliage from a restaurant called "The View " at State College if you ever visit before it loses its color. You can also experience the awesomeness of fall leaves locally by standing in front of the church on the hill and looking across to the Stone Gable grounds. They are gorgeous and speak to us of the glory and beauty of God, and they bring to life the words of the Psalmist: "Let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy before the Lord" (96: 12-13).

Autumn foliage speaks to us of God's beauty and living presence but also tells us of decay. The dead and fallen leaves remind us of our fragile human lives, which is like "a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes" (James 4: 14). As I type this message, I see the eye-arresting autumn leaves falling off the trees across the rectory kitchen on East Park Street. They are dying, the fall leaves, even in their beauty. The lovely sight before me will soon give way to greyness, dryness, and emptiness. In all their radiant beauty, fall leaves also speak to us of death and judgment. Death puts an end to human life, and the soul immediately receives a particular judgment, which, depending on the state of the soul, leads it to one of three states: purgatory, heaven, or hell. A soul that goes to purgatory, a place and period of purification, is bound for its definitive state in heaven. Here is how the Church describes judgment after death and purgatory:

"All who die in God's grace, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after their death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven" (CCC 1030).

A parishioner shared an experience she had with a Christian neighbor who does not believe in purgatory and praying for the dead. This "bible-believing" Christian, she said to me, denounces the Catholic belief and practice of offering suffrages for the dead because her reading of the bible does not suggest it. Nothing more is far from the truth! Such a declaration is an honest misreading of the bible. The Catholic understanding of select scripture passages (Mt 12: 32; Mt 5: 24-26; 1 Cor 3: 11-15; Rev. 21:27; Hab 1:13; 2 Mac 12: 39-46, e.t.c. ) and her sacred tradition supports the pious and noble practice of praying for the dead who died in the state of grace but are delayed from attaining the beatific vision of God because of some traces of imperfection in their soul that need purification, cleansing by fire.

As a labor of love and in obedience to the teaching of the Church derived from Scripture and Tradition, Catholics are strongly encouraged to pray for the dead more intensely and corporately in November. As the Ordo says, "During November, we are called in a special way to remember 'our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection' (Eucharistic Prayer II)."

As a parish, we had a mass explicitly offered for all our parishioners who had passed on in the last year last Thursday evening, the memorial of the Commemoration of all the Faithful departed (All Souls' Day). We have also made a book available and envelopes to inscribe the names of our dead family members and friends remembered at masses on All Souls Day and throughout masses celebrated in November. The Church has always encouraged, in addition to mass, the pious acts of almsgiving, works of penance, and gaining of indulgence on behalf of the dead:

"Let us help commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them" (St. John Chrystostom).

One more example of noble acts of love and remembrance of the dead is the Catholic tradition of visiting the graves of loved ones on All Souls Day and through the month of November. We visited and prayed for the souls in our cemetery, and hopefully, we gained plenary indulgence for souls there still held in purgatory. Typically, plenary indulgence is granted when visits are made from November 1-8, and partial indulgence on other days in November and the year. Three conditions must be fulfilled to acquire this grace for our dead loved ones: sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion, and prayer for the Pope's intention (incidentally, the Pope's intention for November is to pray for the Pope).

Please remember to pray for your loved ones, especially in November. It is a holy and lovely deed. The Bible, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium support this divine act of love. All I have spoken about so far is not human teaching but, indeed, the sacred word of God. In conclusion, I echo the words of St. Paul: "In receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe" ( 1 Thes 2: 13).

In His Joy,
​Fr. Alayode Bernard, OP