Sunday, November 30, 2025

Dear brother and sisters,

The division of Sunday Gospel readings into Years A, B, and C in the Catholic liturgical calendar reflects the Church’s intention to share the richness of Scripture more fully and to distribute the Gospels evenly across a three-year cycle. This structure also allows for greater variety in spiritual formation and offers the faithful the opportunity to experience the life of Christ through different Gospel perspectives.

Each liturgical year centers on one of the three Synoptic Gospels: year A highlights the Gospel of Matthew, year B focuses on Mark, and year C features Luke. The Gospel of John, with its deeply theological and reflec-tive tone, is used throughout all three cycles, especially during Lent, Easter, and special solemnities.

As we enter the season of Advent this year, we also begin a new liturgical year and shift from Year C to Year A. In this new cycle, we are invited to walk with Christ anew while listening His words, reflecting on His mis-sion, and deepening our relationship with Him through the unique perspective of the Gospel of Matthew. This Gospel stands out for its profoundly Jewish character. Its structure echoes the five books of the Torah, empha-sizes Jesus as the Promised One who fulfills Old Testament prophecies, honors Israel’s sacred traditions, and brings the divine law in the ancient time to its fullness through His teaching and mission.

This weekend’s gospel passage reminds us to be alert and ready for the coming of the Lord. In a world full of distractions, temptations, and influences, we are easy to fall into spiritual drowsiness, emotional apathy, reli-gious neglect, and harmful habits that slowly weaken our connection with God. Caught up in the pursuit of material needs, comfort, and daily routines, we often forget to prepare for His presence, not only in the world to come, but in our community, our families, and within ourselves. Therefore, this passage speaks as a wake-up call to sharpen our minds, open our eyes, and convert our hearts in spiritual awareness: We are invited to draw closer to Jesus, to live with greater purpose, and to prepare for the deeper joy of Emmanuel, “God with us.”

“Stay awake... Be prepared... The Son of Man is coming.”

Sincerely yours in Jesus Christ and Our Lady of La Vang!

Reverend Kiet Anh Ta.