November 8, 2024

My dear Kirkland Catholics,

November is the final month of the church year because Advent inaugurates each new church year.  November appropriately is the month in which we focus on “The Four Last Things,” which is to say: death, judgment, heaven and hell.  And so we began this month with the celebration of All Saints, focusing on all those who have gone before us and are with the Lord in heaven.  On All Souls Day we are reminded that there are those – including perhaps our loved ones – who remain in purgatory, and thus are in need of our prayers.

To sum up, we focus this month on our own inevitable death, and the inevitability of our particular judgment.   As Catholics, the main question to ask ourselves in November is: “If I were to die this month, am I ready to meet the Lord?”

• Have I said “I love you” to my loved ones?
• Have I showed appreciation to the significant people in my life and thanked them for what they have done for me?
• Have I apologized to people I have actually and specifically wronged or neglected, but never asked forgiveness from?
• Have I made a good confession recently?
• Have I put God first by making daily prayer time a non-negotiable?
• Which friend have I not connected with in a long time that I should reach out to and catch up with?
• Is there someone the Lord has been putting on my heart who I should attempt to reconcile with?

Each Mass actually focuses us on “The Four Last Things” and what’s actually important in light of God’s grace.  Singing reminds us of our unity and diversity and heaven. The Penitential Rite stresses our need for forgiveness.  The Liturgy of the Word points out God’s promises and salvation history.  The Creed emphasizes our core beliefs.  The intercessions recollect our need to ask God for what we lack.  The Presentation of the Gifts calls to mind our stewardship and what we are to offer back to God.  The Eucharistic prayer is all about what Jesus did and why, and our own connection to the Pashal mystery.  Holy Communion reminds us that we are called into deeper communion with Jesus and others every day.  Finally, the dismissal calls us to announce the Gospel to our neighbors in word and deed.

The liturgy focuses us on the essentials in light of our baptismal calling and destiny.  May November help us to reflect more deeply on our destiny and the Lord’s goodness.

With love in Christ,

Fr. Brad