2026-01-02 - 5:15 pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed by the Holy Mass

Good evening and welcome to our time of adoration followed by the Holy Mass for Friday of this Christmas Season. Yes, we are still in the Christmas Season. It will conclude with the Baptism of Jesus on January 11th. Today we also remember the Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen. They are both Bishops and Doctors of the Church. Our readings today invite us to reflect upon the coming of the Lord and how steadfast we are in following our Lord. 1st John reminds us of where our heart must lie. We are not to be deceived by the evil one or false teachings. All we need to do is abide in Him where the truth is known. Our Gospel gives us a picture of John the Baptist and and the role he is given within salvation history. He has no need to puff himself up. Rather, he states that there is one who comes after him that we need to follow. His role was to make straight the way of the Lord. Is this not our role as well? How do we witness to the presence of the Lord in our lives? Do those around you see your perseverance and steadfast love in following the Lord who is the way, the truth and the life? Let us abide in the Lord through our times of prayer, reflection, participation in the sacraments, spiritual reading and in the everday activities in our lives. We can witness to the power of God in our lives by the way we conduct ourselves. Through Him we have the gift of eternal life. That is worth celebrating and witnessing to our families and those around us. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Our Responsorial Psalm today is Psalm 98: "All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of our God."