As we enter the four weeks of ADVENT, may we all focus on JESUS, may we all KEEP OUR EYES ON JESUS. Our parish THEME this Advent is: RECONCILIATION-EUCHARIST- ADORATION.

We are invited to reconcile with JESUS (OLHOC Advent Penance Service 7 pm Monday, December 13), to be totally with HIM (HIS Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity) at every Mass, every EUCHARIST (the greatest miracle on earth) and to ADORE HIM in silence, keeping our EYES ON HIM in the BLESSED SACRAMENT.

May we PRAY together this Advent Season and may JESUS help our hearts to be at PEACE while facing the many distractions and anxieties of our daily lives. MAY WE STAY ALERT: HE IS COMING! MAY WE BE READY for HIS FIRST COMING: CHRISTMAS!

BEEP BEEP! Whenever I turn away my eyes from being fixed on the road ahead of me, I hear a loud BEEP BEEP and right in front of my eyes appear four words in bright letters: KEEP EYES ON ROAD! This BEEP BEEP reminds me: KEEP EYES ON JESUS!

For those of you who were at the 5 pm Mass or the 10 am Mass two weeks ago (November 13- 14) you will know this BEEP BEEP is one of the gadgets in my new car. I am still discovering them one at a time... All these gadgets have to do with SAVING LIVES. The first one startled me. It occurred only a few days after changing cars. It was a loud BEEP BEEP...and then I saw four bright letters "KEEP EYES ON ROAD" on the screen in front of me! I realized that I had moved my head and eyes away from the road.

I thought that this could be used in a homily to inspire people in KEEPING THEIR EYES ON JESUS and SAVING THEIR SPIRITUAL LIVES. I did so the following Sunday, and what I got is ...a big LAUGH from the congregation. As you know, I have no sense of humor and never use jokes or funny stories to make people laugh at church, though I know that laughter is important, and it helps people to wake up and pay attention. However, one may remember a joke in a homily but may not remember how it fits in with the main point of the homily.

This column is to make sure that you may remember both the laughter and the spiritual point: KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS!!! Do not focus on yourself. If we keep our eyes on Jesus, there will be no anxiety, no anguish in our hearts: not only will we find PEACE right here right now, but also will we find ETERNAL LIFE with JESUS. We will STAY WITH JESUS FOREVER!

There are no gadgets that can BEEP whenever we take our eyes away from Jesus. But, we have a CONSCIENCE, and we need to FORM OUR CONSCIENCE. A formed conscience helps us to make the right decisions at the right time. We NEED TO PRAY every day! We need to listen to Jesus’s voice. We need to go to CONFESSION regularly! We need to feel in our hearts the PRESENCE of JESUS when we receive the EUCHARIST and ADORE HIM in the BLESSED SACRAMENT. While we need to keep our eyes on Jesus at all times, may we all make a special effort during this ADVENT SEASON.

May we all pray with the psalmist (Psalm 25):

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul...
MY EYES ARE ALWAYS ON THE LORD;
for he rescues my feet from the snare.
TURN TO ME AND HAVE MERCY
for I am lonely and poor.
Relieve the anguish of my heart
and set me free from my distress.
Put an end to my affliction and suffering.
TAKE AWAY ALL MY SINS!

May we all have a MOST BLESSED ADVENT!

One in Christ,


Fr. Alain