God-willing your Thanksgiving was relaxing and fulfilling. I had dinner with my family at my parents' house. My father has recovered very well from his stroke last year and we're so grateful to God for his healing and recovery.

At the end of this liturgical year - Advent begins our new year this Sunday - it's an opportune time to count the many blessings that surround us so that we may know the love and power of God and draw closer to the Holy Trinity. It is in His presence that we are made new.

One way to grow in intimacy with our Lord is through Eucharistic Adoration. This Sunday we will begin our 40 Hours Eucharistic Devotion. I will expose the Eucharist on the main altar at the end of the 12:30 PM Mass. On Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday we will have Confessions from 6:00 PM until 7:00 PM. Evening Prayer will be at 7:00 PM on Sunday and Monday, with a homily by me and Fr. Smith on those evenings, respectively. On Tuesday, we will end Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction before our closing Mass at 7:00 PM in honor of St. Andrew the Apostle, our patron saint. Fr. Edward Hathaway, rector of the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria and former parochial vicar here at St. Andrew's, will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the closing Mass. A reception will follow in Hannan Hall to celebrate the Feast of St. Andrew. The full schedule for the 40 Hours can be found here. Examples of some examinations of conscience to prepare for Confession may be found here.

On Wednesday, December 1, the Supreme Court will begin to hear oral arguments for the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case involving the constitutionality of abortion after 15 weeks. The National Catholic Bioethics Center recently hosted a podcast delving into this case and how it affects the movement to end abortion in our nation. I ask that you join me in praying for the justices and presenters in this case - especially on December 1st - that the outcome will provide increased legal protection of human life in the womb and will be a stepping stone to ending abortion in our nation and world.

I haven't talked about the Baltimore Ravens in a week or two. They won another game in spectacular fashion, this time against the Chicago Bears. Their starting quarterback, Lamar Jackson, was out with a bug (not COVID), so their backup quarterback - who was fine but not great most of the game - led them all the way down the field for a touchdown in less than two minutes for the win. This was their fifth fourth-quarter comeback win this year - fifth in ten games, which only adds to the unlikeliness of the success of this team, which is 7-3. Starting in training camp, they lost player after player to injury, including several of their starting lineup on offense and defense. They did not give in to despair, however, and instead rallied around each other and relied on their key assets: a very talented quarterback, the most successful placekicker in the history of the NFL, and a coach who always seems to find a way to get just a little more from his players at the end of the game.

When the Ravens won a game with a record-breaking 66-yeard field goal earlier in the year, their head coach John Harbaugh said that whatever they do individually and as a team, all glory goes to God. Last week, after their latest come-from-behind victory, Coach Harbaugh reminded his players in the locker room that they as a team dedicated this season to the Lord, and His hand could be seen in the unexpected around them.

One might look at all of their seemingly miraculous wins this year in the face of overwhelming injuries as a sign of divine intervention. I don't know the ways of the Lord, although I would be thrilled if His favorite football team was the same as mine! However this season goes, there is enough for the players of that team, as well as the fans who follow them, to be drawn to trust that the Lord will take care of them in their struggles and lead them to victory. It makes me proud of this team, including their media office which publishes these videos in which their coach speaks openly about God. They might lose some fans that way. They might also gain some souls.

Of course, when we live for God, the greatest victory is not on a football field - not even in the Super Bowl. It is salvation through Jesus Christ and eternal life with God and the saints (not these Saints) in heaven. That salvation comes through the Cross and requires the faith that perseveres and with all humility offers everything to Jesus. We can do this, not to win a crown of laurel that fades, but an everlasting crown (1 Cor 9:25). May we persevere in faith, stand strong against adversity, and give our best for God that we may gain the victory through Him.

Let us pray for each other as we begin this Advent Season, our Forty Hours, and the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle. The Lord offers us many ways to come to meet Him in these coming days. May we respond with generosity.

And Go Ravens.