November marks the final month in our Church liturgical calendar and our Scripture readings point towards eternal life and the end of human history. Everything in our Christian faith focuses on the person of Jesus Christ, and anything said then about eternity and the end of human history is definitively shaped by what Jesus has and continues to do. This weekend I am giving three fundamental principles that put human life in this perspective:
 

I came from God.

I belong to God.

My eternal destiny is God.

It is our conviction that human life finds it origin in God and that although life begins at conception, God foresaw each of our lives from the beginning of
creation and knew he was going to call us into existence. Throughout our lives we belong to God because it is He who entrusts life to us.

Life is not ours to do with as we wish, but always to be used in a way that honors God. It is not our “project” but instead we are part of God’s grand design for all of humanity and all of creation! And, our destiny is nothing short of heaven: a place of
definitive and unending happiness!


And, as we head towards winter………here’s my reminder that regardless of weather our daily and weekend Masses will not be cancelled. Both Fr. Hans and I live close by and can make it here easily. Please use good judgment if you should come. We have no way of de-icing or plowing the parking lot, so if in doubt stay home and stay safe — especially our elderly! You are automatically dispensed of any obligation to come to Mass. And, on a similar note, if you have a cold or the flu, please stay home. No need to share that with the rest of us!
 

I am blessed as your pastor to be inspired daily by so many of you. Here are a few examples from just this past week: A group of men from the parish (from Knights of Columbus) responded to a request from Beaverton High School to paint one of their rooms. A parishioner checked in with a person who had not been at Mass for quite a while and offered any kind of assistance desired. A teacher in one of our public schools went way above and beyond expectations in spending weekend time with a family with an especially challenging child. Good stuff, folks. This is how we build God’s Kingdom in our midst.
 

Blessings to Ayla Guerrero and Jackson Lynch, who were baptized this weekend!
 
Congratulations to Katherine Wiley and Jesse White, who were married here on November 9 ^th. Blessings to you and to all of our married and engaged couples!