A very warm and joyous welcome to the family members and friends who are in town this weekend for the Thanksgiving holiday. Whether you’re celebrating or sad about “The Territorial Cup” football game between Arizona State and the University of Arizona, I am really glad you’ve come to Mass with us at SJV and pray the Lord blesses you and your loved ones.

These final weeks of our Church’s liturgical year (which officially ends this year at sunset on December 2) always have us reading about the Last Days. Last Sunday’s Gospel passage, this week’s and next week’s are all from Matthew 25 and tell the Parables of the wise and foolish virgins (v.1-13), the prudent and fearful servants (v.14-30) and the final judgment (v.31-46). Popular culture has turned the topic of “end-times”, last days, final judgment into either a horror genre or a fringe genre of evangelical Christians (remember the “Left Behind” book series?)

160 years ago this week, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, our great President Abraham Lincoln helped to dedicate the battlefield cemetery. There he famously observed:

“The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.”

Over the past week we have celebrated the holy days of All Saints and All Souls, and in many homes in our parish we have also commemorated the Dia de los Muertos with pictures, mementos and regalitos to our deceased family and friends. We celebrate the saints, above all others our Mother Mary, throughout the year on different days. As well, our dear departed remain close to our hearts and in memories. These special days give us another special opportunity to pray together and celebrate.