From the 7:30am Mass on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, the First Sunday of Advent, Year B.

Intro:

• Happy New Year!
• It is Advent

Body:

1. Why do we need Jesus?
   1. The Infinite Offense
   2. Captured
      • (this point is taken from Fr. John Riccardo's excellent book, Rescued)
2. Do we still need Jesus?
   • If we don't think we do, we are "suffering from delusions of adequacy"

Conclusion: Hope

• Isaiah tells us: "Yet, O Lord, you are our father; we are the clay and you the potter: we are all the work of your hands."
• Throughout Advent, we will work on letting the Father--the potter--work on us, and make us into the beautiful persons He has created us to be