1st Sunday of Advent (Español) (Vietnamese)
Opening Prayer
Loving Father, As we begin this new Season of Grace, fill
us with the joyful virtue of hope. Help us to long for your
Son Jesus with love in our hearts. Let us remain faithful
until he returns in glory. Amen.
Commentary
1st Reading: Isaiah 63:16-17, 19; 64:2-7
The Season of Advent marks the beginning
of a new Liturgical Year. As we begin this
year, we are reminded to have our eyes and
hearts set on the Lord who will come again in
glory.
Our First Reading reminds us that, in ages
past, people had called out to the Lord - as we do today - to
give them aid. Without God to heal them from their sinfulness,
they were wandering aimlessly. They called for the
Lord to come.
And, so the Lord did come.
Our Catholic faith professes that the Lord not only came to
us, but he died for us, he rose for us, and he would come
again to bring us to himself. Our Advent Season reminds us
to eagerly await his return with steadfast faith.
Advent is a Season of hope knowing that Christ will come
again. He has not disappointed us thus far, so our hope is not
in vain.
Hope is one of the three theological virtues. Faith and love
are the other two. In the end, these three remain. As we begin
this new year within this Season of Advent, let us put the
virtue of hope to work in our lives.
Question
In what way do you hope in the Lord?
2nd Reading: 1 Cor 1:3-9
Advent is not only a time to remember the virtue of hope. It
is also a time for us to rekindle our faith.
This faith begins with God who, as Saint Paul reminds us,
“is faithful” Himself.
Indeed, it would be difficult for Paul to
encourage the Corinthians as they await
the Lord’s return unless they had a sense
that God was faithful toward them.
Indeed, the whole Advent message is about
God’s fidelity toward us. God hears our
cry, he comes to our aid, he dies and rises
for us, and he remains with us (especially
in the Sacraments) until the final revelation of his glory.
Questions
Why else would we believe in God unless he was faithful to
us first?
Why else would we hope in God, unless he entrusted
himself to us first?
Why else would we love God unless he loved us first?
How has the Lord been faithful to you?
Gospel: Mark 13:33-37
As we begin a new Church Year, we begin a new Cycle of
Readings. Last year, we read from the Gospel of Luke.
Next year, we will read from the Gospel of Matthew. This
year, we will read from the Gospels of Mark and John.
Our Gospel today reminds us that the
Lord will return in glory. However,
we do not know when. Therefore, we
must always be watchful and alert!
Unfortunately, for many, being
watchful and alert means trying to
second guess the Lord as to when and
where he will arrive.
The verse before our Gospel passage
this Sunday (vs 32) has Jesus say,
“But about that day or hour no one
knows, not even the angels in heaven,
nor the Son, but only the Father.”
True faith, hope, and love for God
does not depend on a future date.
Faithfulness, hope, and love for God
begins now!
Questions
Are you preparing to love God when the Lord comes, or
are you loving God now?
As you prepare for Christmas, what spiritual gift will you
offer a friend, family member, or neighbor?
This Weeks' Task
Consider giving them a gift of Christ in Our Neighborhood.
Invite them to join you this Season of Advent to break open
the Holy Scriptures and reflect on the Word of God who
came to set us free.
Consider one or both of the following:
1) Forward your friends the link to christ-ion.com via
facebook, instagram, or twitter.
2) Invite your friends to group with you for the four weeks
of Advent.
Pray or sing this traditional Advent hymn:
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Response: Lord, make us turn to you;
let us see your face and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
from your throne upon the cherubim,
shine forth.
Rouse your power,
and come to save us.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we
shall be saved.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we
shall be saved.
May your help be with the man of your right hand,
with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we
shall be saved.
Conclude with an Our Father
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