December 2, 2012

First Sunday of Advent

Read more about the season of Advent.

An Advent devotion from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb.

Lectionary: 3

Read more about the Lectionary.

Reading 1 from the Holy Book of Jeremiah
Jer 33:14-16

The days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will fulfill the promise
I made to the house of Israel and Judah.

The Lord says to Jeremiah that the days are coming when His promise will be fulfilled to Israel and Judah.

This promise, I believe, is their salvation.

In those days, in that time,
I will raise up for David a just shoot ;
he shall do what is right and just in the land.

In that day, He will raise up a son of David to rule over the land.  That shoot, is of course, Jesus Christ.

In those days Judah shall be safe
and Jerusalem shall dwell secure;
this is what they shall call her:
"The LORD our justice."

The gender is a bit confusing here.   But, I believe it means that they will call Jesus Christ, Lord because they will recognize He is God.  And Our Justice, because He is our Judge.

This is appropriate for the Advent season because it anticipates the coming of our Lord as Advent anticipates the birth of our Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14

R. (1b) To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
and for you I wait all the day.

R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way.

R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction.

R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Advent is a season of penance.  We think of penance as meaning "to pay for sin" or "to suffer".  But penance also means to "change" or "turn to God."  Advent is a season of turning towards God and anticipating His coming in the flesh.  It is a time of sorrow for our sins but also of joy at the coming union of man and God.  

Reading 2 from St. Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians
1 Thes 3:12-4:2

Brothers and sisters:May the Lord make you increase and abound in lovefor one another and for all,just as we have for you,so as to strengthen your hearts,to be blameless in holiness before our God and Fatherat the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.

This is a summary of faith and works.  If we have faith in Jesus Christ, we must love our neighbors:

John 13:34
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Finally, brothers and sisters,
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us
how you should conduct yourselves to please God
and as you are conducting yourselves
you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

He simply reiterates the same thing but also confirming the other commands which Christ gave, such as Matthew 28:19-20; Matt 25:31-46; Matt 5, etc. etc.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke
Lk 21:25-28, 34-36

Jesus said to his disciples:"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,and on earth nations will be in dismay,perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.People will die of frightin anticipation of what is coming upon the world,for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.And then they will see the Son of Mancoming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Jesus describes the things which will begin to happen when Jesus comes back at the end of days.

But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.

Jesus says we should not be afraid but rejoice, because we will soon be united to God.

"Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man."

He reiterates the lesson that we should be prepared.  And this is the point of Advent.  A time to prepare our hearts for the coming of our Lord.

Sincerely,

De Maria