Click here for today's readings on the USCCB website.
Reading I: Jeremiah 33:14-16
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
Reading II: 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2
Alleluia: Psalm 85:8
Gospel: Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
Today’s readings audio:
Preparation for the Second Coming (Jeremiah 33:14-16, 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2, Luke 21:25-28, 34-36)
Today’s readings center around the preparation for Jesus’ coming, not only as a baby in the manger on the 25th, but also for His triumphant return at the end of time. Jeremiah foretells of Jesus’ birth in the first reading.
15 In those days, at that time, I will make a just shoot spring up for David; he shall do what is right and just in the land.
In the second reading, St. Paul is exhorting the Thessalonians to be holy and blameless as they prepare for the second coming of the Lord.
13 so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. [Amen]
And finally, in the Gospel reading itself, Jesus tells his disciples to prepare and look for the signs of his return and to be vigilant.
36 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.”
All of this combined was a warning to the people of that time to remain holy and righteous and to prepare for Jesus’ return. This same warning applies to us today. As St. Paul says, we need to strengthen our hears and grow blameless in holiness. This is something that we need to strive for every day. We will fall short, and that is okay. But the import thing to remember, is that we need to try to improve.
The second coming is not only for when Jesus comes at the end of time, but it is also for us now. As our pastor told us last nigh in his homily, we all have a finite time on this earth. Some of us may have long lives and some lives may be cut short. But all lives end on God’s time. And when our time comes and we stand before God face to face, for our particular judgement, it will be too late to try to fix our lives. Our destination is set at the moment of our death. If we die in a state of mortal sin, then we have chosen eternal separation from God and will live out our eternity with Satan and his demons. If we die in a state of grace, then we will either go to Heaven or if we have a particular attachment to sin, we may spend time purifying our souls before we finally are able to see God in His Beatific Vision.
Advent, like Lent, is a time of preparation. As we take the opportunity of over the next 24 days to prepare our hearts and souls for the coming of the Infant Jesus, let us contemplate how we can become closer to God.
Prayer is a great place to start. Leading up to Christmas, we can contemplate the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. This contemplation can help us focus on what is really important in this season and cut through the noise of commercialism and the secular “Happy Holidays.”
As your go through your day on the First Sunday of Advent, I invite you pray. If you have a family, take time to pray with them. Slow down, eat as a family, and take time for prayer with each other.
May your Advent be fruitful this year and may the next couple of weeks bring you closer to God and His Son.
Prayers for Lighting the Advent Wreath Candles (First Week)
All-powerful God, increase our strength of will for doing good that Christ may find an eager welcome at his coming and call us to his side in the kingdom of heaven, where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/prayer-index/advent-prayers