1st Sunday of Advent
November 29, 2015
1st Sunday of Advent
| First reading |
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| Jeremiah 33:14-16 |
See, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – when I am going to fulfil the promise
I made to the House of Israel and the House of Judah:
‘In those days and at that time,
I will make a virtuous Branch grow for David,
who shall practise honesty and integrity in the land.
In those days Judah shall be saved
and Israel shall dwell in confidence.
And this is the name the city will be called:
The-Lord-our-integrity.’
I made to the House of Israel and the House of Judah:
‘In those days and at that time,
I will make a virtuous Branch grow for David,
who shall practise honesty and integrity in the land.
In those days Judah shall be saved
and Israel shall dwell in confidence.
And this is the name the city will be called:
The-Lord-our-integrity.’
| Psalm Psalm 24:4-5,8-9,10,14 |
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| Second reading 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2
May the Lord be generous in increasing your love and make you love one another and the whole human race as much as we love you. And may he so confirm your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints.
Finally, brothers, we urge you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus to make more and more progress in the kind of life that you are meant to live: the life that God wants, as you learnt from us, and as you are already living it. You have not forgotten the instructions we gave you on the authority of the Lord Jesus.
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| Gospel | Luke 21:25-28,34-36 |
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Jesus said to his disciples: ‘There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the clamour of the ocean and its waves; men dying of fear as they await what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.
‘Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap. For it will come down on every living man on the face of the earth. Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.’
Reflection
By Gary T.
Two sweethearts were talking about their plans moving to the next level of their relationship, that is getting married. Having kids was part of their conversation. Their plans were so detailed that they came to a point that they were already identifying their worries about growing their kids, i.e. from the sleepless nights during infant years, to the toddler years, to pre-teens, to teenage. These teenage years were what they dreaded the most, perhaps knowing what kind of teenage life they had.
You see this young couple’s relationship was not exactly what we call Christ-centered despite their being members of Church communities. When people do not see them, they drink, smoke, and, yes, they practiced pre-marital sex. They were living a dual life.
But they struggled to change and they were having good progress. And it was in this process that they became worried of how they would raise their children to follow the right ways when they themselves did not.
Worries. Worries.
Last Sunday, on the Feast of Christ the King, I was able to attend Mass celebrated by Fr. Jerry Orbos. The ever acronym-loving Fr. Orbos might have just provided an acronym to answer the young couple’s worries in my story. The acronym was PAEWAN, which stands for “Pray About Everything, Worry About Nothing.”
Today’s Mass readings to celebrate the first Sunday of Advent talk about the preparation for Christ’s coming. When you read biblical verses like our readings today, and then look around, it seems like they were already happening. Are you excited or are you worried? I know we should be excited. But I understand the worries. Following Christ is already not that easy. What more the tribulations before everything is fulfilled.
It is not easy only if we think it is not. But why worry about the things we could not control?Why not continue doing the good things which we can control? Then pray about everything and leave our worries to the Master of everything, even of worries!
The couple in our story decided to live a real Christ-centered life, to bring-up their future children close to the Lord, to pray for everything, and to surrender all their worries to God. Shouldn't we do the same?
Two sweethearts were talking about their plans moving to the next level of their relationship, that is getting married. Having kids was part of their conversation. Their plans were so detailed that they came to a point that they were already identifying their worries about growing their kids, i.e. from the sleepless nights during infant years, to the toddler years, to pre-teens, to teenage. These teenage years were what they dreaded the most, perhaps knowing what kind of teenage life they had.
You see this young couple’s relationship was not exactly what we call Christ-centered despite their being members of Church communities. When people do not see them, they drink, smoke, and, yes, they practiced pre-marital sex. They were living a dual life.
But they struggled to change and they were having good progress. And it was in this process that they became worried of how they would raise their children to follow the right ways when they themselves did not.
Worries. Worries.
Last Sunday, on the Feast of Christ the King, I was able to attend Mass celebrated by Fr. Jerry Orbos. The ever acronym-loving Fr. Orbos might have just provided an acronym to answer the young couple’s worries in my story. The acronym was PAEWAN, which stands for “Pray About Everything, Worry About Nothing.”
Today’s Mass readings to celebrate the first Sunday of Advent talk about the preparation for Christ’s coming. When you read biblical verses like our readings today, and then look around, it seems like they were already happening. Are you excited or are you worried? I know we should be excited. But I understand the worries. Following Christ is already not that easy. What more the tribulations before everything is fulfilled.
It is not easy only if we think it is not. But why worry about the things we could not control?Why not continue doing the good things which we can control? Then pray about everything and leave our worries to the Master of everything, even of worries!
The couple in our story decided to live a real Christ-centered life, to bring-up their future children close to the Lord, to pray for everything, and to surrender all their worries to God. Shouldn't we do the same?
Prayer
Father, make us increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as You have for us, so as to strengthen our hearts, to be blameless in holiness before You, our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His holy ones. Amen. (1Thes3:12-13)
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