Getting Ready Again
Dec. 1: First Sunday of Advent
There are many, many theories about social cycles.1 But while certain things do happen over and over, time is still linear. Bishop Barron spells it out neatly in his homily for today—
Reading I
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. 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 those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; this is what they shall call her: “The LORD our justice.”
David was of the house of Judah, son of Jacob (Israel). The Messiah therefore wouldn’t come out of nowhere. He would have a history, a past to build off of. The story of salvation is a long and continuous string, from the beginning of time to the end.
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.
Jeremiah didn’t know exactly how and when the Messiah would come. Paul knew Jesus was the Messiah, but had no clue how long the time of the Church would last. We have no more idea of where we are in history, either. But we can pray and ask for guidance, that we follow the path in the direction God wants us to.
Reading II
1 Thes 3:12—4:2
Brothers and sisters: May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for 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 Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.
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.
Advent is a time of preparation. The Second Coming may not happen tomorrow, and we may not die tomorrow, but we should still be ready to encounter Christ. This is a good time to go to confession to clear away any blockages, and meet Jesus the way He wants to see us.
Alleluia
Ps 85:8
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us, Lord, your love;
and grant us your salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is a psalm about re-uniting with God. We sometimes choose to separate ourselves, but God will always welcome us back.
Gospel
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 fright in 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 Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.
“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.”
At the time of writing his Gospel, Luke did consider it possible that the world would end during his lifetime. But he wasn’t betting on it. Throughout his Gospel, Luke emphasized the importance of the day-to-day following of Jesus’ teachings. We can prepare ourselves this Advent, comfortable in the fact that we don’t know the exact time these terrifying things will happen, because whether they do or not—we’ll be ready.
Here’s my modest contribution.