01 - 1st Week of Advent

Introduction to the Celebration

Today we begin Advent. This is the period when we prepare to celebrate the:

1. Coming of the Christ among us -- His Birth...Christmas -- but we also believe that he is...

2. Coming among us now and so we have to be prepared to receive Him. (Through His Sacraments, that is, Catechumen) and we know that He will...

3. Come again at the end of time (Final Judgement) and we have to prepare the world for His coming.

Everything we do as Christians is related to these three comings.

So let us reflect on how it is, He came here at the Eucharist today. Gathered now, we ask pardon of our sins that we might be prepared for His second coming in this Eucharist. And as a community, let us pray that we will be ready to stand before Him when He comes again in glory.

Readings and Gospel

Lectionary for this day - This has all the readings and Gospel

Isaiah 2:1-5 - Zion, the Royal City of God

Psalms 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 - 

Romans 13:11-14 - Awareness of the End of Time

• This is the letter of St Paul to the Christians in Rome. More information about this letter.

Matthew 24:37-44 - The Unknown Day and Hour

Who / What / Where is...?

Isaiah

• His name means "God is Salvation".

• One of the greatest of the prophets who lived around the 8th-century BC. He appeared at a critical moment in Israel’s history. 

• More information here.

Zion

• Jerusalem

• Sometimes pertains to the land of Israel

Judah

• One of the 12 sons of Jacob (later named Israel)

• Here, it pertains to the name of part of the Land of Israel

House of Jacob

• Here, this pertains to the Israelites.

Romans

• St Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome. This is today's Italy and surrounding areas.

• More information here.

Matthew

• He was a tax collector. He was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus.

  • • 12 Apostles - the first 12 people that Jesus called to follow Him.

Noah

• 10th generation from Adam (as 1st generation)

• Lived for 950 years

• Died around 2,000 years before Jesus was born (or became man)

• God told him to build the ark.

• The person who, with his family, was saved from the Great Flood.

Son of Man 

• Here, it points to Jesus as the Messiah or Savior

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Dig deeper into this Sunday's Readings and Gospel with teachings from Brant Pitre.

Saints