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 63:16B-17, 19B;  64:2-7 - Prayer for the Return of God’s Favor

Psalms 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19

1 Corinthians 1:3-9 - Thanksgiving

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

Mark 13:33-37 - Need for Watchfulness

Who / What / Where is...?

Isaiah

• His name means "God is Salvation".

• Isaiah is one of the prophets in the Old Testament -- around 742 BC to 701 BC, and it may have continued even longer, until 687 BC. He appeared at a critical moment in Israel’s history. 

• More information here.

Mark

• He was the travel companion and interpreter of Peter. He was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus.

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

Watch this 4-minute video for an introduction about the Gospel of Mark.

Opening the Word for this Sunday in Formed.Org. You need to register and log in to Formed.Org.

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

Saints