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.

Sunday Summary

Jeremiah 33:14-16 - The time when promises are fulfilled, and justice is raised up and is on its way.

Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 - God's pathways are paved with kindness and constancy, and we can learn them.

1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2 - As love increases, hearts are strengthened, and the behavior falls in the line with grace.

• This is the first letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians.

Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 - Jesus warns that the season is changing as the tribulation approaches. The Coming of the Son of Man. Exhortation (or encouragement) to Be Vigilant.

Basic Message

The pain of endings and beginnings.

Exploring the Word

It's time. Stay awake.

Does time mean anything? "If I could only bring back the time"

Who is...?

Jeremiah

• He was a young prophet, who was born, perhaps, about 650 BC.

• In this reading, he was prophesying about the restoration of Israel and Judah. These are the two kingdoms that resulted from the split of the single kingdom of the Israelites.

• More information here.

Thessalonians

• They are those who live in Thessalonica. This is today's Thessaloniki, in Greece.

• Paul sent Timothy to Thessalonica to strengthen the community of Christians there. More information here.

Luke

• He was a physician. He was a disciple of St Paul. 

• He wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts (or Acts of the Apostles).

Opening the Word Podcast from AmenApp.org (6:36)

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

Saints