First Sunday of Advent
1ST READING
The name of this future city — the Lord our Justice — reminds us how we must live to enter the Kingdom of heaven. We must live with integrity and not hypocrisy. This is a reality that the Church itself deals with in modern times. We are called the Church of the poor yet so many structures alienate the poor rather than include them. Many Church leaders live privileged lives rather than service.
Jeremiah 33:14-16
14 The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah. 15 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. 16 In those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; this is what they shall call her “The Lord our justice.”
P S A L M
Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
R: To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
4 Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior, and for you I wait all the day. (R) 8 Good and upright is the Lord; thus he shows sinners the way. 9 He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way. (R) 14 The friendship of the Lord is with those who fear him, and his covenant, for their instruction. (R)
2nd READING
We cannot wait for the Second Coming of Jesus to repent or live in holiness. By then it will be too late. We need to respond now. In his second letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul tells us that now is the acceptable time and today is the day of salvation. We should not delay our response to the Gospel. Let us live and proclaim the Gospel to the best of our abilities.
1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2
12 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, 13 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. 4:1 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. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
GOSPEL
The Book of Revelation gives us simple warnings. They are reminders for us to live the Gospel without compromise. Once a compromise is made, it gets bigger and bigger until it becomes very serious and derails the plan of God for us.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Show us, Lord, your love; and grant us your salvation.
Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
25 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. 26 People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” 34 “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 35 like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. 36 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.”
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