1st Sunday Advent (B)
Readings
Is 63:16-17,19;64:2-7
1 Cor 1:3-9
Mk 13:33-37
Questions for reflection
1.
What do you do when someone you love
dearly and miss very much has been gone
a very long time but promises to return
soon?
2.
Do you know ignore their absence, or do
you anticipate their return and send
them messages to let them know how much
you long to be with them again?
3.
Were these servants excited or anxious
about their master’s return?
4.
What are we to watch, wait, and prepare
for?
5.
Do you watch for the Lord’s action in
your life with expectant faith and with
joyful hope?
6.
Are you ready to meet the Lord?
Reflection
This week begins the first Sunday of
Advent and the word Advent means
“coming”, the coming of our Lord. Now
the Lord comes in three ways: 1) in
history, at Bethlehem and in His public
life, 2) in mystery, by His grace and in
every sacrament, and 3) in majesty, at
the end of the world in His glory and as
our judge.
Today we emphasize His coming in
majesty. This world will end and the
Lord will return to take us to glory but
we must live in hope and expectation.
The coming of the Lord gives us hope. He
promises that all things will work for
good if we love Him. He will bring good
and not evil. But we must persevere in
holiness as we wait for His coming.
This week we begin a new cycle of
Scripture readings. Our Sunday readings
follow a three year cycle; this year is
called “Year B.” Except for Lent and
Easter, most of our Gospel readings will
be taken from the Gospel according to
Mark. Our first reading is a cry for
help, of longing for the Lord, our
Father, to tear the heavens apart and
come down. Our second reading is Paul’s
prayer that we will persevere in
holiness until the day when Christ
returns. And in the Gospel, St. Mark
reminds us that we do not know when
Christ will return; it may be today. So
we must stay “watch.” The question we
all must ask ourselves is “How would we
want to live if we knew he would come
today?” Let us keep alert!
Prayer
Lord Jesus, awaken my heart and mind to
receive your word and to prepare for
your coming. May I always be eager to
receive your word and be ready to meet
you when you came again. Amen.
Ý
Kiến
