Be Watchful! (FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT - YEAR C)

NOVEMBER 28, 2021, SUNDAY
First Sunday of Advent (Violet)
FIRST DAY OF THE NEW LITURGICAL CALENDAR YEAR:
CYCLE C - YEAR II
Lectionary: 3

Reading I
Jer 33:14-16

The days are coming, says the LORD, 

    when I will fulfill the promise 

    I made to the house of Israel and Judah.

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.

In those days Judah shall be safe 

    and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; 

    this is what they shall call her: 

    “The LORD our justice.”

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14

R. (1b)  To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;

   teach me your paths,

Guide me in your truth and teach me,

   for you are God my savior,

   and for you I wait all the day. 

R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Good and upright is the LORD;

   thus he shows sinners the way.

He guides the humble to justice,

   and teaches the humble his way. 

R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy

   toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,

   and his covenant, for their instruction. 

R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Reading II
1 Thes 3:12—4:2

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, 

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.

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.

For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

Alleluia
Ps 85:8

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Show us, Lord, your love;

and grant us your salvation.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Lk 21:25-28, 34-36

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.

People will die of fright 

in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, 

for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

And then they will see the Son of Man 

coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

But when these signs begin to happen, 

stand erect and raise your heads 

because your redemption is at hand.

“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 like a trap.

For that day will assault everyone

who lives on the face of the earth.

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.”

REFLECTION:

Advent is a season of hope and expectation. We are invited to prepare joyfully for the coming of Christ. He comes in history (his conception and birth), in mystery (through the sacraments, and especially the Eucharist), and in majesty (at the Last Day). In the first weeks of Advent the stress is on this third coming in majesty. Hence today's gospel which we have already prayed with in recent days. The old liturgical year ended, and the new one has begun, with our calling to mind the Lord's final coming at the end of time. We look forward to it with happy anticipation, not with fear.

How do the three comings of Christ impinge on my life? Do I want to deepen my awareness of them as I move through Advent? How firm is my hope?

PRAYER:

Lord, may your coming be a glorious and redemptive event. May I so live that, in the words of the hymn, “when you come, with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!”