December 1, 2013

1st Sunday of Advent

First Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5

   This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come, The mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream toward it; many peoples shall come and say: "Come, let us climb the LORD'S mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths." For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!

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Responsorial Psalm: 122:1-2,3-4,4-5,6-7,8-9 
Response: Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
   I rejoiced when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD." And now our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem. (Response)
   Jerusalem, built as a city, walled round about. Here the tribes have come, the tribes of the LORD. (Response)
   As it was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. Here are the thrones of justice, the thrones of the house of David. (Response)
    For the peace of Jerusalem pray: "May those who love you prosper! May peace be within your ramparts, prosperity within your towers." (Response)
    For family and friends I say, "May peace be yours." For the house of the LORD, our God, I pray, "May blessings be yours." (Response)

Second Reading: Romans 13:11-14

   Brothers and sisters: You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and licentiousness, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 24:37-44

    Jesus said to his disciples: "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left. Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."

Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus

   "At an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come" (Mt 24:44). The coming of the Son of Man (Advent is the season when the people are asked to reflect on the second coming of Jesus. This happens till the 16th of December and then only we are asked to prepare for the feast of Christmas) is not known. People and the followers are waiting for the second coming. Nobody knows when exactly this will be. The believers should be ready always for this event. The early Church believed that Jesus will return to the earth and take the central place on that day.(Acts 1:1; Col 3:4; Jn 3:2)
   But life will go on as normal on the earth right up to the last minute (as in the days of Noah). People will continue their normal human, social life. They live the present (which they should) but without any expectation or awaiting or being ready for the future. Christian life is life based on hope and expectation. They await the return of the Lord. This event will divide families and working companions. Each one has to face the event independently and individually. So the disciples should stay awake and wait and one should be ready to receive the Son of Man. Keeping awake and being ready are the ways in which one can face the day of the Lord.