Put On The New Light Of Life
1. Waiting in Tension
2. Watchful, but not Afraid
Introduction
1. Waiting in Tension
“Stand erect, hold your heads high.” This is the message the Lord speaks to us on this First Sunday of Advent. There are terrible civil wars, there is famine in many parts of the world, and there are millions of refugees seeking safety. In Nigeria, Cameroon, many parts of Africa and the world the strife is unbearable. Yet our Lord assures us that we should keep up our hope and expectations, for he is still with us and near to us. Be attentive to his presence, not only here in the Eucharist but also in the life of every day.
2. Watchful, but not Afraid
Much of the world is sitting in the dark of hunger and suffering and violence, as cited above, and yet if we are God’s people we keep up the indestructible hope that truth and goodness and justice will prevail. For we believe that Christ our Lord has come and is alive among us. We struggle, we know the road is rough, but the Lord goes with us and he tells us: Come with me, serve with me, love with me, give and share yourself with me and you will be better, and the Church and the world will be better.
First Reading: Keep Hope Alive
To a discouraged people, the prophet announces: Take courage! A Savior will come from the house of David. With him honesty and integrity will make a new beginning.
1 Reading Jeremiah 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, Psalm 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.
Second Reading: Prepare for the Lord’s Coming
Jesus came to make us new. By growing in love and living our faith more deeply, we hasten his coming in our world.
2 Reading 1 Thessalonians 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 Psalm 85:8
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us, Lord, your love;
and grant us your salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: My Kingdom Is Not of This World
Even in times of danger, Christians keep hoping in the future. By a life of love, prayer and vigilance they prepare to meet the Lord.
Gospel Luke 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.”
Commentary
Welcome to a new liturgical year! The old year was just long enough! Thank God for the freshness of a new beginning! But what a terrifying beginning! “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of perplexed nations when they hear the roaring of the sea and its waves!” What is that about? It is about ‘the Second Coming’: when Christ will return at the end of time. It is a glimpse into the ultimate future, which is unthinkable, unimaginable…. But today we look at the other end of the scale: the beginning. We are entering the season of preparation for Christmas, the First Coming. The Advent liturgy has a special freshness about it; it is many people’s favorite season. We are preparing for the New Thing. The new cannot be forced on us; it comes gently, it comes vulnerably. The newest thing of all, God’s great new event, will come as a new-born baby. Let us get freshen up, for this New Birth, through the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. My words for all are: Get New!
Blessing
Keep your heads high in hope
was the message of today.
Keep hoping when there are wars and violence,
keep hoping when there is much injustice,
Keep hoping when there is much hatred,
keep hoping, for there is a future.
Christ is with you, and with him
you can do away with violence and wars,
you can defeat enmity with friendship.
Yes, hold your heads high,
for the Lord Jesus is among us
and with him there is hope and a future.
Let us go with him
and may almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Go in the peace and hope of Christ.
R/ Thanks be to God.