Sunday reflections for liturgical years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)
December 1, 2013
Liturgical readings
Isaiah 2:1-5
Psalm 122
Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:37-44
"The Son of Man is coming at the time you least expect."
Advent marks the beginning of the liturgical season in the Church. It is a sign that Christmas is near. It is a time of preparation, and remembering the return of the Son of Man. If the Advent season calls us to prepare, what can the readings this Sunday reveal about preparing? In the reading from the book of Isaiah, the passage wants us to prepare by working for peace: 'to turn our swords into plowshares, and not to train for war again'. In the reading from St. Paul to the letter to the Romans, Paul wants us to prepare by living honorably and not to indulge in vice and excess. Finally, in the gospel according to Matthew, we are reminded to keep a watchful eye and not to be unconcerned about what is happening.
During Advent we anticipate the remembrance of the Lord's birth in a poor Bethlehem stable, and at the same time His return at the end of the world. It is at this end that He comes to bring justice in splendor and glory. St. Cyril of Jerusalem, a doctor of the Church in the early history of the Church, depicts well this twin remembrance of birth and second coming in one of his catechetical instructions:
"We do not preach only one coming of Christ, but a second as well, much more glorious than the first. The first coming was marked by patience; the second will bring the crown of a divine kingdom...At the first coming, He was wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger. At His second coming He will be clothed in light as a garment." (St. Cyril of Jerusalem)
Material preparation for Advent may be easy, but the spiritual preparation takes more effort. If we take our spiritual preparation to heart, it can be done in the context of the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Confession. Preparing ourselves spiritually requires entering into the spirit of the season - through the liturgy and our own prayer. The color purple expresses well this spirit of the season. We can prepare externally, but the ideal is to prepare ourselves also for Christ - in acts of charity to the poor and the needy. We are to prepare our minds, hearts, souls and strength for the coming of the Lord into our work, our lives and our homes. It is a call we respond to every year. Let us therefore take this wonderful opportunity to prepare: in the responsibilities to our parish, neighborhood, and home.
Verses from the readings:
He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples (Isaiah 2)
To Jerusalem the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord (Psalm 122)
Wake from sleep, for our salvation is closer than when we first accepted the faith (Romans 13)
The coming of the Son of Man will repeat what happened in Noah's time (Matthew 24)
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