November 28, 2021

First Sunday of Advent

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

1. (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

1. 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: THE MYSTERY OF INCARNATION

We enter a beautiful season of grace-filled and joyful waiting for the Lord called the advent. The 'coming of the Lord', the great mystery of incarnation, Jesus being born in human flesh, is liturgically prepared during the coming four weeks. The readings are so rich and consoling that our hearts get warmed to that great event of the birth of Jesus, the Immanuel, God with us.

1. Advent is a joyful season of seeing the fulfillment: This event is also joyful because God fulfills the promise he made long ago through the patriarchs and prophets. “The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfil the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah”. This fulfilment is not an empty promise. Very encouraging and consoling type of a promise: a righteous branch will spring up for David; execute justice and righteousness in the land; in those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. The coming of Jesus into this world has been well prepared. It is the greatest event of salvation for the whole of humanity and for the whole of creation that is waiting with eager longing.
2. Advent is a time of waiting with love that makes it a pleasant experience: Of course, we can get tired of this waiting. Every year we go through this ritual of waiting for the Lord with songs, beautiful liturgical gestures, etc. However, the waiting has to spring from an inner longing (love) for the coming of the Lord. When I am not longing for someone, the waiting becomes tiresome and tedious. This has been the common experience of human beings. Waiting for a bus or a train, waiting for your turn in queue, waiting for your results, waiting for a person whom you do not love, are moments of intense boredom. Given the opportunity, we would safely avoid such moments. Waiting is pleasant or unpleasant depends on the inner longing that is love. 3. Loving waiting leads us to concrete action: A person who waits with love thinks ahead what that person would like and what are things that make him happy. We do not just say that we are longing for the visit of the loved ones if we are not doing anything to make that person happy. It is good to ask ourselves what good actions that we do that would make Jesus happy. A good preparation with loving action cannot but increase that longing we have for the person to arrive. Every minute we spend in waiting becomes a joyful experience. Boredom disappears and more longing takes over.