1st Sunday of Advent (A)

Sunday reflections for liturgical years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

December 1, 2013 (edited for 11/30/2025)
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, the the remembrance of the time our Lord Jesus Christ was born, is near. It is a time of much preparation, not only for Christmas day, but also to remember and prepare for the return of the Son of Man. If the Advent season calls us to prepare, what can the readings this Sunday reveal about how we are to prepare? From the book of Isaiah, the passage tells us to to prepare by working for peace: 'to turn our swords into plowshares, and not to train for war again'. And this we prepare internally, in our minds, hearts, and souls. In the reading from St. Paul to the letter to the Romans, Paul teaches that to prepare for the Lord's coming, we are to live honorably and not to indulge in vice and excess - especially in matters related to the desires of the flesh. Finally, in the gospel according to Matthew, the gospel reminds us to keep a watchful eye, and not to be unconcerned about what is happening around us.

During Advent, we anticipate both the remembrance of the Lord's birth in a poor Bethlehem stable, and the time of His return at the end of the world. It is at this end that He comes to bring justice in much splendor and glory. When we examine the writings of St. Cyril of Jerusalem (a doctor of the Church in the early Church), he wrote well about this twin remembrance of the birth of Jesus and His second coming:

"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 and brings surface joy, but the spiritual preparation for an inner joy that lasts longer, takes more effort. If spiritual preparation is taken to heart, it can be done in the context of the the Sacrament of Confession and the Eucharist. Preparing ourselves spiritually requires entering into the spirit of the season - through the prayers of the liturgy and our own personal prayer. The color purple expresses well this spirit of the season. One can prepare a lot externally, but the ideal is to prepare ourselves also for Christ - in acts of charity to the poor and the needy. And not only in material things, but in kindness and respect to them as well. By this preparation, we our whole being for the coming of the Lord into our work, our lives, and our homes. It is a call and an opportunity to undertake every year. It is therefore important not to waste the time and opportunity when it is given by God to all the faithful in the Church.

Scripture quotes 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)

Solemnity of Christ the King (C)

Christ the King (C) - November 21, 2010 (edited for 11/23/2025)

Liturgical readings
2 Samuel 5:1-3
Psalm 122
Colossians 1:12-20
Luke 23:35-43

"Jesus, remember me when You enter upon Your reign."

If we were in the time of Jesus, like the Jews of His time, we would also follow the religious thinking and concept they had of a promised Messiah in their religion. He would be one who would politically deliver them from foreign domination and rule. However, God had a different plan for the Jews; He would not send a political saviour. He would send His Son Jesus to enter into human history, within the Jewish culture and religion, to teach all that His Kingdom is not a political kingdom, but one that lives and will always live in the minds, hearts, and souls of all who believe in Him. Since the apostles of Jesus were Jews, they had to unlearn their understanding of a Jewish political Messiah and understand that in Jesus was the Kingdom they had always hoped for. Jesus always taught His band of apostles many things. He also told them of His impending Passion and death. It is this new understanding that the apostles of Jesus' time had difficulty comprehending; like the Jews of their time, the apostles also believed in a 'glorious' political Messiah - one who would deliver Israel from political bondage from Rome. Jesus, however, was presented as a Saviour who was also the "Suffering Servant" of Yahweh.

In the Kingdom of Christ Jesus, the one He wanted to found through the community of the apostles and His other disciples, the values run counter to the values and culture of the world. In God's Kingdom, service is above domination (shown in Jesus washing the feet of His apostles); great love is a sign of sincere repentance (seen in the woman washing the feet of Jesus with her tears and her hair); mercy is above the law and the Sabbath (shown by Jesus forgiving the woman caught in adultery and healing people during the Sabbath); eternal life is above any ignominious death (Jesus forgiving the 'good thief' during the Crucifixion); and, discipleship is above all family ties (the calling of the Apostles). These and many more Kingdom values are what Jesus teaches and makes important in preaching the salvation that is meant for all and the eternal inheritance all are called to have.

This solemnity of Christ the King, one point of reflection to be thought over is: If Jesus not only lived in 1-33 A.D., but returned and incarnated Himself again in our present generation, what would be the circumstances? Would He be incarnated at the lowest class of an impoverished nation with a broken culture? Which culture, and what occupation would He have done before beginning His earthly ministry? Would His appearance be entirely different from what He was in 1-33 A.D.? Maybe. But whatever your imagination conjures it to be, His actions in building His Kingdom in our present time would be the same: He will heal the sick, pardon sinners, drive out demons who possess people, side with the poor and the marginalized, work wondrous signs and miracles, and raise many dead back to life. With these same wonders brought about in our own time, if you were chosen to be one of His apostles or disciples, would you see Him as the 'king' or 'ruler' you want in your life? Would you believe Him, as the Apostles and other disciples did in biblical times?

33rd Sunday of the Year (C)

Sunday Readings from Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)
November 17, 2013, Edited for 11/16/2025
Liturgical readings
Malachi 3:19-20
Psalm 98
2 Thessalonians 3:7-12
Luke 21:5-19

The Lord says to us: "By patient endurance, you will save your lives."

Some were speaking
of how the temple was adorned
        with precious stones
        and votive offerings.


Jesus said,


"These things you are contemplating


- the day will come
when not one stone
will be left on another,


but it will all be torn down."


They asked him,


"When will this occur, Teacher?


And what will be the sign
it is going to happen?"


He said,


"Take care not to be misled.


Many will come in my name,


saying,


'I am he'


and


'The time is at hand.'


Do not follow them.


Neither must you be perturbed
when you hear
        of wars
        and insurrections.


These things are bound
to happen first,


but the end
does not follow immediately."


He said to them further:


"Nation will rise against nation
and kingdom against kingdom.


There will be great earthquakes,
        plagues,
        famines in various places


        - and in the sky
        fearful omens
        and great signs.


But before any of this,


they will manhandle and persecute you,


summoning you to synagogues
        and prisons,


bringing you to trial
        before kings
        and governors,


all because of my name.


You will be brought
to give witness
on account of it.


I bid you resolve
not to worry
about your defense beforehand,


for I will give you words


and a wisdom


which none of your adversaries
can take exception to
or contradict.


You will be delivered up
even by your parents,
        brothers,
        relatives
        and friends.


and some of you


will be put to death.


All will hate you
because of me,


yet not a hair
of your head will be harmed.


By patient endurance
you will save your lives.

Verses from the Sunday readings:
"There will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays." (Malachi 3)
"The Lord will rule the world with justice and the peoples with equity." (Psalm 98)
"Paul exhorts his brethren in Christ Jesus to earn the food they eat by working quietly." (2 Thessalonians)
"The Lord says: 'I will give you words and a wisdom which your adversaries cannot contradict.'" (Luke 20)