First Sunday of Advent

Today's Mass Readings

Today is a day of new beginnings! Today we begin the season of Advent. The cycle of the Church’s liturgy begins anew. We begin again the cycle of celebrating and reflecting on the mysteries of our salvation.

These are the themes of advent: the cycle of salvation—the time of salvation. The coming of the LORD. The hope of the promise. Waiting in hope for the Lord.

Advent is called many things. A time to be alert. To watch. A time to be attentive, to be ready for the coming of the Lord. It is seen as a time of preparing. A time of waiting. A time of hoping. Looking forward. It is all of these and more really.

And this short and very rich time must compete with the hustle and bustle and busyness of December in our culture preparing for Christmas. But not quite the same kind of preparing we talk about in Advent. Many may see little purpose to these days of Advent. But they are important for us. It is a good time for us to consider what we are about. Who we await. What we celebrate these days and at Christmas.

We reflect on the coming of the Lord. Advent is a season of hope. Just as Israel looked forward in hope for the coming of the savior. The prophecies of the Old Testament speak of the coming fulfillment of God’s promises.

Our Scripture readings today take us by surprise, in a way. Clearly the Gospel must seem startling: There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars. Nations will be in dismay. People will be frightened. The Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and glory. Be awake. Stand up and raise your heads … your redemption is at hand.

Be ready. Alert. Don’t be drowsy in drunkenness and the “anxieties of daily life.” Powerful words. They clearly get our attention. That’s a bit of contrast to Jeremiah’s words – I will fulfill the promise. I will raise up a messiah – from the house of David. Perhaps among the “anxieties of daily life” must be included the hysterical business of these days all around us. Don’t be overwhelmed by these either. 

In Advent we are operating on three different levels. We recall the coming of the Lord in history (over two thousand years ago) as Messiah. The one long awaited by the people of Israel. Our readings also put us in mind of the Lord’s final coming in glory: the coming of the Son of Man, when the Lord comes as judge.  And along with both of those—and most importantly of all—we consider the way the Lord comes to us in mystery. We look for the coming of the Lord into our lives. Into our world—now, this year.

Reflection by Fr. Peter Ullrich, OSB