November 28, 2010, 1st Sunday of Advent
Let Us Put on the Armor of Light!
As we begin a new liturgical year with the season of Advent, we wish one another a spiritually fruitful New Year. It is unfortunate that many Catholics seem to give little importance to the liturgical year whose main purpose is to bring about our sanctification, which is the most important undertaking in our life. This Advent is, for all of us, an opportunity to rediscover the richness of this well-planned series of liturgical events, even as we start our remote preparation for Christmas. St. Paul’s exhortation to get rid of the “deeds of darkness” and to clothe ourselves
with the splendor of Christ’s grace should motivate us to begin this holy season with a clear plan of action and the determination to carry it out faithfully. Let this be one of the main intentions for which we offer this Eucharist.
First Reading:
Isaiah 2: 1 - 5
1The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.2It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,3and many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.4He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.5O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
1The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.2It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,3and many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.4He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.5O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Psalm:
Psalms 122: 1 - 9
1I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!"2Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!3Jerusalem, built as a city which is bound firmly together,4to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD.5There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! "May they prosper who love you!7Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers!"8For my brethren and companions' sake I will say, "Peace be within you!"9For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
1I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!"2Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!3Jerusalem, built as a city which is bound firmly together,4to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD.5There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! "May they prosper who love you!7Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers!"8For my brethren and companions' sake I will say, "Peace be within you!"9For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Second Reading:
Romans 13: 11 - 14
11Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed;12the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light;13let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy.14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
11Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed;12the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light;13let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy.14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel:
Matthew 24: 37 - 44
37As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man.38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,39and they did not know until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of man.40Then two men will be in the field; one is taken and one is left.41Two women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left.42Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.43But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into.44Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
37As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man.38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,39and they did not know until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of man.40Then two men will be in the field; one is taken and one is left.41Two women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left.42Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.43But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into.44Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
A NOTE ON THE LITURGICAL YEAR AND ADVENT
The “liturgical year” is the period of time whose main events and features are determined by theChurch’s official worship, or “liturgy.” During the liturgical year, her main concern is the commemoration and re-living of God’s interventions in human history to bring mankind to salvation. Such series of divine interventionshad its climax in JESUS CHRIST and will find its completion in his Second Coming as Judge of all. The Church commemorates those events yearly in her liturgical worship, which she offers to God the Father, in union with her Head, Jesus Christ, under the guidance and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus Christ is the center of Salvation history, so is he the center of the liturgical year. The main events of salvation history are recalled during the “Liturgy of the Word” by proclaiming to the congregation of believers passages from the Sacred Scriptures which have been selected for their instruction and guidance. The selection of those scriptural passages follows a historical sequence that is based on the major events in the life of Jesus Christ, from his birth to his ascension into heaven and the sending of the Holy Spirit on the Church. Thus, for a practical purpose, the “liturgical year” is divided into “liturgical seasons” whose “cores” are: • the birth of Jesus (Christmas season); • his death, resurrection, ascension, and the sending of the Holy Spirit (Holy Week and Easter season); and • his apostolic life (Ordinary Time). The Christmas season is preceded by a period of preparation that is called “Advent”; while the Holy Week is preceded by a period of preparation called “Lent.” The most important event in the liturgical year is EASTER, which is the commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. All other liturgical seasons and events are either a preparation for it, or a living out of its fruits of salvation. But the commemoration of the past events of salvation history, and especially the life of Jesus, is not simply a “calling them to mind.” They are also re-lived and made present and effective in the celebration of the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist. ADVENT is the first “season” of the liturgical year. It comprises four weeks. Its main purposes are: a) to introduce the liturgical year by reminding the faithful of the Lord’s coming as their judge and, therefore, of the need to be always ready to welcome him; and b) to help them prepare themselves for the commemoration of Christ’s birth.
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