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First Sunday of Advent Mass Readings
First Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5
Responsorial: Psalm 122:1-9
Second Reading: Romans 13:11-14
Gospel: Matthew 24:37-44
Mass Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/120119.cfm
Our website: https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/
Welcome to SEASON TWO of deacon rudy’s notes! I am so excited that you are allowing me to spend a few minutes walking with you on your journey. If you are just joining me, welcome! I try to post these reflections on the Sunday readings every week on Sunday or Monday at the latest. Now, these reflections are designed to supplement what hear preached during the mass. These reflections are not meant to substitute for the homily or the mass – so please don’t put that on me!
A few housekeeping details. In every episode I will include the links to the readings in the notes section of this podcast and on the website, www.deaconrudysnotes.org.
Something to look forward to: every episode includes homework – something practical to help us try to incorporate the lessons we receive from Scripture into our everyday lives.
I also include the script for each podcast in the notes. The recording might deviate a little from the script because sometimes I get a little carried away, but for the most part, it’s all there. Just after the script, I try to include references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, in case you’d like to go a little deeper into the Church’s teachings. From time to time I will include references to materials that I use to prepare and any notes that I think might be helpful.
New this season, if you scroll all the way to the bottom to the bottom of the notes, you will find all three readings and the responsorial just in case you can’t get the links to work.
One more thing, please help me bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to more people by sharing a link to the website or the podcast with your family and friends. You can also help me reach more people by leaving a review on whichever podcast platform you are using. Many thanks in advance for helping me out.
This podcast is recorded in my home, so every now and then you might hear some random noise, like our dog barking or noise from the street. I hope it’s not too much of a distraction. We’re just keeping it real.
Now on to this week’s readings.
My brothers and sisters, today we begin Advent. This is a time of preparation. Not only do we look forward to the memorial of Jesus’ birth on Christmas, but we are reminded that our entire being should be oriented toward the Second Coming of Christ. Like the early disciples, we are called to “stay awake” for the Lord is near.
First, we should remember that there is nothing we can do as disciples to force God to come an earlier than he planned. Staying awake means that we should not get caught up in political or so-called religious activities that seek to set the stage for the Second Coming. As Jesus said, He will return, “at an hour you do not expect.”
Second, being prepared means that we should be prepared everyday of our lives, because the end will come – the Second Coming will come at the end of time, yes, but this world will come to an end for each of us when we face our own death. We don’t know when that will happen, so if we don’t have everything in order, then Advent is a good time to start. We should start now trying to deepen our relationship with Jesus. We should set the affairs of our lives in order now and stop delaying for some time in the future that might never come.
That means now is the time to address any unresolved pain or anguish in our lives. Now is the time to forgive ourselves for something we might have done in our past. Now is the time to forgive others who might have really ticked us off. But the key to forgiving ourselves and forgiving others is let it go. We can’t say we’ve forgiven and keep beating ourselves up about it or holding a grudge against other people.
Now is the time to examine how we live as Christians and ask ourselves if we allow our Christian beliefs to influence how we live our everyday lives, how we run our businesses, how we work at our jobs, how we treat other people, how we vote and the sorts of issues we advocate for. Now is the time to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.
So, when is Advent exactly? Every day of the year is Advent, not just these days running up to Christmas. As Christians, we must be an Advent people – a people who stay awake – a people ready and prepared for the coming of our Lord.
Homework! After hearing the Word of God proclaimed, I encourage you to reflect on the following questions.
- What conversion of mind, heart and life is the Lord asking of me?
- If Jesus were coming today, what would I do? What can I do today to walk more closely with God?
I think doing our homework will help us be an Advent people as we look forward to celebrate the memorial of Christmas, and as we wait for the coming of our Lord.
Do you got it? Do you get it? Then go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!
References
- Mitch, Curtis, and Edward Sri. The Gospel Of Matthew. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2014.
- Lectio Divina Of The Gospels. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.
Catechism Links:
- The human knowledge of Jesus, 471-74 http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p122a3p1.htm#471
- The Coming of Christ 668-677 http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s2c2a7.htm#668
Mass Readings
First Reading
Isaiah 2:1-5
This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz,
saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come,
the mountain of the LORD’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain
and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it;
many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths.”
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and impose terms on many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
one nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.
O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord!
Responsorial
Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls,
prosperity in your buildings.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my brothers and friends
I will say, “Peace be within you!”
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Second Reading
Romans 13:11-14
Brothers and sisters:
You know the time;
it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.
For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed;
the night is advanced, the day is at hand.
Let us then throw off the works of darkness
and put on the armor of light;
let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day,
not in orgies and drunkenness,
not in promiscuity and lust,
not in rivalry and jealousy.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.
Gospel
Matthew 24:37-44
Jesus said to his disciples:
“As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In those days before the flood,
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage,
up to the day that Noah entered the ark.
They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.
So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be out in the field;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Therefore, stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”