Advent opens with a great promise: “In the days to come…” the hope of a people who need God. “…The master is coming” is also a promise, not a threat to breed fear, but to answer our cry. So Advent begins, not with thoughts of the past, with the coming of the Lord we celebrate at Christmas, but with the future, and the promise that He is coming back. We are encouraged to stay awake, and treat every day as the day the Lord will come; we do not do this out of fear for a Master who beats his servants, but out of love of a Master who always treats us with mercy. Nevertheless we must always be watchful, because we can grow sleepy and complacent, saying that we can leave this prayer or that confession or the other change in the way we live to tomorrow. Even as we look forward to the tomorrow of the Lord’s coming, we must remember that it might be today!
Today’s Scripture (Psalter: Week 1)
Isaiah 2: 1 – 5
Response: Psalm 121
1. I rejoiced when I heard them say:
“Let us go to God’s house.”
And now our feet are standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
2. It is there that the tribes go up,
// the tribes of the Lord.
For Israel’s law it is,
there to praise the Lord’s name.
There were set the thrones of judgement//
of the house of David.
3. For the peace of Jerusalem pray:
“Peace be to your homes!
May peace reign in your walls,
in your palaces, peace!”
4. For love of my brethren and friends
I say: “Peace upon you!”
For love of the house of the Lord
I will ask for your good.
(Sung Antiphon: I rejoiced when I heard them say: “Let us go to God’s house.”)
Romans 13: 11 – 14
Acclamation for the Gospel:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Let us see, O Lord, your mercy
and give us your saving help. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Matthew 24: 37 – 44
Prayer of the Faithful: R/. Come, Lord Jesus.
See all today’s readings on Catholic Online.
