Advent opens with a great cry, and a great promise: Oh that you would tear the heavens open and come down! is the cry, of a people who need God. “…The master is coming is the promise, not to breed fear, but to answer our cry. 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 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 love and 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 63: 16 – 17; 64: 1, 3 – 8.
Response: Psalm 79
O shepherd of Israel, hear us,
shine forth from your cherubim throne.
O Lord, rouse up your might,
O Lord, come to our help.
God of hosts, turn again, we implore,
look down from heaven and see.
Visit this vine and protect it,
the vine your right hand has planted.
May your hand be on the man you have chosen,
the man you have given your strength.
And we shall never forsake you again:
Give us life that we may call upon your name.
1 Corinthians 1: 3 – 9
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!
John 2: 13 – 22
Prayer of the Faithful:
R/. O Lord, come to our help.
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