Gospel Reading for The First Sunday of Advent

[CatholicZ09]

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be watchful! Be alert!
You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge,
each with his own work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,
whether in the evening, or at midnight,
or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

-Mark 13:33-37

I don’t know if this left anyone else alarmed/with chills, but it did me. Jesus seemed very adament when he was saying this. I find it the perfect way to start off Advent.

 

[centurionguard]

**They watch for Christ
who are sensitive, eager, apprehensive in mind,
who are awake, alive, quick sighted, zealous in honoring Him,
who look for Him in all that happens, and
who would not be surprised,
who would not be over-agitated or overwhelmed,
if they found that He was coming at once…

This then is to watch:
to be detached from the present, and
to live in what is unseen;
to live in the thought of Christ as He came once,
and as He will come again;
to desire His second coming, from our affectionate
and grateful remembrance of His first Advent**

By John Cardinal Henry Newman

On a personal note: nobody in this world despite great prophecies heralding Christ’s First Advent knew the actual moment or how He would come.

It will be identically the same in Jesus Christ’s Second Coming. Nobody will have forewarning of His next arrival. When Jesus Ascended into Heaven after He Rose from the Dead His Apostles and no doubt even His Mother Mary were gathered nearby.
And as He rose out of their sight His Angels said He would return the same way He left.

Our vigilance to stay Awake is how we make preparations in our soul and make great effort to leave behind the the illusionary attachments of this world and how they have taken root in us. We do not belong to this World.

 

[Huiou_Theou]

-Mark 13:33-37

I don’t know if this left anyone else alarmed/with chills, but it did me. Jesus seemed very adament when he was saying this. I find it the perfect way to start off Advent.

Me too.
I have been comparing advent to the Exodus story (for various reasons) and I had never noticed that the Exodus begun in the baptism of the Red Sea was a rushed event followed by trials in the desert. (pun noticed, but not intended…).

It is Isaiah who starts us off with John the baptist in the Desert, at the Jordan, in the same place that the waters of the Jordan would have stood up in a heap to allow the Israelites into the promised land after escaping a second slavery in the desert;
It is John who says make “straight” (as opposed to wandering for 40 years) the way of the LORD in the desert.

The baptism of the red sea and that of the Jordan were both historically meant to be a new beginning for the people; and in each there were failures. People did not “watch” over their own actions at the gates of their hearts; so his coming was a surprise for they rationalized the signs of their times.

 

[Huiou_Theou]

By John Cardinal Henry Newman
…
Our vigilance to stay Awake is how we make preparations in our soul and make great effort to leave behind the the illusionary attachments of this world and how they have taken root in us. We do not belong to this World.

JHN! very good.!

In the garden, we recall at the end of Lent (the other penitiential season), that St. Peter, James and John, fell asleep. And Jesus said “It will have to do.”. Sometimes, when I am not so ill, on Friday I like to keep the hour from 11:00 to midnight for prayer; I am not always able – but for Advent, I think I will try this year praying the prayer of St. Michael in that hour. This first Sunday being the inspiration for that.

 

[centurionguard]

:thumbs up:

Me too.
I have been comparing advent to the Exodus story (for various reasons) and I had never noticed that the Exodus begun in the baptism of the Red Sea was a rushed event followed by trials in the desert. (pun noticed, but not intended…).

It is Isaiah who starts us off with John the baptist in the Desert, at the Jordan, in the same place that the waters of the Jordan would have stood up in a heap to allow the Israelites into the promised land after escaping a second slavery in the desert;
It is John who says make “straight” (as opposed to wandering for 40 years) the way of the LORD in the desert.

The baptism of the red sea and that of the Jordan were both historically meant to be a new beginning for the people; and in each there were failures. People did not “watch” over their own actions at the gates of their hearts; so his coming was a surprise for they rationalized the signs of their times.

Saint John the Baptist happens to be one of my favorite saints.
Although I’m jumping ahead here next Sunday (Second Sunday of Advent) is very reminiscent of John the Baptist liturgically and from a scriptural notation.

Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her service is at an end,
her guilt is expiated;
indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD
double for all her sins.

A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill shall be made low;
the rugged land shall be made a plain,
the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Go up on to a high mountain,
Zion, herald of glad tidings;
cry out at the top of your voice,
Jerusalem, herald of good news!
Fear not to cry out
and say to the cities of Judah:
Here is your God!
Here comes with power
the Lord GOD,
who rules by his strong arm;
here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;
in his arms he gathers the lambs,
carrying them in his bosom,
and leading the ewes with care.

This reading always reminds me of the complete repertoire of Handel’s Messiah

youtube.com/watch?v=uiBwXw7ueLM

youtube.com/watch?v=tGmZ84i2S40&feature=related

He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; and He shall gather the lambs

with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are

with young. (Isaiah 40:11)

Come unto Him, all ye that labour, come unto Him that are heavy laden, and

He will give you rest. Take His yoke upon you, and learn of Him, for He

is meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

(Matthew 11:28-29)

 

[CatholicZ09]

Saint John the Baptist happens to be one of my favorite saints.
Although I’m jumping ahead here next Sunday (Second Sunday of Advent) is very reminiscent of John the Baptist liturgically and from a scriptural notation.

This reading always reminds me of the complete repertoire of Handel’s Messiah

youtube.com/watch?v=uiBwXw7ueLM

youtube.com/watch?v=tGmZ84i2S40&feature=related

“Comfort, Comfort, O My People” has to be my favorite hymn quoting the message and prophecy of John the Baptist.

 

[Huiou_Theou]

Saint John the Baptist happens to be one of my favorite saints.
Although I’m jumping ahead here next Sunday (Second Sunday of Advent) is very reminiscent of John the Baptist liturgically and from a scriptural notation.

This reading always reminds me of the complete repertoire of Handel’s Messiah

youtube.com/watch?v=uiBwXw7ueLM

youtube.com/watch?v=tGmZ84i2S40&feature=related

onward!
–Huiow Theou

 

[centurionguard]

There is another biblical verse to go along with one of today’s readings on the Second Sunday of Advent found in Isaiah and in Baruch Chapter 5 verses 1-9.

Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her service is at an end,
her guilt is expiated;
indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD
double for all her sins.

A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill shall be made low;
the rugged land shall be made a plain,
the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Go up on to a high mountain,
Zion, herald of glad tidings;
cry out at the top of your voice,
Jerusalem, herald of good news!
Fear not to cry out
and say to the cities of Judah:
Here is your God!
Here comes with power
the Lord GOD,
who rules by his strong arm;
here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;
in his arms he gathers the lambs,
carrying them in his bosom,
and leading the ewes with care.

Baruch 5: 1-9
haydock1859.tripod.com/id1351.html

Jerusalem is invited to rejoice, and behold the return of her children out of their captivity.

1 Put off, O Jerusalem, the garment of thy mourning, and affliction: and put on the beauty, and honour of that everlasting glory which thou hast from God.

2 God will clothe thee with the double garment of justice, and will set a crown on thy head of everlasting honour.

3 For God will shew his brightness in thee, to every one under heaven.

4 For thy name shall be named to thee by God for ever: the peace of justice, and honour of piety.

5 Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high: *and look about towards the east, and behold thy children gathered together from the rising to the setting sun, by the word of the holy One, rejoicing in the remembrance of God.

6 For they went out from thee on foot, led by the enemies: but the Lord will bring them to thee, exalted with honour, as children of the kingdom.

7 For God hath appointed to bring down every high mountain, and the everlasting rocks, and to fill up the valleys, to make them even with the ground: that Israel may walk diligently to the honour of God.

8 Moreover, the woods, and every sweet-smelling tree, have overshadowed Israel, by the commandment of God.

9 For God will bring Israel with joy in the light of his majesty, with mercy, and justice, that cometh from him.

 

[Pitcharan]

-Mark 13:33-37

I don’t know if this left anyone else alarmed/with chills, but it did me. Jesus seemed very adament when he was saying this. I find it the perfect way to start off Advent.

The gospel reading provides a parabolic imagery of the imminent end that awaits the over confident self-righteous.

We are expected to be vigilant and and maintain a worthy state always as we don’t know when the hour will arrive. Though this is a humanly impossible task it is made possible to those who depend on God. The humble publican who considered himself an unworthy sinner went justified but the self-willed and puritanical pharisees failed.

The open secret of sinners like the publican is ‘fear of God’.** Fear of God** is the beginning of wisdom that slowly but steadily transforms the sinner into a righteous child of God. The vigil needed to avoid sin is supplied by wisdom which comes from the ‘fear of God’.

I rejoice that this gospel reading left you alarmed with chills.