So let's talk about today's readings 11/29/09

[cheeto1]

November 29, 2009

Reading 1
Jer 33:14-16

The days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will fulfill the promise
I made to the house of Israel and Judah.
In those days, in that time,
I will raise up for David a just shoot ;
he shall do what is right and just in the land.
In those days Judah shall be safe
and Jerusalem shall dwell secure;
this is what they shall call her:
“The LORD our justice.”

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14

R. (1b) To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
and for you I wait all the day.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Reading II
1 Thes 3:12-4:2 Brothers and sisters:
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love
for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.
Finally, brothers and sisters,
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us
how you should conduct yourselves to please God
Cand as you are conducting yourselves
you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

Gospel
Lk 21:25-28, 34-36

Jesus said to his disciples:
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand. “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man.”

 

[cheeto1]

Right away I notice that this first Sunday of Advent is so important that the readings
over-rule the feast day of an apostle.

“The days are coming, says the LORD”
“In those days, in that time”
“In those days”
– Everyone wonders when those days are. Some really smart people don’t, because
they realise that the “when” is irrelevant to our behavior. This is the season of
miracles. This is the season when Jesus is born into the middle of suffering and
shows Himself to a suffering world. How does love break into a world of turmoil?
That is the question of the season. Once our car broke down on the freeway in the
snow. It was out of gas. The man of the family took the gas can and started
walking. We knew he’d be gone a long time, we hadn’t seen any gas stations. In
a car with children and a 93-year-old, it got colder and colder. Suddenly a pick-up
truck with 2 young men pulled up. Out jumped the man of the family, with the gas!
These 2 young men looked like the last people you would trust to give you a ride
on a lonely road. But they were suffering. It turned out their mother had just died.
They were going to the funeral home but they stopped first to help a stranger.
Also, our priest told a story of his mother falling while crossing a street. She
was helped by 3 “goth” teenagers with tatoos and piercings, who she then invited
to thanksgiving dinner at her house. This is a “magic” time of year, when extra
power seems to come from God, to do more good than you thought you ever
could. And for others who you might not expect goodness from, to receive the
same power. What will happen this year?

“for You I wait all the day.”
– it’s a season of waiting for the Lord, each day.

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars"
– The star of Bethlehem is one sign in the stars. I wonder what another one
would be?

Today is the day of St. Andrew.
– There is a charitable organization I think it’s called forgotton harvest. They get
food for the poor from businesses that have to throw it away. Isn’t that just like
St. Andrew? He noticed when someone else had something the hungry could
use.

So what struck you about today’s readings? :bible1::twocents:

 

[cheeto1]

Right away I notice that this first Sunday of Advent is so important that the readings
over-rule the feast day of an apostle…
Today is the day of St. Andrew.
– There is a charitable organization I think it’s called forgotton harvest. They get
food for the poor from businesses that have to throw it away. Isn’t that just like
St. Andrew? He noticed when someone else had something the hungry could
use.

Oops! sorry! The feast day of St. Andrew is not today, but tomorrow, Monday
Nov. 30!