Today\u2019s Mass: the First Sunday of Advent<\/p>\n
By Fr David Gibbons, Centre for Catholic Formation, Archdiocese of Southwark<\/p>\n
Today is the first day of the Church\u2019s liturgical year. It is also the beginning of Year A in the Sunday Lectionary, the Year of Matthew (that is to say, most of the Gospel readings at Sunday Mass this year are taken from St Matthew\u2019s Gospel). Advent is the season when we prepare to celebrate Christmas, the annual remembering of Christ\u2019s coming into the world. In Advent we also direct our minds to His second coming. It is no surprise, then, that these are the themes of today\u2019s Readings.<\/p>\n
The First Reading \u2013 like so many in Advent \u2013 is taken from the prophecy of Isaiah, although rather mysteriously almost the same words are found in Micah 4: 1-3. It is a vision of the restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem (i.e. the restoration of true worship of God) and of peace among the nations. Christ\u2019s coming ushered in this new age, and this vision should inspire us to work for true worship of God and for world peace. The Psalm continues the same themes.<\/p>\n
In the Second Reading St. Paul \u2013 using the imagery of night turning to day \u2013 tells us that as Christians we now live in the new age (of Christ) and should behave accordingly: we should \u201cwake up now\u201d and live in the light of Christ.<\/p>\n
In the Gospel Jesus compares His second coming to Noah\u2019s flood: it will be sudden and unexpected; some will be taken and others left (some will be saved and others not); so we must \u201cstay awake\u201d and always be prepared to account for ourselves at the Day of Judgement.<\/p>\n