1st Sunday in Advent (Year A) December 1, 2019
Matthew 24:37-44
37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Matthew 3:3
Commentary: Today is the first Sunday of Advent, which is also the first Sunday of a new liturgical year for the Church. The Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord. In this season, we recall two central elements of our faith: the final coming of the Lord in glory and the incarnation of the Lord in the birth of Jesus. Key themes of the Advent season are watchful waiting, preparation, and justice. In this new liturgical year, the Gospel of Matthew will be the primary Gospel proclaimed (Lectionary Cycle A). In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus speak about the need for wakefulness, for watchful waiting, for the coming of the Son of Man. The passage from Matthew we read today is rather straightforward. No one knows the precise time of the coming of the Lord in glory [at the end of the world], so watchful waiting and vigilance are required. The passage speaks to the uselessness of looking for signs; there will be none. As a thief sneaks in during the night, so will the Lord’s coming in glory be. The question for us as members of the Christian community, then, is how do we prepare for this? Today’s passage speaks more about the manner of waiting, rather than the details of the preparation. Jesus compares the vigilance required of Christians to the vigilance of a homeowner who knows the plans of the thief. If one knows that the thief’s action is imminent, one remains watchful. As Christians, we know that our Lord is coming even if we cannot know the precise timing. Jesus calls us to be watchful and vigilant, like the homeowner. If we become lax in our Christian living, we may be caught unprepared.
Questions:
1. How good are you at being patient while waiting for something?
2. Why is waiting a theme of Advent? For what are we waiting?
3. If you go into a store right now, what Church season is being anticipated? Do any stores have Advent decorations for sale?
Words to the Song – Lose Control by Meduza, Becky Hill & Goodboys
Why do I feel like I’m drowning / Like I’m running out of air? Ah
Why do I feel like I’m falling / When I’m nowhere near the edge? Ah
Just let me know can you be the one to hold and not let me go?
I need to know could you be the one to call when I lose control?
I, I / I need your love / I need your love x3
I, I / Could you be one to call when I lose control
When I lose control (I, I) / When I lose control (I, I)
When I lose control (I need your love) / When I lose control (I need your love)
When I lose control ( I, I) / When I lose (I, I)
I, I / Could you be one to call when I lose control
I know I can be destructive / And I can change the atmosphere / All I ask from you is patience
Some patience, some patience
Just let me know can you be the one to hold and not let me go?
I need to know could you be the one to call when I lose control?
When I lose control (I, I) / When I lose control (I, I)
When I lose control (I need your love) / When I lose control (I need your love)
When I lose control ( I, I) / When I lose (I, I)
I, I / Could you be one to call when I lose control
I, I / I need your love / I need your love X2
When I lose control (I, I) / When I lose control (I, I)
When I lose control (I need your love) / When I lose control (I need your love)
When I lose control ( I, I) / When I lose (I, I) I, I / Could you be one to call when I lose control
Visio Divina
#/media/File:Hunt_Light_of_the_World.jpg){kind=link}
1.Visio (See) Look at the art. What do you see? What is happening?
2.Meditatio (Meditate) How does it make you feel?
3.Lectio (Read, Context) Read the Gospel passage above. Reread the Commentary above. Read the explanation of the painting at the St. Paul’s website. What are the common points between the Gospel, the commentary and the St. paul’s artirticle?
4.Oratio (Pray) Silently sit with this image opening yourself up to the flow of the Holy Spirit.
5.Contemplatio (Ponder) How is God speaking to you in this Visio Divina? Share your thoughts by writing them or telling them.
6. Operatio (Act) Because of this Visio Divina, what acts or changes in thinking do you want to happen in your life?
Visio Divina Links on CARFLEO
Visio Divina Links on CARFLEO
Advent Art on CARFLEO