Reading I 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
and as you are conducting yourselves you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
Alleluia Ps 85:8
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us, Lord, your love; and grant us your salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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.”
This is the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of a new liturgical year.
But, today, in the Gospel of Luke, we hear Jesus talking about the end of everything.
Jesus says, “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth
nations will be in dismay.”
It’s like the opposite of Genesis when God made the world and put things in order.
Here, the world is falling apart into chaos.
What does this reading have to do with Advent?
Well it shows that things don’t last forever.
We can’t rely too much on stuff here on Earth.
Families, countries, and nature all change.
But after everything falls apart, we hear in the Gospel, “they will see the Son of
Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
This is Jesus.
He isn’t a person who will pass away.
He is God.
He is eternal.
He isn’t from this world and he lasts even when the world doesn’t.
Even though the world and the things on it are wonderful because God made them, the world
isn’t the best thing because it passes away.
We don’t have to be afraid because we rely on God who never ends and whose love lasts
forever.
He is coming in this season of Advent.
The word advent comes from the Latin meaning “to come.”
Jesus is coming and we have to get our hearts ready!
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