Dec. 1, 2019: 1st Sunday Advent A
O Oriens: O radiant Dawn, brightness of light eternal, and sun of all justice: O come and illumine those who live in deep darkness, in the shadow of death. (O Antiphon)
Our opening prayer for the First Sunday of Advent asks God for the grace of vigilance and resolve by living everyday as a disciple of Jesus who expects his arrival any day. “Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming, so that, gathered at his right hand, they may be worthy to possess the heavenly kingdom.” Jesus came to save us at the first Christmas; now, we “stay awake,” living each day as an offering of love to God and our neighbor.
While the secular Christmas season began in October with Christmas merchandise in the stores, songs on the airwaves, and movies on TV, the season of Advent asks us to place our minds and hearts in God’s time table—waiting, yearning and hoping for the arrival of the Messiah with prayer and penance.
As we wait during this Advent Season for the coming of Christ Child, we look for opportunities to welcome Our Lord. Perhaps Our Lord is inviting us to welcome him who comes disguised as a little child or an elderly homebound person whose name is hung on the Christmas Giving Tree. Or perhaps, Our Lord is inviting us to turn around our life direction by going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. During Advent, churches in our deanery will host “This Light Is On For You” as well as other reconciliation opportunities.
Another spiritual way to wait for Our Lord’s coming during this season of Advent is to dedicate to reading one chapter a day of Gospel of Luke, from December 1 to Christmas Eve. There are 24 chapters in Luke, and this reading plan allows us to journey with Blessed Mother as she is greeted by Archangel Gabriel and to Our Lord’s death and resurrection. Once we read and meditate on the entire gospel account of Our Lord’s life, we will better appreciate God’s gift to us. In this way, we will dispose our minds and hearts to receive Christ Child with openness and eagerness as the shepherds and Magi.
