Advent is a season in the Church’s life intended to renew the experience of waiting and longing for the Messiah.
First Sunday of Advent (Year A)- November 30, 1925
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they did not know until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of man. Then two men will be in the field; one is taken and one is left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left. Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (Mt. 24:36-44, RSV)
Reflection
We do not know when the Son of Man, will come to take us to be judged. We are urged to be ready no matter when the end will come. But the end is the beginning for those who lived their lives in righteousness. As Roman Catholics, we believe in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Many Catholics obey the Ten Commandments, obey the Rules of the Church, pursue a life of prayer and modesty, and will be rewarded with Everlasting Life in the company of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father, the Blessed Virgin, and the Angels and Saints. There are people who seem to know when the Last Judgment will take place, but no one really knows that important date, except God. If we live our lives in the State of Grace, we have nothing to worry about. (bro Fred's Reflections)
Second Sunday of Advent (Year A)
"In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." Now John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather girdle around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sad'ducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit that befits repentance, and do not presume to say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our father'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." (Mt 3:1-12, RSV)
Reflection
We hear the voice in the wilderness telling us to repent and sin no more. Just as St. John the Baptist did at the time before the birth of Christ, he told the people of Judea to prepare for the coming of the Lord, and told the people that he was not worthy to loosen the sandal-straps of he who was to come. Those who were baptized by St. John, the Baptist, were told that Jesus who is to come would bring the Holy Spirit. And that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. The Holy Spirit teaches us all we need to know. John also announces that this Jesus isn't interested in slackers and sinners, as in the reference to the Sad'ducees whom he calls "A brood of Vipers." It is a call for repentance for them, especially. How many people of today are Sad'ducees in modern clothing? There is room for improvement for all of us. (bro Fred's Reflections)
Third Sunday of Advent (year A)
"Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?" And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is he who takes no offense at me." As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? Why then did you go out? To see a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft raiment are in kings' houses. Why then did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, `Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.' Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Mt 11:2-11, RSV)
Reflection
Advent is half over. The Birth of the Christ-child, Jesus, is coming soon. In this passage, Jesus tells us as He travels around Judea about St. John the Baptist, who was sent to announce his coming, and Jesus sort of passively speaks of Himself as John might see Him - To see a man clothed in soft raiment? And Jesus rules that out. To see a Prophet, and again, Jesus refers to John as that person sent to prepare the way. And He refers to Himself as one who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven. Of course we know now that Jesus is the greatest - He is God! Are we ready to receive Him in our Midst? We should ask ourselves that question each and every year in Advent. (bro Fred's Reflections)
Purple and Rose
In the Catholic Church, the color of Lent or Advent is Purple. purple is the color of Penance. In Advent, purple dominates the colors found in a Church, a green Advent Wreath is decorated with a purple ribbon. On the Third Sunday of Advent, the color Rose is used because it marks the half-way point of Advent. That means it is only a short time to Christmas and that is a sign of joy. We speak of Gaudete Sunday; we are are glad to find that the Birth of Jesus is coming soon.
Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year A)
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus. (Mt 1:18-25, RSV)
Reflection
This is St. Matthew's birth narrative, where he tells of the Birth of Jesus. He tells us of the relationship of Joseph to Mary, and of the message of the Angel Gabriel, and that his son will come of the Holy Spirit, that Mary will bear a son who is "God with Us" (Emmanuel). For those of us who pray the Liturgy of the Hours, we recite or sing the Magnificat every day, in which the immortal words of the Blessed Virgin are recalled a told to us by St. Luke. Mary is humble and obedient and tells the Angel, that she will do as she has been asked. Between the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve there are only a few days, since Christmas is on a Tuesday this year. This year, 2007, really think about these Gospels of St. Matthew which allow us to prepare ourselves for the Birth of Little Jesus, who is to become our Redemptive Savior. (bro Fred's Reflections)
Christmas Season (yet to come)