Bishop Schlert’s Sunday Gospel Reflection:
On this first day of the new liturgical year, as excitement for the holidays fills our hearts and homes, the Church does not direct our attention to Jesus lying in a manger, but rather, to the end of the world. Advent is indeed a joyful time of preparation for Christmas and the celebration of Christ’s first coming, but it is also a season for remembering His second coming at the end of days.
Both Jesus in the Gospel and St. Paul in our second reading remind us to “stay awake.” In other words, we must not lose sight of our eternal destiny amidst the distractions of daily life. St. Paul identifies “the works of darkness,” which can be likened to the spiritual “sleep” of complacency—an overemphasis on physical pleasure, comfort, and status. Jesus describes how, in the days of Noah, people were living as usual—eating, drinking, marrying—until the flood came and swept them away. Both readings urge us to live with the end in mind and to prioritize spiritual readiness over worldly concerns.
One powerful way to prepare ourselves is to do penance. While people are accustomed to doing penance for Lent, it is fitting to do so for Advent as well. St. Paul suggests that we “put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.” We need not refuse ourselves every desire, but we can still take seriously his suggestion. We “put on” Jesus Christ by participating in His Cross, making voluntary sacrifices and uniting all our sufferings to His. Further, we “put on” Christ—uniting ourselves to Him and His virtues—every time we receive Him in the Holy Eucharist.
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Gospel Reflection: First Sunday of Advent - AD Today
Brothers and sisters: You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us … Continue reading
