Liturgical Readings for : Sunday, 3rd December, 2023
*****************Beginning Advent 2023-24 ******************
Third December 2023
First Sunday of Advent Year B
The God who comes is a loving Father; we are the work of his hands. Our hope in Christ will strengthen us to await steady and without blame the day of his coming. We are warned against complacency, taking God’s gifts for granted. Our God is watching over us; he is the careful potter, the loving father, the good shepherd, the faithful one.
FIRST READING
A reading from the prophet Isaiah 63:16-17; 64:1. 3-8
Oh that you would tear the heavens open and some down.
You, Lord, yourself are our Father, Our Redeemer is your ancient name.
Why, Lord, leave us to stray from your ways and harden our hearts against fearing you?
Return, for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your inheritance.
Oh that you would tear the heavens open and some down
– at your Presence, such as no one has ever heard of before.
No ear has heard, no eye has seen any god but you act like this
for those who trust him.
You guide those who act with integrity and keep your ways in mind.
You were angry when we were sinners; we had long been rebels against you.
We were all like men unclean, all that integrity of ours like filthy clothing.
We have all withered like leaves and our sins blew us away like the wind.
No one invoked your name or roused himself to catch hold of you.
For you hid your face from us and gave us up to the power of our sins.
And yet, Lord, you are our Father;
we the clay, you the potter,
we are all the work of your hand.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 79
Response God of hosts, bring us back;
let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
1. O shepherd of Israel, hear us, shine forth from your cherubim throne.
O Lord, rouse up your might, O Lord, come to our help. Response
2. God of hosts, turn again, we implore, look down from heaven and see.
Visit this vine and protect it, the vine your right hand has planted. Response
3. May your hand be on the man you have chosen, the man you have given your strength.
And we shall never forsake you again: give us life that we may call upon your name. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 1:3-9
We are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace.
I never stop thanking God for all the graces you have received through Jesus Christ. I thank him that you have been enriched in so many ways, especially in your teachers and preachers; the witness to Christ has indeed been strong among you so that you will not be without any of the gifts of the Spirit while you are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed; and he will keep you steady and without blame until the last day, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, because God by calling you has joined you to his Son, Jesus Christ; and God is faithful.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Ps 84:8
Alleluia, alleluia!
Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and give us your saving help.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you And with your spirit.
A reading from the Gospel according to Mark 13:33-37 Glory to you, O Lord
Stay awake, because you never know when the time will come
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come. It is like a man travelling abroad: he has gone from home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own task; and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake.
So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow, dawn; if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep.
And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake!’
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
*********************************
A short Advent reflection with thanks to John Cullen
We all have memories that are vivid and have an impact on us. One haunting memory I have is of a routine walk through a school playground; a child asked me, ‘Father, can I ask you a question?’ I said, ‘Yes, of course, anything’. Then he asked me, ‘Is it true that Santa Claus is not real?’ I side-stepped the question, but I could see in his eyes that he was determined to get an answer. I explained about St Nicholas and that Santa represented him.
Then a startling question of clarification followed. It was like an ex cathedra statement. ‘So there is no real Santa that manages to come down a smoked chimney full of soot and yet appears with a white beard?’ Well, what do you say?’ He was looking for real answers of proof. ( St Nickolas )
Like all adults I fudged and fumbled a vague answer. Then he asked me a major question, ‘Father, what age then do they tell us that there is no God, just like there is no Santa?’ I felt dim witted and flummoxed. The bell rang, playtime was over and I never got around to answering his vital and honest question even to this day.
Advent is an awareness time to help us not to miss the signs of God’s presence. Awareness is inseparable from the expectancy that was in the question posed to me in the school playground. We look at one another as believers with hope and expectancy.
Awareness and expectancy are central to Advent. Every day we watch the world in which we live and the people we meet with a sense of expectancy. Advent invites us to listen for the Word to come alive for us in Scripture and to ask the Spirit to bless our awareness through the signs of the sacraments.
Advent reflections help us to celebrate the truth of ‘God-with-us’, who, despite the lurking questions in the playground of our hearts, invites us in the gospel words ‘to listen, to know and to follow’ (John 10:27).
The Scripture Texts are taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966, Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd.
