Month: November 2013

First Sunday of Advent

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Gospel Reflection for the 1st Sunday of Advent – December 1st 2013

Full scripture for this Sunday is available on the Catholic Ireland website. Daily Scripture is also available. Our parish Prayers of the Faithful for this Sunday are made available on the Dublin Diocesan website.

SCRIPTURE

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As it was in Noah’s day, so will it be when the Son of Man comes. For in those days before the Flood people were eating, drinking, taking wives, taking husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and they suspected nothing till the Flood came and swept all away. It will be like this when the Son of Man comes. Then of two men in the fields one is taken, one left; of two women at the millstone grinding, one is taken, one left.

‘So stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming. You may be quite sure of this that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Matthew 24:37-44

REFLECTION

Light for the Journey
In faith and in hope we begin Advent this week with its first candle. With Mary and Joseph we wait for Christ. The candles lighting the way for them – and for us! The coming light of Jesus lights both our waiting and our journey in life. It may shine the light of Christ into darknesses of the year since last Christmas – bereavement, illness, depressions, disappointments. We welcome this light, and in the spirit of Pope Francis: “Those who have opened their hearts to God’s love, heard his voice and received his light cannot keep this gift to themselves. Since faith is hearing and seeing, it is also handed on as word and light.”

Christmas for Others
We best prepare for Christmas by spreading this light. The way we celebrate Christmas is rooted in our community. Our ways are care for the poor, some daily prayer, and the wish to forgive.

God is Near
All the different images of Christmas prepare us for this birth – the carols in the shops, the lights in the streets, the star over the church and the ways we pray and remember other Christmas days with joy.

Everything of this month can remind us of God….trees, lights, carols, parties, Santa hats……God is near.

Come, Lord Jesus. Come into our world of gold and grey, into the world which needs you badly.

Donal Neary SJ

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