Sunday December 1, 2024
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C
Office: Proper Week 1, Te Deum
Mass prop., Creed.
Preface of Advent
Vestment: Violet (Purple)
Today’s Rosary: The Glorious Mystery
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
Vespers II of the 1st Sunday of Advent
ADVENT is the season that begins the Liturgical Year. It originated in the early Church as a short period of intense preparation for the celebration of the nativity of the Lord on December 25. Advent slowly came to be structured into four Sundays with proper readings and prayers. This season is marked by devout and joyful expectation as we recall the first humble coming of the Lord at Bethlehem. At the same time, we are invited to direct our mind and heart towards Christ’s final coming in glory at the end of time. This is well expressed both in the Scripture readings, in the prayers as well as in the two parts into which Advent is divided. During the first part of Advent, from the beginning until 16 December, the focus of the liturgy is on the second coming of the Lord, while during the second part, from 17 to 24 December, the emphasis is on the immediate preparation for Christmas.
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON Cf. Ps 24: 1-3
To you, I lift up my soul, O my God. In you, I have trusted; let me not be put to shame. Nor let my enemies exult over me; and let none who hope in you be put to shame.
THE GLORIA IS NOT SUNG DURING ADVENT
COLLECT
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. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
FIRST READING
“I will cause a righteous Branch to spring forth for David.”
A reading from the Book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 33: 14-16)
“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfil the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring forth for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness. ”’
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 25:4-5ab.8-9.10 and 14
R/. To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O Lord, make me know your ways.
Teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth, and teach me;
for you are the God of my salvation. R/.
Good and upright is the Lord;
he shows the way to sinners.
He guides the humble in right judgement;
to the humble he teaches his way. R/.
R/. To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
All the Lord’s paths are mercy and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and commands.
The LORD’s secret is for those who fear him;
to them he reveals his covenant. R/.
SECOND READING
“May the Lord establish your hearts at the coming of our Lord Jesus.”
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians (l Thessalonians 3: 12-4:2)
Brethren: May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all men, as we do to you, so that he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Finally, brethren, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you learned from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA Psalm 85:7
Alleluia. Show us your merciful love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Your redemption is near at hand.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 21:25-28.34-36)
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. But watch at all times, praying to have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Creed (I Believe)
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
Celebrant:
As the season of Advent begins, let us dispose ourselves to welcome the word made flesh and turn to God in prayer, asking him to transform our hearts according to his will.
FOR THE CHURCH: that, in the face of the crisis of faith in our world, she may continue to be the sign of righteousness and the beacon of hope. We pray O Lord.
FOR THOSE IN AUTHORITY: that they may bring about justice and peace for all citizens irrespective of personal leanings, and realize that their offices are for service and the promotion of the kingdom of God in this world. We pray O Lord.
FOR THE POOR: that, through the generosity of Christ’s faithful, they may always experience the compassion and providence of God. We pray O Lord.
FOR OURSELVES: that the message of the Gospel may arouse in us the desire for authentic conversion, and make us more ardent in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We pray O Lord.
FOR OTHER INTENTIONS: (the sick, church projects or other activities).
FOR THE DEAD, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF OUR PARISH COMMUNITY AND FAMILY MEMBERS: that they may find eternal rest with the Lord. We pray O Lord.
We pray in silence for our private intentions.
Celebrant:
Almighty and merciful God, give us the grace to always be on the watch for the coming of Christ your Son and to recognize him at last when he comes, for he lives and reigns forever and ever.
R/. Amen.
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Accept, we pray, O Lord, these offerings we make, gathered from among your gifts to us, and may what you grant us to celebrate devoutly here below gain for us the prize of eternal redemption. Through Christ our Lord.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps 84: 13
The Lord will bestow his bounty, and our earth shall yield its increase. Prayer after Communion May these mysteries, O Lord, in which we have participated, profit us, we pray, for even now, as we walk amid passing things, you teach us by them to love the things of heaven and hold fast to what endures. Through Christ our Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
Lord, Advent, the season of waiting for your coming has already begun. Your word puts me in a mood of expectation and alertness for your “comings” –your first coming as a helpless babe at Bethlehem; your constant coming to me through the events of my life and through all that surrounds me; and your final coming at the end of the world to call me Home….today you focus on your final coming, Honestly, this description of the end times frightens me. But I am relieved to realize that the universal catastrophe (and destruction) is not the final word
BLESSINGS FOR THE NEW MONTH
We say a big ‘Thank You’ to God for bringing us to December, the last month of the year.
May God be praised for all he has done for us and may we continue to see goodness and mercy in the land of the living.
Numbers 14:28 says, “So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say.” Job 22:28 says, “You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; and light will shine on your ways.” Child of God, with faith in His name, issue decree in accordance with His will concerning those conditions of disgrace in your life, let them be replaced by divine grace.
Open your mouth, praise the Lord and exalt him forever. May his praise be always on your lips and may greater good and blessings come upon you in abundance as we wrap up the year 2024.
May no harm come upon me, my household, my work and business and may my journey and movement in this month be safe, fruitful and blessed. Amen.
God, grant me the wisdom that would make me focused and firm-minded in all that I do. It is only in this that I can have clear understanding of your plan and enter into the fullness of your purpose for my life. Amen. Protect me from evil friends and demonic agents in Jesus name. Amen.
Have a fantastic new month of December. May Jesus open doors of blessings for you and your household and may his word be fulfilled upon your life. Amen.
Personal Devotional
MY ANNUAL SPIRITUAL CHECK-UP IN PREPARATION FOR CHRISTMAS
Dearly beloved, putting ourselves always aright with God is very important and expected, but sometimes due to our daily activities and worldly pursuit, we fall short of that expectations. However, now is a good time to re-examine ourselves and consciences, have a Spiritual Cheek-Up.
When you go through this, remember it is designed to expose grey areas in your soul. This SPIRITUAL CHECK-UP IS ABSOLUTELY FREE unlike your medical cheek-up. Within the next hour or so, let the Holy Spirit turn His searchlight on your SPIRITUAL LIFE.
Please, use the following lists as guide to examine your life before the Lord. Take each one slowly and carefully.
CHEATING – Did you get anything from anyone unfairly? Does someone know or suspect that you cheated to pass an important test or exam? Did you rob someone of their fair share of praise or pay for a job? (Mal. 3:5; Deut. 24:14-15; Jer. 22:13; Job 31:13)
HINDRANCE – Have you destroyed another’s confidence in you by needlessly taking up their time? Have you prevented them from doing God’s work for yourself? (Eph. 5:16)
HYPOCRISY- Did the life you lived before some people make all you said of Christ and His gospel a lie? Have you said one thing and done another? Were others turned from God by your life that declared to them your hypocrisy? (Matt. 6:5-6; 7:3-5; 23:28; Rev. 3:15-16)
STEALING – Can you remember taking money or property that was not yours? Did you steal from neighbours, relatives, shops or stores, school or home, offices or your work place? (Ex. 20:15; Eph. 4:28)
DIAGNOSIS
If the Holy Spirit shows you your sin(s), you must go back to the cross where the Lord first met you. Your sin(s) nails Jesus to the cross all over again. We tear open His wounds and make His redemption a mockery. Walk out into the light of reality. Drop your self-deceit and face this sin for what it really is. Turn from it, from your heart.
Take sides with God against it- resolve in your heart NEVER to go back into that sin again.
MEDICATION OR ACTION NEEDED?
Will you go to your gracious and loving Father as a little child and humbly ask His forgiveness?
Note that, “If we confess our sins, He is FAITHFUL and just to forgive, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”(1 Jn. 1:9) The LORD is merciful and gracious…He has not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities; for as the heaven is above the earth, so great is His mercy towards them that fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.” (Ps. 103:12)
Please, also do well to go to confession from a priest.
Let Us Pray,
“Oh God, You know my foolishness, and my sin is not concealed from you…please pardon my iniquity, for it is great. If you, Lord, would mark iniquities, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with you, that you may be feared.” (Ps. 69:5; 25:11; 130:3-4)
Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day, we who are anxious over many things, we look forward to your coming among us. Amen
