SUNDAY NOVEMBER 30 First Sunday Of Advent (A)
Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us, O Lord, your mercy,
and grant us your salvation.
Alleluia.
Gospel: Matthew 24:37-44
Stay awake so that you may be ready.
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: ‘For 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 were unaware 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 will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake 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.’
Reflection from Bible Alive
It has been said that our season of Advent has its roots in the pagan festival of the winter solstice. The word 'solstice' is derived from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still). The pagan world hungered for light and worshipped the sun god Sol Invictus, who was invoked each day at sunrise. As bright and as powerful as the sun is, we know it doesn't cast its light on the greatest mysteries of our existence or penetrate the darkness of sin and death.
The prophet Isaiah declared hundreds of years before the birth of Christ:
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness
on them has light shined` (Isa. 9:2).
Advent then is an opportunity for us to come into this light, see with the light of Christ and walk our Jubilee pilgrim way and let our light shine. Advent literally means 'coming and the Church has always sought to remind us during this holy season of the three comings of Christ: his first at his birth, his second at his return to earth in glory, and another coming between these two when he comes into each of our lives.
The work of the Spirit is twofold: to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father and to pray with heartfelt longing, 'Come, Lord Jesus, come.`
In short, Jesus is the meaning of Christmas and of human existence. We journey towards the baby born in the stable, in poverty and helplessness, as God made man, our light and hope. We lift up our hearts in praise and thanksgiving for Jesus who is the Light of the World, the light which darkness cannot extinguish or overcome. Never tire or grow weary of singing the glory of Jesus' birth. For unto us a child is born, who died, who rose and will come again.
'The Virgin today brings into the world the Eternal
And the earth offers a cave to the Inaccessible
The angels and shepherds praise him
For you are born for us
Little Child, God eternal.' (CCC 525)
Come, Lord Jesus, Come.
Isaiah 2:1-5 . Psalm 121(122):1-9 Romans 13:11-14. Matthew 24:37-44
Next meeting will be on 22 December 2025 at 7.30pm in The Creche in St Patricks Church, Glenfield Road, Fairfield, Stockton TS19 7PL. All welcome.
Dear friends, Sorry for the shortened bulletin this week. I am laid up with a bad chest cold. Normal service resumes next week! Any prayer and sympathy gratefully accepted. God bless you all, Stephen
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