Matthew 24:37-44

Isaiah 2:1-5

Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Romans 13:11-14

Matthew 24:37-44

Jesus said to his disciples:

“As it was in the days of Noah,

so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

In those days before the flood,

they were eating and drinking,

marrying and giving in marriage,

up to the day that Noah entered the ark.

They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.

So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.

Two men will be out in the field;

one will be taken, and one will be left.

Two women will be grinding at the mill;

one will be taken, and one will be left.

Therefore, stay awake!

For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.

Be sure of this: if the master of the house

had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,

he would have stayed awake

and not let his house be broken into.

So too, you also must be prepared,

for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, awake me from my slumber. Open my eyes to see all things with eyes of faith and your heavenly wisdom. May I always be prepared for the coming of your Son, my King and Lord.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Advent of the Son of Man: On this First Sunday of Advent, our thoughts are directed not only to Jesus’ first coming (or advent) in humility, but also to his second coming (or advent) in glory. And so, the Gospel on this First Sunday of the season of Advent, urges us to be prepared for this second coming, on a day known only to God. To explain how we are to be prepared, Jesus recalls the story of Noah: “Noah’s generation did not know that God was about to pour out his judgment in the torrents of the flood, and so they went about their business, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. By the time the rains came down, it was too late, and all but Noah and his family were carried away to a watery death. The point is that Noah readied himself for what was coming not by sitting around and watching the sky but by making diligent preparations in obedience to God. The Son of Man will likewise come suddenly and unexpectedly, so disciples must be prepared" (Mitch and Sri, The Gospel of Matthew, 314).

2. The Message of the Prophet Isaiah: Today’s Responsorial Psalm was sung as Jewish pilgrims made the ascent up to the Holy City of Jerusalem. The pilgrim rejoices when he welcomes the invitation to go up to God's house and rejoices upon his arrival at Jerusalem's gates. Jerusalem was the heart of the unity of the tribes of Israel and a sign of God's presence in Israel. At a very deep level, the dynasty of David is an expression of God's action in history that leads to the Messiah, the Son of David (Benedict XVI, October 12, 2005). The First Reading captures many of these important elements of the pilgrimage and ascent of all nations to the mountain of the Lord's temple. God calls all the nations, not just the tribes of Israel, to himself. In Jesus Christ, the people of all nations respond to this call to approach God's holy mountain. They receive God’s Word. God is present among the people. He is powerful; he teaches, judges, and admonishes. Everything tends toward the establishment of peace, the fruit of God’s New Covenant with humanity.

3. Advent Preparation according to Paul: “Salvation is near,” Saint Paul proclaims. In this season of Advent, in this Eucharist, our God is near to us. The Day of the Lord is at hand, for God will visit us, like the dawn from on high, in the mystery of Christmas. Advent, then, is a time of preparation. And Saint Paul offers us deep insight into this preparation: Throw off the works of darkness and sin; put on the armor of light, virtue, and grace. We are to cast aside the old man of lust, jealousy, sensuality, desires of the flesh, and pride; we are to clothe ourselves with the New Man, the Lord Jesus Christ. Today’s Readings, then, invite us to view our lives as a pilgrimage to the heavenly Jerusalem. As we journey, we are to watch and pray and grow in holiness through the grace of Jesus Christ.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, help me to throw off the works of darkness and sin. Clothe me with the armor of light, justice, and grace. I invite you to dwell within me and transform me according to your holy image.

Living the Word of God: How will I prepare for Christmas this year during this season of Advent? How is my pilgrimage to the heavenly Jerusalem going? How am I preparing for my definitive encounter with God at the end of my life?