First Sunday of Advent

First Reading
A reading from the prophet Isaiah. (Is2:1-5)

This is the message which God gave to Isaiah son of Amoz about Judah and Jerusalem.  In days to come, the mountain where the Temple stands, will be the highest one of all, towering above all the hills.  Many nations will come streaming to it, and their people will say,

"Let us go up the hill of the Lord, to the Temple of Israels's God.  
He will teach us what he wants us to do; 
we will walk in the paths  he has chosen.  
For the LORD’s teaching come from Jerusalem; 
from Zion he speaks to his people.”

He will settle disputes among great nations.  They will hammer their swords into ploughs, and their spears into pruning-knives.  Nations will never again go to war, never prepare for battle again.

Now, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light which the Lord gives us!


Responsorial Psalm
(Ps 121:1-2. 4-5. 6-9)

Response:

        I rejoiced when I heard them say:
        ‘Let us go to God’s house.’

1.   I rejoiced when I heard them say:
     ‘Let us go to God’s house.’
      And now our feet are standing
     Within you gates, O Jerusalem.

2.  It is there that the tribes go up,
     The tribes of the Lord.
     For Israel’s law it is,
     There to praise the Lord’s name.
     There were set the thrones of judgment 
     of the house of David.

3.  For the peace of Jerusalem pray:
     ‘Peace be to your homes!
     May peace reign in your walls,
     In your palaces, peace!

4.  For love of my brethren and friends
     I say: ‘Peace upon you!’
     For love of the house of the Lord
     I will ask your good.


Second Reading
A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans.  (Rom 13:11-14)

You must do this, because you know that the time has come for you to wake up from your sleep.  For the moment when we will be saved is closer now that it was when we first believed.  The night is nearly over, day is almost here.  Let us stop doing the things that belong to the dark, and let us take up weapons for fighting in the light.  Let us conduct ourselves properly, as people who live in the light of day- no orgies or drunkenness, no immorality or indecency, no fighting or jealousy.  But take up the weapons of the Lord Jesus Christ, and stop paying attention to your sinful nature and satisfying its desires.


Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!
Let us see, O Lord, your mercy
and give us your saving help.
Alleluia!


Gospel

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.  (Mt 24:37-44)

The coming of the Son of Man will be like what happened in the time of Noah.  In the days before the flood, people ate and drank, men and women married, up to the very day Noah went into the boat; yet they did not realize what was happening until the flood came and swept them all away.  That is how it will be, when the Son of Man comes.  At the time two men will be working in a field: one will be taken away, the other will be left behind.  Two women will be at a mill grinding meal:  one will be taken away, the another will be left behind.

Be on your guard, then, because you do not know what day your Lord will come.  If the owner of a house knew the time when the thief would come, you can be  sure  that he would stay awake and not let the thief break into his house.  So then, you also must always be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour, when you are not expecting him.



No comments:

Post a Comment