Year C
Discover the deeper meaning and connections found in this week's readings, through these great commentaries written by our priests.
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Today, we begin a new liturgical year, Year C. The readings invite us to once more commit to living purposeful lives in hope. The time to make this commitment is now and not tomorrow.
· The words of encouragement from the Prophet Jeremiah are as relevant to our time as they were to the Israelites to whom he preached. Let us live in trust and hope, looking forward to the time when God will manifest His mighty power to save His people (Cf. 1st Reading).
· This promise was fulfilled in the person of Jesus, in whom the history of God’s saving plan culminates (CCC 280).
· Jesus, who is the justice, the peace, the mercy and the love of God, entered our human sphere and extended the abundance of God’s life and love to the entire human race.
· However, Jesus reminds us that our earthly lives will soon end, and so we should look forward to the fulfilment of salvation when our earthly existence comes to an end (Cf. Gospel Reading).
· Jesus gives us the understanding that our earthly life may come to an end any moment and so we should focus on living purposeful lives (Cf. Gospel Reading).
· Jesus invites us to stay awake at all times by praying and avoiding all that does not lead us closer to God (Cf. Gospel Reading).
· Consistent with this teaching, St Paul says an important prayer for us: “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all”.
· As we begin this new liturgical year by preparing our hearts to welcome Jesus anew at Christmas and to meet him when we finally leave this world, let us make the prayer of the psalmist ours: “O Lord, make me know your ways. Teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth” (Cf. Psalm).
First Sunday of Advent
CCC 668-677, 769: the final tribulation and Christ’s return in glory
CCC 451, 671, 1130, 1403, 2817: "Come, Lord Jesus!"
CCC 439, 496, 559, 2616: Jesus is the Son of David
CCC 207, 210-214, 270, 1062-1063: God is faithful and merciful
The first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the Advent season, a time of preparation for the solemnity of Christmas. The season takes its name from the Latin word, “Adventus” which means “Coming”. This obviously refers to the Coming of Christ, but that does not take us very far into a deep mystery.
Saint Bernard leads us further. He distinguishes three Advents of Christ. The Saviour came first in the fullness of time past, born at Bethlehem of his Virgin Mother. He will come again at the end of time future to usher in an eternal kingdom. And he comes today, in time present, rejoicing the hearts of all who believe in him.
The first Sunday of Advent also marks the beginning of a new liturgical year; but we must understand this beginning aright. The cycle of the year is continuous; the end and the beginning join seamlessly. The last week of the old year directs our gaze to the end of the age, and the first week of the new year does just the same. And each year we pass through the same mysteries as before, yet each year is somehow different. The leading of the Spirit makes a spiral progress of the cyclical journey. We travel deeper and deeper into the same mysteries, coming closer and closer to the transcendent centre of all being and history, which can yet never be reached in this life. Only in the life to come will all signs and symbols fall away in a final, face to face encounter with the original divine splendour.
BIDDING PRAYERS
Let us pray for all Christians, that as we begin a new liturgical year, we may be led deeper into the mysteries we celebrate, and know more profoundly their saving power.
Let us pray for all who are oppressed by the hardships and trials of this present life, that the Coming of the Lord, may bring them strength to bear the burden, love to lighten the load.
Let us pray for all who have died watching for Christ's Coming, that his face may be unveiled for them, the merciful, purifying, divinizing countenance of eternal life.
Advent Hymns
These can be found in the Laudate hymn book on pages 123 to 167
Key
CFE - Celebration Hymnal for Everyone
L – Laudate
LHON – Liturgical Hymns Old and New (Mayhew, 1999)
TCH – The Catholic Hymnbook (Gracewing)
Do you have questions about the liturgy and how we are called to participate in it? Explore how the Church councils, saints, and popes have answered this key question and many more.
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