We Wait

Yesterday, November 27, was the First Sunday of Advent.  Last week, the end of the liturgical  year, spoke of the second coming of Christ.  Now, in anticipation, we begin anew the waiting and watching for the first coming. Both weeks, in the liturgy of the Church, cover the two comings, actually. We see the beginning and the end of history regarding Christian belief.  It starts in the Old Testament and the prophets. They saw what was to come.  The whole of the Mass for the First Sunday of Advent is to prepare for the double coming of mercy (Christmas) and justice (the end of the world). We pray and aspire to reform our lives in order to be ready to greet Him with a clean soul, ready for eternity.

The Introit (opening prayer) is Psalm 24: 1-3. "To Thee have I lifted up my soul: in Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be ashamed; neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them that wait on Thee shall be confounded."...

The Collect (prayer for the day) asks that we deserve to be rescued and saved.

St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans 13: 11-14, exhorts us to prepare.  "Brethren, knowing that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. The night is passed and the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day: not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy: but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ."

In Luke's Gospel, 21: 25-33, we also are told that our "Redemption is at hand."   "The kingdom of God is at hand." "The Divine Judge will come soon, for death lies in wait for us."  Luke prepares us for the second coming when earthly kingdoms will end and the heavenly kingdom will begin and last eternally. We beg God to grant us a share in it.

The Psalms in Vespers recited for the First Sunday of Advent are from the prophets of the OT, proclaiming the coming of Christ.

Joel 3:18, In that day the mountains shall drop down sweetness, and the hills shall flow with milk and honey, alleluia.

Zachary 9:9 Shout for joy, O daughter of Sion, rejoice greatly, O daughter of Jerusalem, alleluia.

Zachary 14: 5, Behold the Lord shall come, and all His saints with Him: and there shall be in that day a great light, alleluia.

Isaiah 4:1, All you that thirst come to the waters: seek the Lord while He may be found, alleluia.

Advent, like Lent, is a time of reflection, of penance and sacrifice. We think of the Babe, who comes into the world in a humble way, born in a cold stable, with His first breath already sacrificing for mankind by His poor beginnings, having taken on our humanity. What do we do to prepare our souls to welcome Him? There are four weeks of Advent to consider our lives and our unworthiness to greet our Savior and our Judge.

11/28/11