The Chapter read during Vespers for the First Sunday of Advent, and from the Epistle of the day:
Romans 13:11 Brethren, it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. We respond: Deo Gratias. Thanks be to God.
On November 28, 2011 in this blog I talked about Advent and the Liturgy of the day. This time, with December 1 being the First Sunday of Advent for 2012, I thought I would quote from the Doctrinal Notes in one of my missals. With some edits, here they are.
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If we read the liturgical texts which the Church uses in the course of the four weeks of Advent, we see clearly that it is her intention to make us share the attitude of mind of the Patriarchs and seers of Israel who looked forward to the Advent of the Messiah in his twofold coming of Grace and Glory.
During this season the Greek Church commemorates Our Lord's ancestors, especially Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. On the Fourth Sunday she honors all the patriarchs of the Old Testament from Adam to St. Joseph,and the prophets of whom St. Matthew speaks in his genealogy of Our Lord. The Latin (Roman) Church speaks to us of them in the Office when quoting the promises made to them concerning the Messiah.
What passes before our eyes is the magnificent procession which all down the ages goes before Jesus Christ. We see Jacob, Judah, Moses, David, Michaes, Jeremias, Ezechiel, Daniel, Joel, Zacharias, Habacuc, Osea, Aggeus, Malachias and above all Isaiah, St. John the Baptist (three of the four Advent Gospels concern him), St. Joseph and the glorious Virgin Mary who sums up in herself all Messianic hopes, their fulfilment hanging on her Fiat - "Be it done unto me according to thy word."
In the liturgical cycle every year the Church follows the Lord's life. We take part in all His mysteries and offer them to Almighty God at Mass. Every liturgical season represents one particular aspect of Our Lord's life and has a special efficacy for our sanctification.
The coming of Christ which the prophets foretold and to which God's people looked forward is twofold in character; it is the coming of mercy in which the Redeemer appeared on earth in the lowly state of His human life, and the coming to Judgment when he will appear full of glory and majesty at the end of the world as Judge and supreme rewarder of men.
The Old Testament seers did not distinguish between these two comings, so the Liturgy at Advent repeats their words and speaks in turn of one and the other coming. Our Lord Himself, in the First Sunday of Advent Gospel (Luke 21:25-33) passes without any transition from His first to his Second Coming. He tells the disciples, "The Kingdom of God is at hand."
Throughout the Church (Liturgical) Year the Mass records the life of Christ and the Old Testament prophesies. Every Introit (beginning prayer), Gradual (preparation for the Gospel reading), Epistle, Gospel, Offertory and Communion prayer are direct from the Old and New Testaments. The Word of God is proclaimed in every Mass for the instruction and sanctification of the faithful. Follow the Church Year. Follow the Life of Christ.
An exemplary practice, if one is not already reading from the Bible daily, is, during the season of Advent, to read from the Old and New Testaments for at least a few minutes every day.
from the Gradual of the First Sunday of Advent: Psalm 24:3,4 - All they that wait on Thee shall not be confounded, O Lord. Show, O Lord, Thy ways to me: and teach me Thy paths.
I noted that this was from 2012. Dec. 1 2019 is also First Sunday of Advent. Again, we wait.
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