(Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 121; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44)

As a child, growing up in Glasgow, we often got new clothes on special occasions, these tended to be around Easter; before going on holiday; the start of school or at Christmas. Sometimes these were handed down from older relatives and sometimes they would actually be new. My mum would often be part of something called a ‘menage’, which was a group of people, usually associated with a workplace, who would put money aside every week and take their turn at cashing it out.  A sort of collective saving scheme, if you like. My mum mostly chose her turn to be around Easter or Christmas, so that she could make sure we looked our best going to Church. Even today, I love the smell of new clothes when I first put them on.

In today’s readings we are being asked to remember when we first realised that Christ is our Saviour, [and] we are being asked to savour that moment; but not to dwell in that moment. We are called to live in the present moment because the hour of our salvation is closer now than it was the hour we first believed. So, St Paul urges us to stay awake and live in the light; to stay away from the activities which we would be embarrassed to share with our friends who live in the light.  St Paul urges us to live decently and to clothe ourselves in the armour of Christ.

In today’s first reading we hear Isaiah use an ancient song the Israelites used whilst in captivity. It was a song used to restore joy during hard times reminding them that God would lead them back to their homeland and that they would live there in peace; as people from all nations would be called there too.

There is an emphasis on suddenness in the Gospel. Jesus explains that when he comes again, people will be going about their normal business, doing everyday things when the Son of Man will return and bring judgement.  We are called to be ready for this by staying alert and mindful of the activities we engage in.

Advent is a time of preparation, when we spend lots of time getting ourselves ready. Organising what we will buy, who we will invite, where we will be. As Christians we are called to be spiritually ready too.

When we contemplate what we can afford to spend, do we budget in what we would like to spend supporting those who have little or nothing?

Have we as Catholics built in a time to be spiritually prepared by attending some formation or putting in our diaries when we can celebrate Reconciliation?

Have we actively engaged in the 6 Holy Habits; which Bishop Philip has encouraged us to develop?

These are more important than what we will wear to a Christmas party. Advent is a time of two comings; we look back to the first Christmas Day [when Jesus first came into the world] and we look forward to the second Coming of Our Lord. We, as Christians need to be prepared for both. For me, I will stop spending time on social media during Advent and spend the time I would normally have engaged in that, in prayer or reading the Scriptures.  Another suggestion is that if I go out for a Christmas meal to a pub or a restaurant, that I set aside the cost of a meal and donate it to an appropriate place, maybe the Night Shelter or to CAFOD. I have done this in the past and it helps me to remember that when I am amongst the excesses that seem to envelope the world, to think about those less fortunate than me.

“Advent reminds us of the truth of faith that at the end of time is the beginning of eternity.”^[1] When we die, whether it is sudden or after a prolonged illness we need to be ready to face Jesus. This is what we started out to do when we were baptised. When we see Jesus in His splendour on that day, we hope to hear Him say “welcome home, we have been waiting for you.” Advent tells us that Jesus is ready for us, but first of all, we need to get ourselves ready for that day; a day that ends our life here on earth and starts the beginning of our eternity.

Further Reading

SIX HOLY HABITS Bishop Philip is inviting each one of us to develop six holy habits for this time of change and deep personal renewal: ·

• to keep Sunday special, a family day, by attending Mass;
• to spend 5 minutes a day in prayer using the Scriptures;  
• to do penance on Fridays, and to serve the poor and needy;
• every fortnight to make a Holy Half Hour before the Blessed Sacrament;  
• to go to Confession once a month; and  
• to join a small group for formation, prayer and fellowship.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church[2]

CCC668-677, 769: the final tribulation and Christ’s return in glory
CCC 451, 671, 1130, 1403, 2817: "Come, Lord Jesus!"
CCC 2729-2733: humble vigilance of heart

[1]Robert Draper, Breaking the Word, Pastoral Review Volume 18, Issue 4, [The Tablet Publishing Company Limited, London, 2022] 81.

[2]Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

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Happy New Liturgical Year! Another year is upon his, and we pray that this liturgical year may be filled will peace and grace. History shows us that the start of the liturgical year has changed throughout the centuries. Initially, it was Easter itself, to emphasis the centrality of the Paschal Mystery and recreation that resulted afterwards. It then changed to Christmas day, emphasising that the start of the Paschal Mystery stems from the birth of Jesus. Christmas becomes the departure point for the whole Paschal Mystery. By its extension, Advent is a period of preparation for the celebration of Christmas. In the Roman Rite, we have four Sundays of preparation. In the Ambrosian Rite (celebrated the city of Milan, Italy), they have six Sundays of preparation. Advent, coming from the Latin ‘to come’ was a term used for the Roman Emperor for his arrival. As the Roman Missal reminds us, Advent has a twofold character. Firstly, we are reminded to look forward to Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time and secondly, we recall the First Coming of Christ which we celebrate at Christmas. We are invited to keep this period in expectant delight. With so many things unfolding in the world, it is easy to lose hope and not have expectant delight. However, today’s Entrance Antiphon reminds us “To you, I lift up my soul, O my God. In you, I have trusted; let me not be put to shame. Nor let me enemies exult over me; and let none who hope in you be put to shame.” We are invited to trust in the Lord with all things. As the Prayer after Communion mentions, that through the celebration and participation of the sacred mysteries, we walk amid the passing things around us, and look forward to eternity.  Let us keep our eyes on our Lord, that amidst our stresses, worries, tensions of life, and hold on to the promises of God. 

Universal Prayers

For the Church –

that all Christians may live by the light of Jesus’ humble birth, who chose to be born in the simplicity of a manger.

For those who have lost hope –

that their hearts and minds may be open to the light of Christ, who comes with his message of peace for everyone.

For our parish community –

that our joy in preparing for Christmas flow from our belief that the birth of Jesus changed not only the course of history, but our own lives as well.

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Note: These hymns have been chosen from the Laudate Hymnbook

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112, O come, o come Emmanuel

607, Let all mortal flesh keep silence

660, Godhead here in hiding

883, Christ be our light

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Please also refer to the Advent Hymns, especially 81-92, 109 and 982/989, 992 - all from Laudate