December 3, 2023
First Sunday of Advent (Year B)
Today we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent, the Latin word for “coming.” Advent is a time when we recall the birth of our Savior over two-thousand years ago in Bethlehem, as well as acknowledge our anticipation of the “Second Coming,” or return of Christ.
This is the theme that we see in the Gospel for today where Jesus is describing his second coming to his disciples (Mk. 13:33-37). He tells them to be watchful and alert because the time will come without warning. He compares it to a man who travels abroad and leaves his servants in charge while the gatekeeper keeps watch. Jesus cautions his disciples: “Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming. May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’” (Mk. 13:35a, 36-37).
This is our most common focus for advent – watching and waiting. But we might consider something else this weekend. It is the fact that the First Sunday of Advent is also the start of a new Liturgical Year. This year it is Cycle B, the second cycle in our three-year cycle of the Lectionary for Mass.
In addition to our usual anticipation, this season can become a period of new beginning for all of us as well, especially if we consider the First Reading from Isaiah for today (Isa. 63:16B-17, 19B; 64:2-7). It comes from the portion of the book known as “Third Isaiah” (Isa. 56-66) which contains the messages of an anonymous author writing in the name of Isaiah during the period when the Israelites have returned from exile.
To those now living in Jerusalem, Third Isaiah offers both criticism for their continued defiance of the covenant, as well as hope of deliverance for the future. In today’s reading we see both of these themes – the sinfulness of the people and God’s restoration of Israel.
The people themselves recognize their own transgressions and culpability and acknowledge God’s anger. They admit, “Behold, you are angry; we are sinful; all of us have become like unclean people; all our good deeds are like polluted rags. There is none who calls upon your name; for you have hidden your face from us and have delivered us up to our guilt.” (Isa. 64:4b-5, 6b).
They lament before God and appeal for rescue, “Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage. Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, with the mountains quaking before you.” (Isa. 64:17,19b).
Most importantly, they display faith recognizing the salvation that can only come from God. They praise God saying, “You, LORD, are our father, our redeemer you are named forever. While you worked awesome deeds, we could not hope for, such as had not been heard of from of old. No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you doing such deeds for those who wait for him.” (Isa. 63:16; 64:2-3)
This Advent we are reminded that we do not know when or how Jesus will return. If we mimic the words and actions of the Jewish people in the writing of Isaiah, today can be the start of our transformation to be ready to welcome Jesus.
Today and every day we should admit our sinfulness with contrition, express remorse and ask for forgiveness. We should acknowledge the sovereign mercy and omnipotence of the Father, that He is the potter and we, the clay, the work of His hands. And we should pray with confidence what our Church has expressed for centuries:
“Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
