November 28
First Sunday of Advent
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intention
Sat., 4:00 PM – Jim Bachman / Mary Kay & Jim Moore
Sun., 7:30 AM – Bill Sovik / Barbara Cangello
Sun., 10:30 AM – Herbert Silvestri / Family
Sun., 5:00 PM – Sarah Villani / Nives & Serafino Marzocchi
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Readings
First Reading
Jeremiah 33:14-16
The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah. In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot ; he shall do what is right and just in the land. In those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; this is what they shall call her: “The LORD our justice.”
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
R. (1b) To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
and for you I wait all the day.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Second Reading
1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2
Brothers and sisters: May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.
Finally, brothers and sisters, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God and as you are conducting yourselves you do so even more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
Gospel Acclamation
Psalms 85:8
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us, Lord, your love;
and grant us your salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
Jesus said to his disciples: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”
“To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.”
Reflection
Happy New Year! As we close out the liturgical year of 2021 and begin the new one, we look forward both in our minds and in our readings for this weekend. Jeremiah talks of the fulfillment of the promise of David, a time that will bring with it justice and mercy. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians offers words of hope that our hearts will be strong and our actions blameless when the day of the Lord ensues. In the Gospel from Luke, Jesus warns us about being prepared for the coming of the Son of Man, a time where those who have lived lives of justice and love will be rewarded and those who have lived lives that are focused on their appetites will receive the consequences of ignoring the love of God and neighbor to which we are called.
This week, we ought to recognize the transitory nature of our lives. As we look back on this past year, we recognize that there has been great suffering and turmoil caused by the pandemic and a number of political and secular events. As with every new year, we can evaluate the events of our individual lives and see if we were loyal to the teachings of Jesus or if we need to make some changes. Among the questions we can ask of ourselves we can ponder those qualities mentioned by Paul and Jesus. Have we conducted ourselves in a way that is pleasing to God? Have we avoided letting our hearts become drowsy from the anxieties of life? If we are true believers in the Lord, the answers to these questions will be “yes.” As we begin the new liturgical year, it is important for us to continually consider these questions because the path that Jesus wants us to walk is not the easiest one, but it is rewarding to walk it.
Keep the faith,
Deacon Dare
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