First Sunday in Advent - B - November 29, 2015

Looking Ahead

Well, it's that time of year again. The Holidays, a season that fills us with anxiety and hope. We fight the shopping and the decoration, while we look forward to time with loved ones. These emotions spill over into our spiritual life. We face the coming of Jesus with anxiety and anticipation.

FIRST READING Jeremiah predicted a righteous king would. Indeed, he would be named for the righteousness of YHWH, his God.

PSALM Psalm 25 was a hymn of supplication, but had an undercurrent of spiritual consistency. As the singer called out to God for help, he assured his faithfulness to the faithful God.

SECOND READING   In 1 Thessalonians, St. Paul called upon that community to live a life of love, a love God had given them to pass along to others.

GOSPEL  In Luke's gospel, Jesus exhorted his followers to stand tall in the face of tough times. How do we, as disciples, keep our courage? Retain a moral life and pray, pray always.

CHILDREN'S READING  In the story for the first reading, Jose worried because he overheard his parents talk about their lack of finances. After a dream about the baby Jesus, Jose reassured his parents that, with God, everything would be alright. In the story for the gospel, Sarah urged her father to finish hanging the Christmas lights on their house. Her father was annoyed by her insistence. She anticipated, her father was anxious. Jesus spoke about both attitudes to his followers as they faced the end of the world.

CATECHISM LINK In this week's Catechism Link, we discuss the liturgical seasons, especially Advent and Christmas time.

FAMILY ACTIVITY  In this holiday season, with its irritations and crazy schedules, take some quiet time with your family before God.