From the responsorial psalm: "Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, and teaches the humble his way. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 21:25-28, 34-36)

“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.”

On this first Sunday of Advent, we hear Jesus telling the disciples about the final judgement, the coming in a cloud of the Son of Man with power and great glory. At his coming, signs on earth and in the cosmos will put nations in dismay and frighten people to death. Stand erect and raise your heads, Jesus tells the disciples, because our redemption is at hand. Before that day comes, Jesus says, remain vigilant, keep from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life (another kind of drunkenness that leads to the other). Jesus calls that day an assault and not to be caught by surprise by it like a trap. Just as God was present to the wandering Israelites in a pillar of cloud, Jesus will come again in power and great glory to judge the living and the dead. Jesus asks us to pray that we are prepared for his return.

God, at the beginning of this Advent set me on a path of vigilance and joyful expectation at the coming of Jesus. The Son of Mary is the Son of God, who came into the world as an infant and will come again in a cloud of power and glory. Give me the grace throughout Advent to remain hopeful in the fulfillment of your kingdom—not afraid, not anxious, an not absorbed in distractions. Strengthened by the real presence of Jesus to face the tribulations of daily life, keep me on a path to stand erect and raise my head as I meet my redeemer face to face. Show us, Lord, your love; and grant us your salvation.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.