Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Catholic 768 : First Sunday of Advent. Year A - Sunday, December 1, 2019

Homily First Sunday of Advent. Year A - Sunday, December 1, 2019
First Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5

Psalm 121:1-2. 4-5. 6-9. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord 

Second Reading: Romans 13:11-14

Alleluia, alleluia! Lord, show us your mercy and love and grant us your salvation. Alleluia!

Gospel: Matthew 24:37-44
Image: By Lisa Missenda. Shutterstock Licensed Image - stock photo ID: 512104717. Advent Candles and Creche Week 1
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the First Sunday of Advent. Year A - Sunday, December 1, 2019, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/advent-1a-faith-hope-and-love-ep-190/s-uPXmG  (EPISODE: 190)
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 Our Church year begins on this weekend with the first Sunday of Advent.  a time of preparation,  expectation and waiting.  but it's not an idle waiting.  we are called to be awake and prepared.  particularly using this time before the Feast of Christ's birth at Christmas,  to be aware of our need to be busy and active in our cooperating with God in the building up of Gods kingdom in the places we live and work and socialize.  We make room for Christ so that his coming will find our hearts open to respond to his values and his leadership.  May this be a wonderful time of preparation for the feast of God who lives with us.  

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Advent has two particular qualities: It is a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ's first coming to us is remembered; and secondly, Advent is a season where our mind and heart is directed to awaiting Christ's Second Coming, at the end of time.
(Roman Calendar, 1969)

ADVENT IS UPON US. A time of waiting and of new beginnings.

Advent literally translates as "Arrival" or "coming."

We are preparing for the commemoration of when Jesus arrived in Bethlehem.  Jesus comes to us in so many ways in our daily lives, and we are invited to be open to receive him and respond to his action and we also await his coming on the last day.

You will have noticed a couple of things are a little different in this Advent season we are now in.  Every season of the church year takes on a distinct tone and feeling. Firstly, the colour of the season of Advent is Purple (or "Violet").  

Naturally in the lead up to Christmas, (in this time of waiting and preparing), the Gloria is not sung (or recited) again until Christmas night.  

With the start of Advent, a new Church year has begun and with it comes a new reading cycle.  We are in YEAR A, the year where we systematically read through the Gospel of Matthew. The Gospel of Matthew is very closely tied to its Jewish heritage, probably written within a strongly Jewish-Christian community and particularly points out the ways in which Christ is the fulfillment of the Judaic Law and the Prophets. It is believed that Matthew's Gospel was written around 80 to 90 AD, probably closer to 90.

The Gospel of Matthew has five basic sections:  the Sermon on the Mount (Ch.5-7), the Mission Instructions to the Twelve (Ch.10), the Three Parables (Ch.13), Instructions for the Community (Ch.18), and the speeches at the Mount of Olives (Ch.24-25). It has been suggested that this echoes the structure of the five books of the Pentateuch.

Today we are reminded to stay awake and stay alert.  there is no time like the present to be about God's work.  since we do not know the day of the Lords coming, God expects us to be like faithful members of The masters household who have the Lord's interest at heart and not just our own self- interest.  So,  whilst we do not know the day or the hour we can ensure that our priorities and choices, values and actions are at all times consistent with the values of Christ in the gospel.  To deepen our fundamental core values to be based on love,  compassion,  generosity,  empathy,  justice, mercy and practical assistance to those who are in need.  we should not be waiting like people who are afraid of their employer since God invites us to share in his vision and way of seeing the world.  If the master comes unexpectedly,  even in the events and circumstances of our daily lives, we hope our reaction will be joy and welcome.  Look, Lord,  we have been working away at the things you love.  we hope you are pleased with our priorities and actions.  At Christ's coming, Lord, may we be found to be at peace with you and our neighbour and our hearts filled with love and kindness.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

Brown, R., Fitzmyer, J. and Murphy, R. (1993). The New Jerome
Bible handbook. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press.

Image: By Lisa Missenda. Shutterstock Licensed Image - stock photo ID: 512104717. Advent Candles and Creche Week 1
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au

To contact Fr. Paul, please email:
paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead:
https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address:
paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:

"Faith, Hope and Love, A time of Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, revised - 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA).

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins Publishers. 

Prayers of the Faithful - from "Together we pray". by Robert Borg'. © 1993. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers.


"Faith, Hope and Love" hymn - in memory of William John Kelly - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music Paul W. Kelly. © 1996. arranged and sung by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

Please visit 
homilycatholic.blogspot.com

Production - Kelly Enterprises Resources.            May God bless and keep you. 


First Sunday of Advent. Year A
(
Sunday, December 1, 2019)

(EPISODE: 190 )

The Lord be with you.
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{{gentleness and peace  to you }}
First Sunday of Advent. Year A

(Sunday, December 1, 2019)



(EPISODE: 190 )



The Lord be with you.

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{{gentleness and peace  to you }}



In the Name of the Father (+) and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.



The Lord be with you.



[Presider blesses the wreath with the sprinkling of holy water, using these words]:



As we begin our Advent Journey, in preparation for Christmas,

We bless this Advent Wreath.

May the sprinkling of this water

remind all of us gathered here

of our first sharing in the grace of baptism.

During this time of Advent

may we prepare for the Lord's coming

with open hearts and minds.

May this wreath be a symbol to us

(+) of this time of prayerful watching and waiting

For the coming of the Lord.

{Presider now blesses the wreath and sprinkles it with holy water}

• We now light the candle for the 1st Sunday of Advent. The "Prophet's Candle" Symbol of Hope. Reminding us that Jesus is coming.

{Presider takes taper and lights first candle on Advent wreath}



Lord Jesus your coming was proclaimed by the prophets of old. Lord Have Mercy.



Lord Jesus, call us to lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light. Christ Have Mercy.



You instruct us to STAY AWAKE, for our salvation is near at hand. Lord, Have Mercy.

(No Gloria during the Advent season).

Collect:  Let us Pray….

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Memorial Acclamation



2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.



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Advent 1

Eucharistic Prayer II

Communion side.  PWK:  RH

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{Thank you, for taking this time together, to listen to God's word and to praise God for his goodness and compassion}.



Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

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