Advent Daily Devotionals - Stay Awake - 2nd Dec, 1st Sunday of Advent

STAY AWAKE

2^nd December – 1^st Sunday of Advent

First Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
Second Reading: First Thessalonians 3:12--4:2

Gospel, Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

First Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16

Look, the days are coming, Yahweh declares, when I shall fulfil the promise of happiness I made to the House of Israel and the House of Judah: In those days and at that time, I shall make an upright Branch grow for David, who will do what is just and upright in the country. In those days Judah will triumph and Israel live in safety. And this is the name the city will be called: Yahweh-is-our-Saving-Justice.

Psalms 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14

DIRECT me in your ways, Lord, and teach me your paths.

ENCOURAGE me to walk in your truth and teach me since you are the God who saves me.

FOR my hope is in you all day long -- such is your generosity, Lord.

INTEGRITY and generosity are marks of the Lord for he brings sinners back to the path.

JUDICIOUSLY he guides the humble, instructing the poor in his way.

KINDNESS unfailing and constancy mark all the Lord’s paths, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

ONLY those who fear the Lord have his secret and his covenant, for their understanding.

Second reading: First Thessalonians 3:12--4:2

May the Lord increase and enrich your love for each other and for all, so that it matches ours for you. And may he so confirm your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Finally, brothers, we urge you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus; we instructed you how to live in the way that pleases God, and you are so living; but make more progress still. You are well aware of the instructions we gave you on the authority of the Lord Jesus.

Gospel: Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the turmoil of the ocean and its waves; men fainting away with terror and fear at what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.' Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened by debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will come upon you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come down on all those living on the face of the earth. Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to hold your ground before the Son of man.'

Writer’s Reflection

On a day hailed with the excitement of beginning the Christmas countdown, St. Luke’s gospel makes no delay in bringing us a slap-in-the-face reminder to ‘watch ourselves’ and to ‘stay awake’. As blunt at it sounds, today’s Gospel message on the 1^st Sunday of Advent is one that the world’s culture of the Christmas season can often make us forget, and so is one that we need to be reminded of.

Often, in the seasonal process of present buying, Christmas decorating and festive merry-making; Christ becomes pushed out of Christmas. Even for Christians, these times can make it easy for us to lose sight of the true meaning of Advent ('to come to'): a season of hope, preparation, and joyful anticipation, for the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, into the world. Yes – 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ was born into the world to live amongst us, to teach us, to inspire us, to perform miracles for us; and ultimately, to die on the cross for our sins, yet rise again so that we can live – out of love for us. But St. Luke reminds us that Jesus is going to return into the world AGAIN – not in a cosy nativity scene, but in a situation that we truly need to ‘pray at all times for strength’. Because of this, we are warned not to let time pass where we forget how to prepare for His second coming – as it will be unexpected.

It all sounds a bit scary, but in truth, if Jesus was to turn up tomorrow; would we be ready for Him? I think about the ways I try and prepare and plan my own life around deadlines and events; never wanting to leave anything till the last minute and feeling the frenzy of when it all becomes too much or something turns up out of the blue. But whilst I cloud my mind on these daily worldly stresses, how easy it is for me to let my own relationship with God backslide, and become a lesser priority. Although Jesus does become my rock in moments of pure stress or joy, I have to question myself – do I truly walk with Him in my day to day life, believing in His goodness and promises, and living my life according to His word?

When I know that Jesus is coming; is there really anything more important than to first prepare my heart for Him?

We do and should have hope however, and today’s Gospel reading is not meant to lock us in our rooms full of fear about the end of the world or feel inadequate; but remind us of our priorities. God has created us as His own children out of love, and the First Reading reminds us of the promise He has made for us; ‘I shall fulfil the promise of happiness’. Equally, St Paul in today’s second reading encourages us on our life’s journey of progress towards holiness, continuing to live in Jesus’ example of increasing and enriching our love for one another.

Ultimately, our relationship with God can only get stronger each day that we choose to rise and end with Him; letting the cares of this world be ones that we face with Him by our side. With the three comings of Christ we celebrate this Advent; PAST through his birth in Bethlehem, PRESENT through His presence the mystery of the Holy Eucharist, and FUTURE through His second coming; we need to ensure our hearts are prepared fully for Him. So that when we finally do see Him face to face, whether that is at the end of our own lifetime, or at the end of time itself, we can stand confident with our heads held high as St Luke describes, ready to finally meet and greet our Saviour who loves us.

Prayer to end on:

Dear Lord,

As we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent,

let these 24 days be steps we take to grow closer to You

Help us to prepare our hearts for your coming into this world,

and let us be ready to embrace you with open arms.

Keep us on the right path and let us listen to Your truth.

For you are our Saviour, our Lord and our Hope

– and in You we trust.

Writer’s Bio: Theresita Joseph

Hi everyone, I’m Theresita, and I currently run the Y2K blog page. I’m 23 years old and am a medical student studying at UCL. I’m a big fan of journaling, science, singing in the shower, buying lots of flowers and consuming (a bit too much) wine.

2018 has taken me on a big adventure of moving to a little city in Scotland, where I’ve been undertaking a Masters project in Parkinson’s disease research; a condition very close to my family’s heart. This year has undoubtedly been the biggest and most exciting year of my life in strengthening my faith and love in God, and am excited to see where He leads me in the year ahead.

My message to all readers would be to begin your journey with God at whatever point of life you’re at now – it’s so easy to delay it for fear of the unknown, doubts or lack of trust – but once you start it’s a path you won’t want to stop following. Seek out your faith, read the Bible, talk to others; and be open to change. Take a risk and give God your worries, doubts, fears and joys – and let a mustard seed of faith begin to grow that He will transform. Be not afraid!