First Sunday of Advent/C
Massimo Palombella
The time of Advent, which progressively started taking shape since the 4th century, has a twofold characteristic: it is a period of preparation for the solemnity of Christmas where we remember the first coming of the Son of God among us and, at the same time, it is a time in which each of us is called to reflect on the expectation of the second coming of Christ at the end of time.
The celebration of the birth of Jesus prepares each one of us for the definitive encounter with Christ. Indeed, the first coming of Jesus in history begins what the second and definitive coming, at the end of history, in the Parousia, will bring to completion. The coexistence of these two aspects of Christ, the historical and eschatological, is reflected in the liturgical texts, in which the two comings intertwine and overlap continually.
In the Roman Rite Advent lasts four weeks (in the Ambrosian Rite six) and is basically divided into two parts: until 17 December the Liturgy focuses on waiting for the last coming of Christ, and afterwards, specifically on waiting for the birth of Jesus.
The Gospel of the four Sundays of Advent has a distinct characteristic: the first Sunday focuses on the coming of the Lord at the end of time, the second and third on John the Baptist and the fourth on the immediate events of the birth of Jesus. All the readings of the Old Testament are prophecies about the Messiah and the messianic time and are mainly taken from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
Let us begin the Advent journey by focusing our attention on the essence of our every desire, namely the need for meaning, fulfilment, fullness, peace. If we are honest, we have to recognise that the Lord is our meaning, our fulfilment, our fullness, our true peace. The Lord whose expectation can truly improve our lives, whose desire is the secret to a life truly worth living.
The Offertory antiphon of today’s celebration is taken from Psalm 24 (Ps 24:1-3) with the following text:
Ad te Domine levavi animam meam, Deus meus, in te confido;
non erubescam, neque irrideant me inimici mei:
etenim universi qui te exspectant non confundentur.
(Unto you, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul;
O my God, I trust in you, let me not be put to shame; do not allow my enemies to laugh at me;
for none of those who are awaiting you will be disappointed).
Interpretation: The Monks of Pluscarden Abbey. The music track can be found on the CD ‘The Season of Advent. Gregorian chant from the monks of Pluscarden Abbey’ published by Ffin Records in 2023.
A blessed Sunday and heartfelt greetings.
