First Sunday of Advent Year B 2023

Title

A People Who Waits

Outline

We want to figure God out

We want to persuade him to do what we want or at least understand why he does what we do not want. Meanwhile, God’s instruction is to wait in trust and obedience.

Isaiah chapter 63 is heartrending

“You are our father” and “our redeemer” far more than Abraham or Jacob/Israel.

You are in control, so “Why do you make us wander, LORD, from your ways” and harden our hearts?

We need a miracle to turn people back to you, “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down . . .” But God is not doing that, for he knows when miracles will have such an effect and when not. He does his will, not ours.

The people are wicked, for sure, but is it because “You have hidden your face from us” or is it the reason that “You have hidden your face from us”?

The text ends with the plaintive cry, “You are our Father,” and the prophet is still waiting patiently.

Jesus came, and Christians are still a waiting people

The Corinthians were converted and “in him you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge.” Paul focuses on the spiritual gifts of Isaiah ch 11, the gifts all Christians share in Christ, the ones needed for holiness, which I pray for each morning along with an increase in virtue. These, Thomas Aquinas says, are inward, for our holiness, while those of 1 Cor ch 12 are outward, for ministry in the world and it is the latter that the Corinthians are abusing. They are proud that they have such visible gifts, while Paul is interested in these others, i.e. “you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.” These are the gifts that prepare to meet Jesus and so are appropriate for a waiting people.

“God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” One of the means he uses to equip us for fellowship is these gifts that result in an increase in virtue.

So, Jesus tells us, wait, be watchful

“Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.” There are voices out there telling you that they know, they have broken the code. They will be proved wrong, and Jesus will be proved right. We have the creed here. Paul will refer to Jesus’ crucifixion and his resurrection in 1 Cor; here he refers to his ascension. He is not here physically, although in the sacrament he is present to us or are we present to him? He is no-where in no-time, for where he is there is no where and it is outside time. Yes, we experience his absence, even though he does not experience our absence, for he knows and sees all. Yet this will not last forever, for he is coming and since his “when” makes no sense in our “when” we do not know “when,” so “May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.”

That is the problem. We go to sleep and cease to wait. We get distracted by the noise in the world as if the wars and political conflicts and the like mattered in an ultimate way. We get lulled to sleep by entertainment and pleasure, like listening to a wonderful concert after a full course meal, well-presented, with the proper wine for each course. We get used to it, we crave it, we are asleep to his wishes and do not hear his footsteps.

So Watch!

Keep alert by bathing the day in prayer, Morning Prayer, noontime, at least an Angelus, Evening Prayer, and finish with night prayer. Vigils would be too much for most of us.

Keep alert by using those virtues strengthened by the gifts of the Spirit to guide you into doing the work he has given you to do - remember that the servants are to be found at their posts - and the work will be works of love, seeking the good of the other.

Keep alert by limiting, tuning out to, or even turning off the distractions. It will not hurt you to ask whether this or that is prudent or temperate or wise or just.

Whatever you do, Watch, keep alert. Then you will avoid the devil (1 Peter ch 5) and be ready for the coming King.

Reading

Catholic Daily Readings 12-3-2023: First Sunday of Advent

FIRST READING

Isaiah 63:16b–17, 19b, 64:2–7

16 For you are our father.

Were Abraham not to know us,

nor Israel to acknowledge us,

You, LORD, are our father,

our redeemer you are named from of old.

17 Why do you make us wander, LORD, from your ways,

and harden our hearts so that we do not fear you?

Return for the sake of your servants,

the tribes of your heritage.

19 Too long have we been like those you do not rule,

on whom your name is not invoked.

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,

with the mountains quaking before you,

2 While you worked awesome deeds we could not hope for,

3 such as had not been heard of from of old.

No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen,

any God but you

working such deeds for those who wait for him.

4 Would that you might meet us doing right,

that we might be mindful of you in our ways!

Indeed, you are angry; we have sinned,

we have acted wickedly.

5 We have all become like something unclean,

all our just deeds are like polluted rags;

We have all withered like leaves,

and our crimes carry us away like the wind.

6 There are none who call upon your name,

none who rouse themselves to take hold of you;

For you have hidden your face from us

and have delivered us up to our crimes.

7 Yet, LORD, you are our father;

we are the clay and you our potter:

we are all the work of your hand.

Catholic Daily Readings 12-3-2023: First Sunday of Advent

RESPONSE

Psalm 80:4

4 O God, restore us;

light up your face and we shall be saved.

PSALM

Psalm 80:2–3, 15–16, 18–19

2 O Shepherd of Israel, lend an ear,

you who guide Joseph like a flock!

Seated upon the cherubim, shine forth

3 upon Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh.

Stir up your power, and come to save us.

15 Turn back again, God of hosts;

look down from heaven and see;

Visit this vine,

16 the stock your right hand has planted,

and the son whom you made strong for yourself.

18 May your hand be with the man on your right,

with the son of man whom you made strong for yourself.

19 Then we will not withdraw from you;

revive us, and we will call on your name.

Catholic Daily Readings 12-3-2023: First Sunday of Advent

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 1:3–9

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in him you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge, 6 as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you, 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus [Christ]. 9 God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Catholic Daily Readings 12-3-2023: First Sunday of Advent

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Psalm 85:8

8 Show us, LORD, your mercy;

grant us your salvation.

GOSPEL

Mark 13:33–37

33 Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch. 35 Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. 36 May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’ ”

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 12-3-2023: First Sunday of Advent

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2023 | ADVENT

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

YEAR B | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Isaiah 63:16b–17, 19b, 64:2–7

Response Psalm 80:4

Psalm Psalm 80:2–3, 15–16, 18–19

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 1:3–9

Gospel Acclamation Psalm 85:8

Gospel Mark 13:33–37

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