30 November 2014 - Advent - 1st Sunday of Advent (Year B)

On this weeks programme we mark the beginning of the New Year (the new liturgical year!) with the first Sunday of Advent. As has almost become customary on the programme we are joined by SS102fm's home base parish priest Fr Frank Duhig from NCW who gives us a reflection on Advent. We have our regular gospel reflection as well as some liturgical odds and ends and notices.

You can listen to the podcast of this weeks full programme HERE.

You can listen to Fr Frank's reflection excerpted from the main programme HERE.

Advent - Season of hope, waiting and conversion

Fr Frank Duhig reflects on Advent - Adventus - and how it is a season to reflect on the comings of Christ and our need to recover space for Advent so we can truly appreciate Christmas. Quoting St Bernard he reminds us of the "three advents" of Christ. He named as first that advent which has already happened in historical time and space and which we now commemorate each Christmas, the one in which Christ entered the world through the womb of Mary to "seek and to save that which was lost". The third is the parousia, the advent in which Christ will come to judge the living and the dead, and to take us to himself. Then Bernard explained the second, or middle, advent as the "time of visitation" by which Christ is now present and active in each of our lives. Daily he is at work in us through grace to transform us into his image and likeness and to bring us salvation and healing from the sin, difficulties, sicknesses, and human frailties of our everyday lives."

It is a reminder that Advent of Jesus coming to meet up on the way, but are actually making space for us to go to meet him?

Advent is a time to reflect on the restlessness which is within us as we wait and prepare to allow the coming of Jesus into our hearts so we can begin to assuage the deep longing at our hearts core that longing which St Augustine described as “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.”

Grant, almighty Father,

that when Christ comes again we may go out to meet him

  bearing the harvest of good works achieved by your grace.

We pray that he will receive us into the company of the saints

  and call us into the kingdom of heaven.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

  who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

  one God, for ever and ever.

• Hymns for Advent
• Advent Calendar - from Irish Episcopal Conference
• Advent Resources 1 - Ignatian Spirituality
• Advent Resources 2 - Ignatian Spirituality
• Advent online retreat - Days of Deepening Friendship
• The Path of Life - Adventus: I am coming soon
• Advent in a Time of Crisis
• The Advent of Advent

Gospel - Mark 13:33-37

The world keeps insisting we live in the future these days ... have you your Christmas shopping done? are you ready? what are you wearing to that party? have you decorated the house yet?

... what about now?

...what about living in November and even December first? 

... what about Advent?

When Moses asked Gods name, the answer was 'I am'. Not 'I will be', or 'I was'. God lives in the present and is with us in this moment. If we live in the future perhaps we will miss God who is present.  If we live in the future, perhaps we will miss one anothers presence. 

Let us make Advent a moment to awareness.

Let us become awake to all that is here and now, instead of living in the future.  Let us notice where we have become too busy, stressed or preoccupied, and choose to slow down and return to the present. 

Let us tell those we love, that we love them and let us be loved

Perhaps this is how we can best

prepare for the One who is Love. 

Here’s a prayer based on Mark 13: 33-37.  It was written by A. Osdieck at The Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University. 

Prayer for Advent
(based on Mark 13: 33-37)

“He leaves home and places his servants in charge,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch….”

Passages steep, mountains craggy;
paths rugged, packed
with potholes,

or sometimes
cool trails with running streams.

Whether tough roads or easy streets,
let us never stop watching
for you, O Lord.

Call to us.
Come to us.
Show your face
in everyone we meet
along the
Way.

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Sunday Reflections
Word on Fire 
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical odds and ends

Saints of the Week

December 1 - Blessed Charles de Foucauld
December 2 - Blessed John van Ruysbroeck
December 3 - St Francis Xavier
December 4 - Blessed Mór of Pécs
December 5 - Saint Christina of Markyate (First Friday)
December 6 - St Nicholas (First Saturday)

Pope's Intentions for December

• Christmas, hope for humanity. That the birth of the Redeemer may bring peace and hope to all people of good will.
• Parents.  That parents may be true evangelizers, passing on to their children the precious gift of faith.