The Beginning of the Church's Calendar Year. First Sunday of Advent. Year C - Sunday, December 1 2024 (EPISODE: 507)

* The Beginning of the Church's Calendar Year.

First Sunday of Advent. Year C - Sunday, December 1 2024

(EPISODE: 507)

Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/Pdw7VndWeZeotDhAf5Bv?ru=Paul-Evangelion 

Readings for Sunday, December 1 2024 - First Sunday of Advent.

Year C
FIRST READING: Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalm 25:4-5a, 8-9, 10+14. "To you O Lord I lift my soul"
SECOND READING: 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 21:25-28, 34-36). Alleluia, alleluia! Lord, show us your mercy and love and grant us your salvation. Alleluia!
GOSPEL: Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

(Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/Pdw7VndWeZeotDhAf5Bv?ru=Paul-Evangelion )
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for the First Sunday of Advent. Year C - Sunday, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-advent/s-dX2awqaEMej   (EPISODE: 507)
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The Church's year has a different timing from the usual secular calendar year. This weekend, with the first Sunday of Advent, a new Church liturgical year has begun.  (FHL)

We have a three-year cycle of readings. The Church's liturgical year begins with Advent, in anticipation of the birth of Christ. Every year we focus upon and read continuously through a particular gospel.

 

The weekend cycle covers three years. Year A, Matthew's gospel. Year B, which we've just concluded, was Mark's gospel.

 

And Year C is Luke's gospel, which begins this weekend. If you're wondering why there isn't a fourth-yearly cycle, (with John's gospel as the fourth)?

 

It is because John's gospel is so rich in theology, and the latest of the four gospels is spread throughout all of the years, and is especially fitting in Lent, Easter and Christmas times. The readings are fairly continuous through this three-year cycle, although parts are not included, largely due to repetition, or to fit the asymmetrical nature of the Bible into a neat three-year cycle.

 

There may be some jumping about so that the Old Testament readings are often placed in the same weekend next to a gospel passage with similar contrasting or expanded themes. The beauty of our continuous cycle of readings is in the Catholic Church, and most of the mainstream Christian churches, there is this set cycle of readings. Our lectionary is usually the Bible divided up into regular installments that continue on from the previous week.

 

The thing about this is that over that three-year cycle, we cover most of the Old and New Testament readings. The weekday readings are also a separate cycle, quite independent from the weekends, which cover a two-year period. In the weekday cycle, the first reading changes, and the gospel is the same for the same weekday of the year, irrespective of whether it be year one or two, that's for the weekdays only.

 

The advantage of this way of choosing readings is twofold. We progressively hear from the breadth of the scriptures, not just old favourites. The other reason is that we let the Word of God choose us, and not us choose the Word of God.

 

If we arbitrarily choose the readings for each weekend, it could open up the scriptures to all sorts of watering down. For example, some texts are more challenging and less pleasant than others. How many times have you seen when a group is choosing readings for a liturgy that they might be skip over an option because the subject matter is not pleasant, or might even be deemed rather arbitrarily irrelevant? In fact, most scriptures are very relevant, if we sit with them and ponder their often challenging meaning.

 

Admittedly, some passages seem more readily relevant than others, but that can be a great trap. Also, for the preacher, it could be a temptation to pick the readings that are easier, more entertaining, more engaging to preach upon. But in the end, surely the Word of God needs to be let free to set the agenda, and not us.

 

Also, a challenging word from the Bible can be quite neutralised if people think that the preacher or others have chosen a particular passage to get a particular point across. So in our system, if a reading comes up that's uncannily topical, it's not chosen by the minister, it's the action of the Spirit who enlivens the Word of God contained in these scriptures. So we begin Advent.

 

A new church year has begun. It's a time of renewal and new beginnings. From a church perspective, now is the best time to bring out those inspiring New Year resolutions, Christian style, and for us to ask God to direct and guide us as we immerse ourselves deeper and deeper each day into the reality of God's love, compassion, mercy, and justice.

 

We've commenced our four-week preparation for the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord. It's such a short time of preparation that we have to be vigilant because the busyness of this season could easily mean that we blink and miss it. This weekend's readings are all about preparing and being ready, staying awake, and being watchful.

 

I particularly like St Paul's words in the second reading. May the Lord be generous in increasing your love and make you love one another and the whole human race as much as we love you. And may he so confirm your hearts in holiness so as to make more and more progress in the kind of life that you're meant to live, the life that God wants.

 

The whole purpose, the whole point and goal of our lives of faith is to continue along the path of loving our God by means of deepening our love and reverence for one another. Our attitudes, our thoughts, and actions are intended to foster each day an ever deeper love, a deep charity and concern for all our fellow brothers and sisters. That's all people.

 

What a wonderful calling to strive with God's grace to be everything God desires us to be. We're called to grow daily in love, goodwill, peace, and mercy. The readings also ask us some important questions.

 

Do you believe that God will indeed fulfill his solemn promises to us? Do you believe that in the end God will come in power and establish in its fullness the heavenly kingdom of God's peace, justice, and mercy? Do you believe that ultimately, honesty, peace, and integrity, and above all love, will be at the center of all creation through Christ?

Come, Lord Jesus, teach us your truth. Establish your kingdom in all its fullness.

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References:

Homily – Fr Paul W. Kelly

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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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{{How are you today}}

1^st SUNDAY OF ADVENT – YEAR C –
 
 ENTRANCE PROCESSION:
 
INTRODUCTION
 
In the Name of the Father (+) and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
 The Lord be with you.
 [the blessing of the wreath with the sprinkling of holy water follows, using these words]:
 Presider: 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, you promise to keep us steady until the last day. Christ Have Mercy.
You instruct us to be ever-watchful. Lord, Have Mercy.
 
(no Gloria in Advent)
 
Collect:
 
Let Us Pray
 
Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God,
the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ
with righteous deeds at his coming,
so that gathered at his right hand,
they may be worthy to possess the heavenly Kingdom.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit. God, forever and ever.
 
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Prayer after Communion
 Let us pray.
May these mysteries, O Lord, in which we have participated,
profit us, we pray, for even now, as we walk amid passing things, you teach us by them to love the things of heaven
and hold fast to what endures. Through Christ our Lord.
 
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Psalm 25:4-5a, 8-9, 10+14. "To you O Lord I lift my soul"

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 21:25-28, 34-36). Alleluia, alleluia! Lord, show us your mercy and love and grant us your salvation. Alleluia!

Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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PREFACE: Advent I
EP I
Communion side.  pwk:  LH
(theme variation: full )
(pre+post variation: v1-long)
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{May God's love, strength, mercy and kindness guide you all this week.}

Go forth, the Mass is ended.

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

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
 "Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection " - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

 "O Come. Lord. (Advent) " - In Memory of Paolo Mario (Paul) Giacomantonio (1968-2020).
By Paul W. Kelly. Based on the Ancient church "O Antiphons " of Advent.
Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics, By Stefan Kelk, 2020.

 [ Production - KER - 2024]

May God bless and keep you.

{extra text : unspoken for Advent -

 Roman Missal, 3rd edition, 2010, (ICEL)

 Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA.

  "The Psalms " by The Grail - 1963, 2009.

 Prayers of the Faithful - Robert Borg "Together we pray " - (1993) }

Sound Engineering and editing -  P.W. Kelly.

Microphones: -      SHURE MOTIV MV5

Editing equipment:    NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software
NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44

Sound Processing:  iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor


[ Production -  KER -  2024]

May God bless and keep you.
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