The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, November 27, 2005
First Sunday of Advent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7
Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:33-37

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Just about every child has memories of playing “Hide and Seek."  The last one tagged had to hide his face without peeking while the rest scattered to new hiding places before the call came, “Here I come, ready or not!”.   And there’s the theme for this first Sunday of “Cycle B” — another Advent season in which we will concentrate on the Gospel of Mark (with a few exceptions).  It’s a time to cut way down on aimless TV and Internet “surfing”, and plan some good Advent reading and viewing.

This Sunday’s selections from Isaiah show a chastened people.  Very much like ourselves!  We've been chastened by a frustrating war, a corroded world opinion of America, scandals in government, business, and our beloved Church.  Like the Israelites of old, we have come to realize the depth of our sinfulness.  We need some "Christmas!"  Of course, all this should result in a deep and healthy humility.  Only a humble heart can accept the beautiful metaphor of clay in the hands of God, The Potter, which we find at the end of today’s first reading.  We can very well take this as a central theme for our Advent — a lump of clay being shaped each day of Advent by the loving hand of God.

St. Paul stirs us to courage, reminding us how much God has gifted us, and is the source of guidance in our use of those gifts — a good challenge to making this Advent more creative and more serious than last year. 

The core of Advent is watching and waiting with sharp eye.  We are waiting to recognize Jesus, not only in His historical coming, His presence in the Most Holy Eucharist, in His Spirit within us, but also in the poor, the needy, and in all who cross our paths daily.  Not easy!

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at frontiernet dot net)

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