1st advent bliturgical bible study - 1st sunday advent b

8/10/2019 1st Advent BLiturgical Bible Study - 1st Sunday Advent B

1/23

Sunday ReadingsCommentary and Reflections

1stSunday of AdventNovember 30, 2014

In preparation for this Sundays LiturgyAs aid in focusing our homilies and sharing

Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM


2/23

Since we are now in the season of Advent, which

is a season to prepare us for a meaningful

celebration of the Birth of our Lord, we mustinterpret the readings in relation to the season

itself.

The readings stand at the service of this Season. The preacher

must be able to answer the question:

How do we prepare for Christmas duringthis season of Advent according to the

readings?


3/23


4/23

1stReading: Is 63,16-17.19; 64,2-7

16 You, Lord, are our father. WereAbraham not to know us, nor Israel to

acknowledge us, You, LORD, are ourfather, our redeemer you are namedforever. 17 Why do you let us wander, OLORD, from your ways, and harden ourhearts so that we fear you not? Returnforthe sake of your servants, the tribes ofyour heritage. 19 Too long have we beenlike those you do not rule, who do notbear your name. Oh, that you would rendthe heavens and come down, with the

mountains quaking before you, 64,2 While you wrought awesome deeds

we could not hope for, 3 such as they hadnot heard of from of old. No ear has everheard, no eye ever seen, any God but youdoing such deeds for those who wait forhim. 4 Would that you might meetusdoing right, that we were mindful of you inour ways! Behold, you are angry, and we

are sinful; 5 all of us have become likeunclean men, all our good deeds are likepolluted rags; We have all withered likeleaves, and our guilt carries us away likethe wind. 6 There is none who calls uponyour name, who rouses himself to cling toyou; For you have hidden your face fromus and have delivered us up to our guilt.7 Yet, O LORD, you are our father; we are

the clay and you the potter: we are all thework of your hands.

Commentary This is a prayer of the people of

Israel asking the Lord to return tothem.

Taking into account the season ofAdvent, which talks about thecoming of the Lord, the readingmakes us conscious of the returnof the Lord expressed in v.17return, v.19 come down, and Ch64,4 meet us.

What kind of God (Lord) issupposed to return?

Our father (v.16 2x, 64,7)

Our redeemer (v.16)

Who wrought awesome deeds

(64,2) Angry (64,4), hidden face,

delivered us up to our guilt(64,6)

The Potter (v.64,7)


5/23


6/23

Reflections on the first reading

In this Season of Advent, we await the comingof God, to give meaning to our lives, to makesense out of our sufferings and sacrifices andto give us a sense of direction.

We cannot live independently from God. Living without God leads us to ruin.

If ever Gods presence is not felt, then it isimperative to seek him in prayer.

The content of the prayer must be somethinglike this: Lord, come. We await your coming.We want now to do your will. We are also your

children.


7/23

Resp. Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19

R. (4) Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and weshall be saved.

2 O shepherd of Israel, hearken,from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.

3 Rouse your power,and come to save us.

15 Once again, O LORD of hosts,look down from heaven, and see;16 take care of this vine,

and protect what your right hand has plantedthe son of man whom you yourself made strong.

18 May your help be with the man of your right hand,with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.19 Then we will no more withdraw from you;give us new life, and we will call upon your name.


8/23

Resp. Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19

R. (4) Lord, make us turn to you; let ussee your face and we shall be saved.

2 O shepherd of Israel, hearken,from your throne upon the cherubim, shineforth.3 Rouse your power, and come to save us.

15 Once again, O LORD of hosts,look down from heaven, and see;16 take care of this vine,and protect what your right hand hasplantedthe son of man whom you yourself madestrong.

18 May your help be with the man of yourright hand,with the son of man whom you yourselfmade strong.19 Then we will no more withdraw fromyou;give us new life, and we will call upon your

name.

Commentary

The psalm is classified as communitylament.

In v.2, the psalmist addresses God asa shepherd, invoking him to come.

The purpose for coming is to save the

nation. (v.3) In v.15, the psalmist repeats his

petition.

V.16 gives the reason for Godscoming (looking down, seeing): totake care of his people (vine), toprotect it.

In v.18, the psalmist desires that Godmakes his power felt through his righthand man (son of man) (hisanointed).

V.19 articulates the promise of thepeople when God comes: not to runaway from God anymore, but to pray.


9/23

Reflections on the Psalm

In this season of Advent, like the psalmist, we

must pray for Gods coming among us.

We must express our belief that Godscoming will bring us salvation.

We pray that God will take care of us.

In return, what is our promise?

To put God first in our lives.

Not to wander away from him.


10/23

2ndReading: 1 Corinthians 1,3-9

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and theLord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always onyour account for the grace of God bestowed on you inChrist Jesus, 5 that in him you were enriched in everyway, with all discourse and all knowledge, 6 as thetestimony to Christ was confirmed among you, 7 so thatyou are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you waitforthe revelationof our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will keep

you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of ourLordJesus (Christ). 9 God is faithful, and by him youwere called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ ourLord.

The focus is on the endarticulated as the revelation andthe day of the Lord.


11/23

2ndReading: 1 Cor 1,3-9

3 Grace to you and peace from

God our Father and the LordJesus Christ. 4 I give thanks tomy God always on your accountfor the grace of God bestowed onyou in Christ Jesus, 5 that in himyou were enriched in every way,with all discourse and all

knowledge, 6 as the testimony toChrist was confirmed among you,7 so that you are not lacking inany spiritual gift as you waitforthe revelationof our Lord JesusChrist. 8 He will keep you firm to

the end, irreproachable on theday of our LordJesus (Christ). 9God is faithful, and by him youwere called to fellowship with hisSon, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Commentary:

This is a letter addressedto God-fearing Christians.The reading talks about

the comingof the Lord: Revelation of our Lord

(v.7)

Day of the Lord (v.8)

Paul acknowledges the

giftedness of theCorinthians: grace of God, v.4

enriched (v.5),

not lacking (v.7)

firm, irreproachable (v.8)

called to fellowship (v.9)

For Paul, theseChristians are preparedfor the coming of Jesus.


12/23

Reflections on the second reading

In this season of advent, preparations for the

coming of Christ (whether his first coming, second coming or

his coming everyday)constitute living in the grace ofGod, meaning, fullness of spiritual life,

saturated by the person of Christ.

There is no adequate preparation for the Lords

coming (for Christmas) without friendship and

deep relationship with Christ.


13/23

Gospel: Mark 13,33-37

33 Be watchful! Be alert! You do not knowwhen the time will come. 34 It is like a mantraveling abroad. He leaves home and places

his servants in charge, each with his work,and orders the gatekeeper to be onthewatch.35 Watch, therefore; you do not know whenthe lord of the house is coming, whether in theevening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in

the morning. 36 May he not come suddenlyand find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, Isay to all: 'Watch!'"

The focus is to keep watch.


14/23

Gospel: Mark 13,33-37

33 Be watchful! Be alert! You

do not know when the time willcome. 34 It is like a mantraveling abroad. He leaveshome and places his servantsin charge, each with his work,and orders the gatekeeper tobe onthewatch.

35 Watch, therefore; you donot know when the lord of thehouse is coming, whether inthe evening, or at midnight, orat cockcrow, or in the morning.36 May he not come suddenlyand find you sleeping.

37 What I say to you, I say toall: 'Watch!'"

Commentary:

The command to be

watchfulis repeated3x. (vv. 33,35,37)

Except the 3rd, all thecommands have theirown explanations.

The pattern of the firsttwo commands: watch,because you do notknow when

Vigilance is associated

with work anddiligence (v.34), notsleeping and beingidle (v.36).


15/23

Reflections on the gospel reading

The best way to keep vigil is to do our

work assiduously and diligently.

We work even if no one is watching orsupervising.

Vigilance is not doing anything and

looking at the sky for signs, but doing ourjobs conscientiously.


16/23

Tying the 3 readings and the Psalms

1streading: Return, O Lord. (a prayer)

The psalm is a prayer for the Lords coming.

2ndreading: A picture of a community preparedfor the coming of the Lord

Gospel reading: Repeated appeal to be

watchful or else

How do we prepare for the coming of Jesus?


17/23

How to develop your homily/sharing:

You may begin by explaining what advent is allabout. Repeat some ideas found in the introductionof the missalette if you have one. Emphasize the

word preparation for the coming of the Lord (3comings)

Then make a critique on the commercial /consumeristic preparations elaborate Christmas decors, shopping spree, endless

Christian parties, eating and drinking causing sickness ordeath to some

over involvement in church activities causing fatigue, nosleep (not good for the spirit), carolling, etc.


18/23

Now, convince your audience on the realpreparation according to the readings To pray for his coming, or his return, expressing

their longing for God to intervene in their lives (1streading) To relate with the ideal community (in Corinth) in

terms of preparedness (2ndreading)

To be vigilance, diligent (gospel)


19/23

Make practical suggestions: attend adventrecollections, set aside more time for prayer,

spiritual reading, prepare the readings for the

mass.

They should be diligent in their spiritual

preparation.

Warn those who do not prepare: Christmas does

not mean anything without spiritual preparation. Itis a waste of money and energy.

Christmas without establishing relationship with

Christ is void.


20/23

Make Advent preparations as spiritual

event, not secular one.

Preparations become a secular eventwhen they stop at only decorating our

houses, malls, and listening to

Christmas carols, devoid of Christ thatseeks our conversion.


21/23

End the homily by connecting the coming of

the Lord with the reception of the eucharist.

Christ comes to us in the forms of bread andwine.

Active participation in the eucharistis itself a

preparation.


22/23

Our Context of Sin and Grace

No prayer life

Living apart from God

No sense of the Lords

coming

Commercialism

Consumerism

Secularistic Toxic and stressful

celebrations

Advent retreats and

recollections

Conversion experience

Encounter with the

Word of God

Spiritual renewal

Lively Advent liturgies Advent Wreathe

Reduced expenses


23/23

Suggested Songs

O Come O Come Emmanuel

Halina Hesus Halina

1st advent bliturgical bible study - 1st sunday advent b

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