The return of the Son of Man - reflection on the First Sunday of Advent

Readings and Propers

Ordinary Form (Year A)

Is. 2:1-5

The word that Isaias the son of Amos saw, concerning Juda and Jerusalem. And in the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared on the top of mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go, and say: Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall come forth from Sion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge the Gentiles, and rebuke many people: and they shall turn their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into sickles: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they be exercised any more to war. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Ps. 122(121):1-9

R: Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.  

I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: We shall go into the house of the Lord.

Our feet were standing in thy courts, O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, which is built as a city, which is compact together.

For thither did the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord:

The testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord.

Because their seats have sat in judgment, seats upon the house of David.

Pray ye for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem: and abundance for them that love thee.

Let peace be in thy strength: and abundance in thy towers.

For the sake of my brethren, and of my neighbours, I spoke peace of thee.

Because of the house of the Lord our God, I have sought good things for thee.

Rom. 13:11-14

[Brethren,] knowing the season, that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. The night is passed And the day is at hand. Let us, therefore cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day: not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ: and make not provision for the flesh in its concupiscences.

Gospel Antiphon: Alleluia, alleluia. Shew us, O Lord, thy mercy; and grant us thy salvation (Ps. 85(84):7). Alleluia.

Mt. 24:37-44

[At that time: Jesus said to His disciples:] And as in the days of Noe, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For, as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, even till that day in which Noe entered into the ark: And they knew not till the flood came and took them all away: so also shall the coming of the Son of man be. Then two shall be in the field. One shall be taken and one shall be left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill. One shall be taken and one shall be left. Watch ye therefore, because you know not what hour your Lord will come. But this know ye, that, if the goodman of the house knew at what hour the thief would come, he would certainly watch and would not suffer his house to be broken open. Wherefore be you also ready, because at what hour you know not the Son of man will come.

-------

Extraordinary Form

INTROIT ¤ Ps. 24. 1-3

   Ad te levavi animam meam: Deus meus, in te confido, non erubescam: neque irrideant me inimici mei: etenim universi, qui te exspectant non confundentur. -- Vias tuas, Domine, demonstra mihi: et semitas tuas edoce me. V.: Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto, qui erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. -- Ad te levavi animam meam: Deus meus, in te confido, non erubescam: neque irrideant me inimici mei: etenim universi, qui te exspectant non confundentur.

   To Thee have I lifted up my soul: in Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be ashamed: neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them that wait on Thee shall be confounded. -- (Ps. 24. 4). Show, O Lord, Thy ways to me: and teach me Thy paths. V.: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. -- To Thee have I lifted up my soul: in Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be ashamed: neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them that wait on Thee shall be confounded.

The Gloria is omitted from this day until Christmas Day, except on feasts.

COLLECT

   Excita, quaesumus Domine, potentiam tuam, et veni: ut ab imminentibus peccatorum nostrorum periculis, etmereamur protegente eripi, te liberante salvari. Qui vivas et regnas cum Deo Patre in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus: per omnia saecula saeculorum.

   Stir up Thy power, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and come: that from the threatening dangers of our sins we may deserve to be rescued by Thy protection, and to be saved by Thy deliverance. Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.

EPISTLE ¤Rom. 13. 11-14

Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Romans.

Lectio Epistolae beati Pauli Apostoli ad Romanos.

[It is now the hour for us to rise from sleep . . . Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness . . . and walk honestly.]

   Fratres: Scientes, quia hora est iam nos de somno surgere. Nunc enim propior est nostra salus, quam cum credidimus. Nox praecessit, dies autem appropinquavit. Abiiciamus ergo opera tenebrarum, et induamur arma lucis. Sicut in die honeste ambulemus: non in comessationibus, et ebrietatibus, non in cubilibus, et impudicitiis, non in contentione, et aemulatione, sed induimini Dominum Iesum Christum.

   Brethren, knowing that is is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. The night is past and the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day: not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy: but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.

GRADUAL ¤Ps. 24. 3, 4

   Universi, qui te exspectant, non confundentur, Domine. V.: Vias tuas, Domine, notas fac mihi: et semitas tuas edoce me.

   Alleluia, alleluia. V.: Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam, et salutare tuum da nobis. Alleluia.

   All they that wait on Thee shall not be confounded, O Lord. V.: Show, O Lord, Thy ways to me: and teach me Thy paths.

   Alleluia, alleluia. V.: (Ps. 84. 8) Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy; and grant us Thy salvation.

When on the Ferias of Advent the Mass of the Sunday is used, the Alleluia and its verses are not said, but only the Gradual.

GOSPEL ¤Luke 21. 25-33.

† Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke.

† Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam

[We learn in this Gospel of the second coming of Christ: to render to each one according to his works.]

   In illo tempore: Dixit Iesus discipulis suis: Erunt signa in sole, et luna, et stellis, et in terrispressura gentium prae confusione sonitus maris, et fluctuum: arescentibus hominibus prae timore et exspectatione, quae supervenient universo orbi: nam virtutes caelorum movebuntur. Et tunc videbunt Filium hominis venientem in nube cum potestate magna, et maiestate. His autem fieri incipientibus, respicite, et levate capita vestra: quoniam appropinquat redemptio vestra. Et dixit illis similitudinem:Videte ficulneam, et omnes arbores: cum producunt iam ex se fructum, scitis quoniam prope est regnum Dei. Amen dico vobis, quia nonpraeteribit generatio haec, donec omnia fiant. Caelum et terra transibunt: verba autem mea non transibunt.

   At that time Jesus said to His disciples: There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves: men withering away for fear and expectations of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved. And then they shall see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand. And He spoke to them a similitude: See the fig tree and all the trees: when they now shoot forth their fruit, you know that summer is nigh. So you also, when you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Amen, I say to you, this generation shall not pass away till all things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass away.

OFFERTORY ¤Ps. 24. 1-3.

   Ad te levavi animam meam: Deus meus, in te confido, non erubescam: neque irrideant me inimici mei: etenim universi, qui te exspectant non confundentur.

   To Thee have I lifted up my soul: in Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be ashamed: neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them that wait on Thee shall be confounded.

SECRET

   Haec sacra nos, Domine, potenti virtute mundatos, ad suum faciant puriores venire principium. Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.

   May these holy mysteries, O Lord, cleanse us by their powerful virtue and make us to come with greater purity to Him who is their source. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

PREFACE

Preface of Advent

   Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus, per Christum Dominum nostrum; quem, perdito humanum generi, Salvatorem misericors et fidelis promisisti, cuius veritas instrueret inscios, sanctitas iustificaret impios, virtus adiuvaret infirmos. Dum ergo prope est ut veniat quem missurus es, et dies affulget liberationis nostrae, in hac promissionum tuarum fide piis gaudiis exsultamus. Et ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et Dominationibus, cumque omni militiae caelestis exercitus, hymnum gloriae tuae canimus, sine fine dicentes:

   It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should in all times, and in all places, give thanks to Thee, holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God, through Christ our Lord. Whom Thou, clement and faithful, promised as a Savior to the lost race of men; Whose truth instructed the ignorant, Whose sanctity justified the impious, Whose virtues strengthened the weak. Therefore while the advent approaches of Him Who was sent, and the day of our liberation draws ever nearer, we exalt with pious joys in the confidence of Thy promises. And therefore, with angels and archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the host of the heavenly army, we sing a hymn to Thy glory, ever saying:

   Or the celebrant may say:

Preface of the Most Holy Trinity

   Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus. Qui cum unigenito Filio tuo, et Spiritu Sancto, unus es Deus, unus es Dominus: non in unius singularitate personae, sed in unius Trinitate substantiae. Quod enim de tua gloria, revelante te, credimus, hoc de Filio tuo, hoc de Spiritu Sancto, sine differentia discretionis sentimus. Ut in confessione verae, sempiternaeque Deitatis, et in personis proprietas, et in essentia unitas, et in maiestate adoretur aequalitas. Quam laudant Angeli atque Archangeli, Cherubim quoque ac Seraphim: qui non cessant clamare quotidie, una voce dicentes:

   It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice saying:

COMMUNION ¤Ps. 84. 13

   Dominus dabit benignitatem: et terra nostra dabit fructum suum.

   The Lord will give goodness: and our earth shall yield her fruit.

POSTCOMMUNION

   Suscipiamus, Domine, misericordiam tuam in medio templi tui: ut reparationis nostrae ventura solemniacongruis honoribus praecedamus. Per Dominum nostrum, Iesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.

   May we receive, O Lord, Thy mercy in the midst of Thy temple, that we may prepare with due honor for the approaching feast of our redemption. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Reflections and Insights

The Year of Faith has ended, but the missionary work of the New Evangelization has just begun. And this is one of the ways in which I can promote it.

In a few hours, we are about to enter a new Liturgical Year. Simultaneous to this is our preparation for what the secular world reckons as "the most wonderful time of the year." But we are not just preparing it with decorations and wrapping gifts. We Catholics are challenged to prepare our very selves in receiving the newborn King of the Universe into our hearts in a twofold manner: commemorating His Incarnation and expecting for His Second Coming.

Now, as we commence a new Liturgical Year, I would like to share my insights on how I can relate the readings and propers of both Forms of the Roman Rite:

Heaven is the fullness of Zion and Jerusalem. This is quite obvious because both sites, as well as Rome being the seat of authority of the Church, pertain to be "The City of God"

It is necessary for us to be vigilant with our whole being and our spirituality, lest we run out of time.

Jesus is our consolation from all the afflictions prior to His Second Coming. Therefore, Mary is worthy of the title "Comforter of the afflicted". 

The theme of the Advent Season is all about the return of the Son of Man. Even the Last Sunday after Pentecost has this theme; so this is a good continuity, like a seamless reflection on the end of the liturgical year to the beginning of a new one.

We have to be vigilant about all that we are because we are awaiting the advent of the Lord in the end of days (the Second Coming), and not just commemorate His Incarnation two thousand years ago (the First Coming). We are vigilant because we "look forward to the resurrection of the dead and in the life of the world to come" when "He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead" where "His kingdom will have no end" (quotes from the Nicene Creed).

We strive to live and die in the state of grace--to be with the Lord in all that we do--even when we are afflicted with catastrophes, just like what the people of the Visayas has experienced. This is the very reason why Christ established the Sacrament of Reconciliation--so that we may become perfect as He is. One of the good reads on how to deepen our spiritual life is Thomas a Kempis's "The Imitation of Christ". Here, he writes how to shun all vainglory so that the glory the Lord may be manifested upon us.

Now we ask:

Do we take necessary actions in order to be worthy to commemorate the Lord's Birthday and to await His return in glory? Do we have the same expectation as that of Mary as she was expecting the Holy Child in her womb?

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Praying the Collect

[This is the section where I combine and condense the Collects of both Forms to create a complimentary and integral prayer]

Stir up Thy power, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and come: that from the threatening dangers of our sins we may deserve to be rescued by Thy protection, and to be saved by Thy deliverance. Grant Thy faithful, we pray, Almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet Thy 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, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost: One God, world without end. Amen.