First Sunday of Advent, Cycle B

First Reading
Isaiah 63:16b-17,19b;64:2-7
Isaiah prays for the Lord’s forgiveness of the people.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 80:2-3,15-16,18-19
A prayer for the Lord’s protection

Second Reading
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Paul gives thanks to God for the faith of the Corinthians.

Gospel Reading
Mark 13:33-37
Jesus warns his disciples to be watchful so that they will be ready when
the Son of Man comes.

Gospel MK 13:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Be watchful! Be alert!
You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge,
each with his own work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,
whether in the evening, or at midnight,
or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: 'Watch!'"


Background on the Gospel Reading

Today we begin the season of Advent which marks the start of a new
liturgical year for the Church. The readings for Sunday Mass are arranged
on a three-year cycle. Each year features a different Gospel—Matthew,
Mark, or Luke. Readings from the Gospel of John are interspersed
throughout all three years. With this year’s first Sunday of Advent, we
begin Cycle B of the Lectionary, which focuses our attention on the Gospel
of Mark. This week and next week, our readings from Mark’s Gospel present
two important Advent themes: the Lord’s return at the end of time and John
the Baptist’s preparation for Jesus.

Today’s Gospel is taken from the end of Mark’s Gospel, the chapter that
immediately precedes Mark’s account of Jesus’ Passion. Having been
questioned repeatedly by the scribes and the Pharisees, Jesus is now
questioned by his disciples—Peter, James, John, and Andrew—who want details
about his prediction of the destruction of the Temple. Jesus answers with
many warnings about the difficulties that the disciples will face.

Today’s passage comes at the conclusion of Jesus’ warnings to his
disciples. Jesus emphasizes the need for watchfulness. The Son of Man will
come without warning; only the Father knows the exact hour. The disciples
must not be caught unprepared when this time comes.

Scholars believe that Mark’s Gospel was written around the time of the
destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70. Mark’s audience
consisted of Christians who were living in difficult social and political
times, times of conflict. They were likely beginning to face persecution as
followers of Jesus. In this difficult time, it helped to recall that Jesus
had foretold of such difficulties. Early Christian communities took courage
from Jesus’ warning to remain alert and watchful, and they found in his
words a way to persevere through suffering.

Today’s Gospel reminds us that Advent is about more than our preparation
for the Church’s celebration of Christ’s birth at Christmas. Advent is also
about preparing ourselves for Christ’s return in glory at the end of time.
Like the disciples and the faithful in Mark’s community, we must also stay
alert and watchful. Our faithfulness to God, through the good times as well
as the difficult times, shows us to be ready for the coming of the Son of
Man.

Family Connection

In family life, we try to prepare ourselves for many future things: our
next vacation, our children’s education, our retirement. We are careful not
to allow ourselves to be caught by surprise so that we can handle any
challenges our family may face. Today’s Gospel reminds us that we are
called to be just as attentive and alert to the coming of the Son of Man so
that it will not catch us unprepared. This means attending to our family’s
spiritual life as carefully as we attend to other important family matters.

As you gather as a family, talk about a time when you received surprise
visitors at your house, perhaps a neighbor who stopped by or a relative who
arrived unannounced. Was your household prepared to receive this
unannounced guest? What might your family have done differently if you knew
ahead of time that this visitor was going to arrive? Jesus told his
disciples that no one knows when the Son of Man will return, except the
Father. Read with your family what Jesus told his disciples in today’s
Gospel, Mark 13:33-37.

During Advent, we not only prepare ourselves to celebrate the birth of
Jesus, we also check to see if we are doing all the things that will keep
us ready to receive Jesus when he comes again. Talk about how your family
can recommit to daily prayer, reading Scripture, and staying faithful to
God’s commandments. Pray together that through this Advent season your
family will be more prepared to receive Jesus when he comes again. Read as
a concluding prayer Paul’s words to the Corinthians found in today’s second
reading, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, or pray the Lord’s Prayer.

Sources: Loyola Press; Sunday Readings