Advent

Cycle A – Gospel of Matthew

Advent is a time to prepare with joyful expectation for the celebration of the Birth of Christ at Christmas. It is also a time to deepen our relationship with Christ, Emmanuel, “God with us.” By the power of the Holy Spirit Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, and was like us in all things but sin. This amazing Mystery, the Incarnation, changes everything for all creation, especially for human beings.

The Sacraments of Initiation, Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, celebrate and consecrate our relationship with the Holy Trinity and being a member of the Church. Throughout our entire life, God chooses to be with us and our relationship with the Trinity grows stronger through our participation in the life of the Church; that is, personal and communal prayer, receiving the sacraments and acts of mercy.

As we continue to participate in this first year of The Eucharistic Revival, let us allow the Scripture Readings for each week of Advent guide us in renewing our relationship with the indwelling Trinity through the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, and in being transformed by the Real Presence of Christ, Emmanuel, “God with us”, in the Eucharist.

Week 1

First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2022 – Baptism

• From the First Reading, Isaiah 2: 1-5: “Let us walk in the light of the Lord.” (Is. 2: 5)
• “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.” (Psalm Response)

Find more reflections and resources for the first week of Advent beginning November 27, 2022

Week 2

Second Sunday of Advent, December 4, 2022 – Confirmation

• From the Gospel, Matthew 3: 1-12: “He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3: 11)
• “Justice shall flourish in his time and fullness of peace for ever.” (Psalm Response)

Find reflections and resources for the second week of Advent beginning December 4, 2022

Week 3

Third Sunday of Advent, December 11, 2022 – Eucharist

• From the Gospel Acclamation, Isaiah 61:1: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.”
• Each reading speaks of transformation and transformation is what we experience through and in the Eucharist.

Find reflections and resources for the third week of Advent beginning December 11, 2022

Week 4

Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 18, 2022 – God is With Us

• From the Second Reading, Romans 1: 1-7: “Through him we have received the grace of apostleship…called to belong to Jesus Christ…” (Romans 1: 5 and 6)
• From the Gospel, Matthew 1:18-24: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall call him Emmanuel, which means, ‘God is with us.’”
• As fully initiated members of the Body of Christ our call is to live as Eucharistic people, to witness to the presence of Christ in our world.

Find reflections and resources for the fourth week of Advent beginning December 18, 2022