| Reading 1 | Response | Reading 2 | Gospel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7 RCL: Is 64:1-9 | Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 | 1 Cor 1:3-9 | Mk 13:33-37 RCL: Mk 13:24-37 |
Advent: Jesus’ past, present, and future coming
Happy new year! This Sunday starts a new liturgical year and a new season. The Sunday gospel readings change from Matthew to Mark; the season’s color is Advent’s purple. Advent’s readings look back to God’s promises and look forward to their fulfillment. This week’s readings ask us to think about how and where we look for Jesus.
The first reading is from the prophet Isaiah, specifically Third Isaiah, who spoke to the exiles returning from Babylon. The pericope is a psalm of lament by the returned exiles, who found the Temple burned and the city in ruins. The exiles recall God’s protection during the wilderness wanderings (“you wrought awesome deeds”), and beg the Lord to come again to help (“rend the heavens and come down”). The people recognize their failings (“we are sinful”), but, in a striking image of God as a potter forming Adam out of the earth (“we are the clay”), they call on God as Father and Creator to restore the city and the people (“you are our father,” “we are the work of your hands”). The Lectionary editors chose this reading because it completes the apocalyptic themes of the last few weeks, and sets Advent’s coming/waiting themes.
The second reading is from Paul’s letter to the Corinth ekklesia. In today’s pericope, Paul greets the believing community (“grace to you and peace”) and thanks God for the variety of charisms already present among them (“the grace bestowed on you”). Paul then sets these charismatic gifts in an eschatological context (“as you await Christ’s revelation”). Despite their present knowledge (“all discourse and all knowledge”), the Corinthians still await Jesus’ parousia. That is, although they now experience charismatic gifts, the Corinthians’ real goal is “fellowship with the Son.” During this time of waiting, God remains faithful and sustains the ekklesia in faith. The Lectionary editors chose this reading because of its Advent theme of “waiting.”
In Mark’s gospel, Jesus stresses the need for watchfulness, emphasized by his parable of the doorkeeper.
- The parable and its meaning. The doorkeeper parable is part of Mark’s eschatological discourse (Mk 13). The master tells his doorkeeper and other household slaves to continue their work in his absence; he will judge their work when he returns. Because no one knows when the master will return, all must remain faithful, awake, and watchful. In the ancient world, night travel was difficult and dangerous; the parable’s surprise is that the master may return unexpectedly at night or in the early morning. Jesus warns his disciples to be on the watch for the coming end-time.
- The parable’s meaning in Advent. In choosing this parable, the Lectionary editors carry Ordinary time’s eschatological theme into a new season and year. In Advent, Jesus’ warnings to “Be alert! Watch!” now call the believing community to prepare for his historical incarnation at Christmas, rather than his future parousia.
During Advent, the readings ask us to think about Jesus’ coming in history, his liturgical and sacramental coming now, and his future return. Isaiah prays with the returning exiles for God to come again. Paul teaches the Corinthians that as they await Jesus’ parousia, God remains present with them. Jesus warns his disciples to watch and to look for him. Even in Jesus’ physical absence he remains present to us. Do we look for Jesus only as a Christmas memory, or do we find him now in Christmas preparations? Do we look for Jesus only in the Eucharistic presence, or do we find his continuing presence in every human encounter? Do we look for Jesus only as a future promise, or do we find him daily in family and work?
—Terence Sherlock
The Lectionary In Context 