First Sunday of Advent

ADVENT
'Arise from Darkness'
Vigilant Expectation
'Now is the Time'

Advent reminds us that we live in the time between the two comings of Christ. It is a call for us to remember that it is the same God now in the present who worked wonders and marvels for the people of Israel in preparation for Christ's birth, and the same Christ who will come again on the Last Day.

In the Mass we are familiar with these prayers:

'He will come again to judge the living and the dead and His Kingdom will have no end'

'I believe in life everlasting'

'Christ has died, Christ has risen,Christ will come again '

'We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your resurrection, until you come again'

....As we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ.'

Christ comes in the intervening time in the liturgy - when Christ speaks in His word, when Christ's Body and Blood become really present for us to receive.

Christ is also present in the myriad people and situations of every day. At the last Judgement Christ will say in terms of reward or retribution - whatsoever you did to the least of these, YOU DID IT TO ME.'