First Sunday of Advent
27 November 2022: 1st Sunday of Advent (Cycle A)
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Bob Skudder
Matthew 24: 37 Are we really ready?
The Lord has given us many insights into what will happen in the future. Even after all of the foretold prophecy’s about the coming of the Messiah, no one was really ready for that first Christmas, when Jesus was born. No one knew that Jesus was coming, except a very small group of people. The rest of the world was preoccupied with other things.
In Israel there was a census taking place which meant that everyone was compelled by law to return to their ancestors’ home town and register there. That’s what everyone was doing that first Christmas. People were travelling, making arrangements where to stay, where to eat and where to register for the census. Activities were going on, people were visiting friends they had not seen for a while. It was a very busy time. The last thing on most people’s minds was whether or not the Messiah would be born. After all, God had been promising to send the Messiah for thousands of years. And then Jesus was born and everyone missed it. There were Mary and Joseph. There were a few shepherds out in the fields that were told by the angels what was happening.
Even the three wise men missed it, they did not arrive until much later.
After the census was over, everyone went back home, completely unaware that the Greatest gift from God had just taken place.
In Matthew 24: 37. Jesus talks about how it was during the days of Noah, the first time God destroyed the world. People were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the
day that Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing about what would happen until the floods came and took them all away.
Did not God give those people a chance? The answer is a great big YES.
For many years they watched a old man build a great big wooden boat in the desert.
For many years they heard him tell how God was going to send the Flood, but they laughed at him and said he was crazy. But then the flood came, and they were all completely unprepared and drowned.
That’s how it will be Jesus says, when He comes again. Some will be ready, and some will not. Look at the example Jesus uses in verse 40 – two men will be in a field – one taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding grain – one taken, the other left. Jesus is emphasising here how some will be ready for his second coming, and some will not. The rest of the Bible gives us a clearer picture – when Jesus comes, there will be a loud trumpet call from God. Jesus will come with all of his angels, riding the clouds, and everything will stop. He’ll raise the dead. Then, those who are believers – those who are ready for his arrival – will be lifted up from this earth and will meet the Lord.
We have chosen to ignore Gods warning in the past, Jesus is encouraging each and every one of us must keep ourselves spiritually ready and spiritually alert, because He is coming, we know not when.
Don’t let yourself be caught unprepared – that’s the main message God’s Word has for us today.
Be ready, Jesus tells us. You have been warned.
********************************
4 Dec 2022 2nd Sunday of Advent (Cycle A)
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: A Parishioner
Matthew 3:1-12
Why did the crowds flock to listen to John, (– or indeed to any seemingly successful celebrity today-), a wild man baptising in the wilderness, as he does in today’s gospel? It does seem that humankind, then and now, searches unremittingly for hope, for a way to live a fulfilled life, for renewal, for redemption. Today people often seek transformation and salvation in self- improvement, in personal growth, in ‘mindfulness’: but John spoke to them and to us with clarity and authority of the true path to take.
John called on listeners to change, to live righteously, in a new way of life, producing good fruit for others by being orientated towards God’s will. For this was and is John’s call, the true meaning of ‘metanoia’ (repentance), not just to have a feeling guilt for our wrong doings, or to abide more by prescribed rituals and strictures. The kingdom of heaven was and is to take root and bear fruit through seeking to enact God’s will. And through baptism, the ‘outward sign of inward grace’, that moment of new direction commences, cleansing and refining old ways into new creations.
In these early days of Advent, what a wonderful Gospel we are given today. It calls us to turn not to today’s ‘influencers’ and trend-setters for the path to renewal and redemption, but to God. We are urged to ask God to dwell more fully in and through us, so that we might be to be true ‘Christ bearers’, bringing the fruits of hope and light to the world.
This may be the opportunity too that we have been awaiting, to seek reconciliation and renewal in our relationship with God and each other through the sacrament of forgiveness.
In this special season let’s pray for God’s grace to seek, and share, the gifts of contrition, renewal and hope.
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Bob Skudder
Matthew 24: 37 Are we really ready?
The Lord has given us many insights into what will happen in the future. Even after all of the foretold prophecy’s about the coming of the Messiah, no one was really ready for that first Christmas, when Jesus was born. No one knew that Jesus was coming, except a very small group of people. The rest of the world was preoccupied with other things.
In Israel there was a census taking place which meant that everyone was compelled by law to return to their ancestors’ home town and register there. That’s what everyone was doing that first Christmas. People were travelling, making arrangements where to stay, where to eat and where to register for the census. Activities were going on, people were visiting friends they had not seen for a while. It was a very busy time. The last thing on most people’s minds was whether or not the Messiah would be born. After all, God had been promising to send the Messiah for thousands of years. And then Jesus was born and everyone missed it. There were Mary and Joseph. There were a few shepherds out in the fields that were told by the angels what was happening.
Even the three wise men missed it, they did not arrive until much later.
After the census was over, everyone went back home, completely unaware that the Greatest gift from God had just taken place.
In Matthew 24: 37. Jesus talks about how it was during the days of Noah, the first time God destroyed the world. People were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the
day that Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing about what would happen until the floods came and took them all away.
Did not God give those people a chance? The answer is a great big YES.
For many years they watched a old man build a great big wooden boat in the desert.
For many years they heard him tell how God was going to send the Flood, but they laughed at him and said he was crazy. But then the flood came, and they were all completely unprepared and drowned.
That’s how it will be Jesus says, when He comes again. Some will be ready, and some will not. Look at the example Jesus uses in verse 40 – two men will be in a field – one taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding grain – one taken, the other left. Jesus is emphasising here how some will be ready for his second coming, and some will not. The rest of the Bible gives us a clearer picture – when Jesus comes, there will be a loud trumpet call from God. Jesus will come with all of his angels, riding the clouds, and everything will stop. He’ll raise the dead. Then, those who are believers – those who are ready for his arrival – will be lifted up from this earth and will meet the Lord.
We have chosen to ignore Gods warning in the past, Jesus is encouraging each and every one of us must keep ourselves spiritually ready and spiritually alert, because He is coming, we know not when.
Don’t let yourself be caught unprepared – that’s the main message God’s Word has for us today.
Be ready, Jesus tells us. You have been warned.
********************************
4 Dec 2022 2nd Sunday of Advent (Cycle A)
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: A Parishioner
Matthew 3:1-12
Why did the crowds flock to listen to John, (– or indeed to any seemingly successful celebrity today-), a wild man baptising in the wilderness, as he does in today’s gospel? It does seem that humankind, then and now, searches unremittingly for hope, for a way to live a fulfilled life, for renewal, for redemption. Today people often seek transformation and salvation in self- improvement, in personal growth, in ‘mindfulness’: but John spoke to them and to us with clarity and authority of the true path to take.
John called on listeners to change, to live righteously, in a new way of life, producing good fruit for others by being orientated towards God’s will. For this was and is John’s call, the true meaning of ‘metanoia’ (repentance), not just to have a feeling guilt for our wrong doings, or to abide more by prescribed rituals and strictures. The kingdom of heaven was and is to take root and bear fruit through seeking to enact God’s will. And through baptism, the ‘outward sign of inward grace’, that moment of new direction commences, cleansing and refining old ways into new creations.
In these early days of Advent, what a wonderful Gospel we are given today. It calls us to turn not to today’s ‘influencers’ and trend-setters for the path to renewal and redemption, but to God. We are urged to ask God to dwell more fully in and through us, so that we might be to be true ‘Christ bearers’, bringing the fruits of hope and light to the world.
This may be the opportunity too that we have been awaiting, to seek reconciliation and renewal in our relationship with God and each other through the sacrament of forgiveness.
In this special season let’s pray for God’s grace to seek, and share, the gifts of contrition, renewal and hope.