A Truer Meaning of the Season,....

Cross-posted from Gribbit's site:

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. This is my first year to experience Advent (although not in full communion yet) and I thought through this season of preparation, that I’d include the readings for the week.

From the Companion Missal of the Catholic Church:

Opening Prayer:

All-powerful GOD, increase our strength of will for doing good that Christ may find an eager welcome at his coming, and call us to His side in the kingdom of heaven, where He lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one GOD, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah:

The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah. In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land. In those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; this is what they shall call her: “The Lord our justice.”

The Word of the Lord - Thanks Be To GOD.

A Reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians:

Brothers and sisters: May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our GOD and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.

Finally, brothers and sisters, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please GOD - and as you are conducting yourselves - you do so even more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

The Word of the Lord - Thanks be to GOD.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke - Glory to you, Lord:

Jesus said to his disciples: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.

“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulation that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

The Gospel of the Lord - Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Peace be with you all.

Gribbit