First Sunday of Advent

 

Praise be to Jesus Christ.

Did you have a peaceful week? 

 

Today is the First Sunday in Advent.  Liturgically, we begin a new church calendar and a new year.  We pray for God’s blessing in our hearts, family, and the world.  

 

The Church has three main calendars: Gregorian, Lunar, and Liturgical.  

In the Gregorian calendar today is November 29, 2020; in the lunar calendar October 15, 2020; in the liturgical calendar it is the First Sunday in Advent.  

 

Liturgical calendar is the church calendar.  It celebrates the history of salvation as one year; Christmas and Easter are the two pillars.  

 

 

We prepare for Christmas in Advent and Easter in Lent.  Others are called Ordinary Time.  

 

 

“Liturgical Calendar” 

 

The special features in Advent are:

First is the purple priest robe (vestment); color purple represents repentance and atonement.  

Second is the Advent candle; the candles represent four thousand years of old testament.  We light a dark purple to a light rose color candle every week.  

Third is the absence of Gloria (greater doxology); since is a penitential season in church Gloria is omitted.  

 

Today’s gospel tells us “Be Alert!”  (Mark 13,37)

Advent is a time to prepare and be watchful as we wait for Jesus.  Through renewed hearts while fulfilling our duties and strengthening faith, we must observe Advent dutifully and prepare for Christmas.  

 

Lets us meditate for a moment.