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Lifelong Catechesis

Forming Catholic identity across generations
January 18, 2025
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Advent

The twofold character of Advent calls us to prepare for the remembering of the Word made Flesh at Christmas, and directs us to wait with alertness for Jesus’ second coming.

Sunday Readings and Backgrounds

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First Sunday of Advent

Reading I : Jeremiah 33:14-16

A shoot shall rise up.

  • The prophets believed that the fullness of God’s kingdom could be experienced in history.
  • Jeremiah was writing for an audience that was facing exile.
  • In today’s passage, the prophet Jeremiah assures the people that even in the midst of disaster God would remain faithful.

Reading II : 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2

Love one another and act in ways pleasing to God.

  • The Christians at Thessalonica believed that Christ’s return would come in their lifetime.
  • Paul’s letter encourages them to live wisely in anticipation of Christ’s coming.
  • The Thessalonians are urged to persevere in the way of life they had learned from Paul so that the day of the Lord would truly be a day of rejoicing.

Gospel : Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

Jesus will come again in glory; be not afraid.

  • Today's Gospel uses apocalyptic imagery to describe the return of Christ.
  • Luke's audience recognized that the wait for Christ’s return could be long.
  • Christians must always be ready because no one knows when the great day will come.