Mary M. McGlone

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Peter and Andrew and said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 

Today’s psalm response offers us a challenging mantra for the coming week. After the first reading we will repeat, “Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will.”

If you are presiding at the liturgy on January 1, try this: Ask the assembly what we are celebrating today. 

We know that the expectation of a Messiah had a long, long history. The downtrodden people of God yearned for the savior God would send them.  

Christmas day has finally dawned. There’s been so much anticipation, so much hype, that it’s hard for one day to bear the weight of all the expectations.

“O come, O come, Emmanuel!” Each Advent season we hear it sung, sometimes in such beautiful chant that we think for a minute that it might be nice to live in a monastery and sing like that all the time. 

We tend to think that the trial of Jesus happened only at the end of his life before the rulers of the people, Pilate and Herod. In reality, Jesus was on trial for the entirety of his earthly mission. Every time he did or said something it raised implicit questions from “Who does he think he is?” to “Is this the one to come?”

Look at your Advent Calendar. Can you spot John the Baptist with his 100% organic outfit and odd, non-vegetarian diet? Although he hardly fits the cute calendar images, he’s a key character of the Advent season. 

First Sunday of Advent: We begin the season of Advent with readings that direct our gaze to the ultimate and the immediate realities of our lives. The first Sunday of Advent always looks to history's end.