First Sunday of Advent

Hello everyone and peace! This Sunday marks the First Sunday of Advent and the beginning of a new liturgical year. Advent, which spans the four Sundays before Christmas, invites us into a season of hopeful preparation for the coming of the Lord. During these weeks, the Church calls us to reflect on two central mysteries of our faith: Christ’s coming in glory at the end of time and his incarnation in the birth of Jesus. Themes of watchful waiting, readiness, and a longing for God’s justice shape our prayer and outlook during this holy season. Throughout this new year, we will hear primarily from the Gospel of Matthew (Lectionary Cycle A). In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus urges his disciples to remain awake and attentive for the coming of the Son of Man. Matthew’s Gospel, written for a Jewish-Christian community navigating life after the destruction of the Temple, speaks to believers who wondered whether the turmoil around them signaled the Lord’s imminent return. Jesus, however, reminds them—and us—that the exact moment of his coming is unknown, and searching for signs is fruitless. Just as a thief arrives without warning, so will the Lord’s return be. The message for us this Sunday is clear: true preparation lies not in predicting the time of Christ’s coming but in the manner of our waiting. Jesus calls us to the steady vigilance of a homeowner who stays alert because he knows a thief may come. Likewise, Christians are called to live each day with readiness, faithfulness, and purpose. If we grow complacent in our discipleship, we risk being caught unprepared. Advent invites us to renew our commitment to watchfulness, to deepen our relationship with Christ, and to ready our hearts for his coming—both at Christmas and at the end of time. #ANCC #independentsacramentalmovement #LGBTQIaffirming #catholicreform #progressivecatholics #catholicfaith #CatholicMass #catholicmasstoday #catholiclife #catholicfaith #oldcatholic #NationalCatholic #DioceseofManagua