Ninth Sunday of The Great Advent with the readings of First Sunday of Advent, year C

Jeremiah 33: 14-16

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.”

Psalm 25: 4-5. 8-10. 14

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;

teach me your paths,

Guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my savior,

and for you I wait all the day.

Good and upright is the LORD;

thus he shows sinners the way.

He guides the humble to justice,

and teaches the humble his way.

All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy

toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,

and his covenant, for their instruction.

1 Thessalonians 3: 12 - 4:2

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.

Luke 21: 25-28. 34-36

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 tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Questions:

- It is written in the book of the prophet Jeremiah: "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.” – Two thousand years have passed. Each generation must take responsibility for the success or failure to bring charity and justice to the world. How do I see myself in the present generation? Do I try to do something to increase justice in daily life in the society in which I live? Or I do not care, and even participate in the injustice that characterizes our world?

- It is written in the First Letter to Thessalonians: "May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you." – Do I know the hymn of love from chapter 13 of Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians? Do I try every day to live love as it is described in this anthem?

- Jesus said in the Gospel: "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." – What are my feelings when I think about the Eschaton (End of the world; Second Coming)?

Questions for children:

- It is written in the book of the prophet Jeremiah: "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.” – Do I really try to understand what is good and what is not good in life, what is right or wrong? Do I want justice in our world?

- It is written in the First Letter to Thessalonians: "May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you." – Do I know the hymn of love from chapter 13 of Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians? What are the characteristics of love according to this hymn?

- Jesus said in the Gospel: "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." – Do I believe that Jesus' second coming to this world will be a sign of victory over evil and a cause for joy for all people of good will?