'Winter Landscape with Bird Trap',
Painted by Pieter Brueghel the Younger (1564-1638),
First half 17th century
Oil on panel
© National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo
1 Dec 2023
First Sunday of Advent
Need for Watchfulness
Advent begins this Sunday. Today, the Church launches a new liturgical year B, the gospel readings are chosen from the Gospel of Mark. We have four Sunday’s to prepare for Christmas. It is a very evocative religious season because it is interwoven with hope and spiritual expectation: every time the Christian community prepares to commemorate the Redeemer’s birth, it feels a quiver of joy which to a certain extent it communicates to the whole of society. Today’s Gospel invites us to stay on guard as we await the final coming of Christ. The short parable of the master who went on a journey and the servants responsible for acting in his place highlights how important it is to be ready to welcome the master when he suddenly returns. The Church invites us all to wait in readiness to welcome our Lord when he arrives at a time when we least expect. During this period of advent, let us prepare in vigilant prayer and joy for the coming our Lord. Come Lord Jesus come!