Today’s the 1st Sunday of Advent

Find the Mass Readings here: 1st Sunday of Advent, December 3, 2017

My takeaway:

#MyMasstakeaway: Watch. . The theme of today's Gospel is watchful preparation for Christ. . What am I watching? Netflix? My Facebook feed? Instagram updates? The latest Amazon deals? I'm so distracted. My eyes are turned to the things of this world. . This season of Advent, it's time to turn my eyes toward Christ and make watchful preparation a priority. . 1. How am I feeding myself and my family spiritually? I need to watch out for distractions. Intentionally turn my eyes to 📖 my Bible, 🙏 my Rosary, ⛪my Pray More Retreat, ➕ growing closer to Jesus. . 2. How am I helping others? I need to turn my eyes outward. Stop watching out so much for my own wants, and start watching out for others needs. It's time to 🎁 give of myself to help out the less fortunate. . 3. How long has it been since my last confession? I won't be able to see as clearly if I'm surrounded by the 👹 darkness of my sin and guilt. It's time to let 💡 the light of forgiveness open my eyes. To watch for Jesus' love and mercy. . Watch. . How can you watchfully prepare for Jesus' birth during this Advent? . #mysundaybest with @rosiehill425 New maternity dress from #Target! #splurge #treatyourself #babybump

A post shared by To Jesus Sincerely (@tojesussincerely) on Dec 3, 2017 at 10:28am PST

Thoughts from my blogging friends:

I wanted to share a picture of the beautiful crucifix we got today. It was handmade in Jerusalem. #MyMassTakeaway : are living like we are waiting the coming of our Savior? Is Christ at the front of our minds, or is He an afterthought? Do we realize that he is the source of comfort and joy? #CSMI #CatholicsofInstagram #crucifix #HolyLand #olivewood #Jerusalem #CatholicArt

A post shared by Kate Hendrick (@stumblingtowardsainthood) on Dec 3, 2017 at 7:35am PST

"Watch, therefore; you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming… May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: 'Watch!'" Advent is my favorite liturgical season. The very name of the season means "coming." We study the Israelites waiting for the coming Messiah. We end the season by celebrating the coming of the Savior at Bethlehem. And we look forward to the coming of Christ in glory. But waiting is hard, y'all. Especially when the world around us celebrates a commercialized Christmas before the Thanksgiving turkey is even cold. If we're just going with the flow, won't the Lord of the house find us asleep at our posts? How do you plan to #staywoke this Advent?

A post shared by Lorelei Worland (@booksfaithlife) on Dec 3, 2017 at 10:42am PST

Watch! Today marks the first day of Advent – the liturgical color shifts to purple as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ and recognize the first day of the liturgical year. The Gospel reading from Mark (13:33-37) is short and to the point. In it one of my favorite words in Scripture is used over and over again in various ways – “Watch!” Jesus says it five times to his disciples. The point is that death comes for us all, and with it judgement. Are we ready? In this very moment, if we were told that we only had days to live…what would run through our mind? Most likely, “I didn’t have enough time.” Our mind would race to all that we could have or should have done. I’m not talking about traveling or skydiving, but rather, spending more quality time with the ones who matter most, wishing we had been better and more invested in them, and of course, considering our relationship with God Almighty, as we prepare to encounter him. One of the biggest deceptions of the devil is to tell us, “You have time.” Many plan to grow close to the Lord in their later years, after they have finished pursuing the things they would like to do, or even focusing all their energy on raising their children and furthering their career. Reading Scripture is something that is seen as better serving the season of our lives when all the busyness slows down. In that time, many promise themselves that they will then return to the Sunday obligation of worship, and rightly get their soul in order before death. Actor David Cassidy recently passed away, and his daughter Katie shared publicly her father’s last words on earth: “So much wasted time.” Those words have haunted me, and they should haunt you as well. It’s sudden wisdom like that, at the moment of death, which is a gift to the rest of us, who may have any length of time left. YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE TIME WILL COME. Jesus assures all of us of this. Yet, I also find comfort in this gospel as well. The line, “He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his own work.” This line stands out to me, because the Lord… https://thelionofdesign.com/blog/advent-reflections-1st-sunday/ #gospel #scripture #advent

A post shared by Kimberly Cook (@thelionofdesign) on Dec 3, 2017 at 12:29pm PST

O God, who by Thy gracious Advent hast brought joy into this world, grant us, we beseech Thee, Thy grace to prepare ourselves by sincere penance for its celebration and for the Last Judgment. Amen. . What is Advent? . Advent is that solemn time, immediately preceding Christmas, instituted by the Church in order that we should, in the first place, meditate on the Incarnation of Christ, the love, patience and humility which He has shown us, and prove our gratitude to Him, because He came from the bosom of His heavenly Father into this valley of tears, to redeem us; secondly, that we may prepare ourselves by sincere repentance, fasting, prayer, alms-deeds, and other works pleasing to God, for the coming of Christ and His birth in our hearts, and thus participate in the graces which He has obtained for us; finally, that He may be merciful to us, when He shall come again as judge of the world. "Watch ye, for ye know not at what hour your Lord will come" (Mt. 5:42). "Wherefore be you also ready; because at what hour you know not, the Son of man will come" (Mt. 24:44). . How should this solemn time be spent by Christians? They should recall, during these four weeks, the four thousand years in which the just under the Old Law expected and desired the promised Redeemer, think of those days of darkness in which nearly all nations were blinded by saran and drawn into the most horrible crimes, then consider their own sins and evil deeds and purify their souls from them by a worthy reception of the Sacraments, so that our Lord may come with His grace to dwell in their hearts and be merciful to them in life and in death. Further, to awaken in the faithful the feelings of repentance so necessary for the reception of the Savior in their hearts, the Church orders that besides the observance of certain fast days, the altar shall be draped in violet, that Mass shall be celebrated in violet vestments, that the organ shall be silent and no Gloria sung. Unjust to themselves, disobedient to the Church and ungrateful, indeed, to God are those Christians who spend this solemn time of grace in sinful amusements without performing any good works, with no longing for Christ's Advent

A post shared by Lena (@joyfilledfamily) on Dec 3, 2017 at 2:21pm PST

#MyMassTakeaway I love dressing according to the liturgical seasons. (Okay I can't do that EVERY Sunday of Ordinary Time, but the major ones!) I think it helps put me in the right frame of mind for the season and comments "home" and "church" for me in a visible way. In the same way, our lives should always be "dressed" in a way that leads others to Christ, no matter the liturgical season. Happy New Year and Advent, everyone! (📸: My wonderful, amazing husband ❤️💍) . . . #catholic #catholicchurch #catholicartisan #catholicbusiness #catholicsmallbusiness #church #churchwork #churchworker #catholicwedding #catholicbride #spokenbride #priest #catholicpriest #instacatholic #marketing #catholicmarketing #faithbasedmarketing #evangelization #bissisterhood #catholicentrepreneur #catholicmillenial #parish #advent #newyear #christmas #sundaybest #gloriammarketing #admajoremdeigloriam #forhisgreaterglory

A post shared by Gloriam Marketing (@gloriammarketing) on Dec 3, 2017 at 1:44pm PST

We're joining @tojesussincerely for her weekly #MyMassTakeaway reflecting on what we gleaned from Mass. We're also super psyched because this is the first Sunday to use our @everysacredsunday Mass journals!!! Kristi's take is be ready. This is a constant theme from the past few weeks that the Holy Spirit must really want her to hear. Fr. Eugene, in his homily, said the the way to be ready is prayer. Stop and think about your prayer life. Is it lackluster? Do you need a refocus? Kristi does. #Advent is the perfect time to do it, too. This week, challenge yourself to read the daily Gospels and wait in joyful #hope for the return of Our Savior. Rachel's take away this morning was not only to be ready this #Advent; but to be still. We need to be quiet in order to get direction and instruction from God. In order for us to be prepared for the coming of Christ, we need to be ready and have instructions on how to become ready. Challenge: find more times during the day to be still and listen. #everysacredsunday #HowWeAdvent #Advent #mymasstakeaway

A post shared by HailMarry (@hailmarry9499) on Dec 3, 2017 at 12:57pm PST

#MyMassTakeaway #SnapAdvent #Adventathon My mind was distracted for a large portion of Mass. Today was my day to bring Holy Communion to a "shut~in" couple. I missed my visit to them last month and I felt really bad about it. I had a strong feeling they spent Thanksgiving alone. There names are Winnie and Charlie. Winnie is 89 and sharp as a tack. Charlie's health is declining. He is,showing signs of Altheimers and he never wants to leave the house. Winne has to care for him…and I know she wishes they went out more. They have been married for over 50 years. Charlie served in WWII. They never had children. That statue of the angel caring for the two children made me think of Winnie's guardian angel. I did hear in between all my thoughts, that" Jesus is the Way"…Through the Eucharist, Jesus has brought me to Winnie and Charles. I couldn't help but think of ways I could make this month more joyful for them. As a society we always remember children this time of year…but what about the old and lonely? Please pray for Winnie and Charles this month. ..that they may experience #hope and joy. I pray that I am able to visit them more than once and bring smiles, laughter and an escape from the loneliness. Jesus warned ys in the Gospel to stay alert…It's apparent to me that He didn't just bring me to Winnie and Charles to just bring Communion. What is He asking you to do that you need to be alert to see?

A post shared by Amy@ PrayerWineChocolate (@prayerwinechocolate) on Dec 3, 2017 at 5:05pm PST

On this first Sunday of Advent, Fr. John, in his homily, mentioned Pieter Bruegel's painting: The Census at Bethlehem. The scene is set in a 16th century Belgium, everyone is wearing traditional clothing to that time, including Joseph and Mary. If you can spot them, Joseph is in front of the donkey, pregnant Blessed Mother is riding. The painting is not centered around the Holy Family, they are lost in the busyness of all the activities, just like in our time, Advent is a busy time in a world that is already too busy. So, probably, Jesus, He who we consider the most important, it is not at the center of our lives. Where is He? Where do we put Him? Jesus says, Be watchful , Be alert. Be alert for His presence, Now. Do not wait until the end of your life to meet Him. If you want Christ at the center, you have to decide so and want it. Fr. John was also telling a story about a parishioner who was present at the 6:30 am daily mass for the past 60 years. He asked him what determined him to be there every day, he answered that he decided when he was a young man, that he wants to be in our Lord's presence every day. — Let's not let this world set the pase of our Christmas celebration: the Christmas season starts on Christmas day, that is when the celebration of the birth of our Lord STARTS not Ends! Don't toss your tree the day after Christmas! There are 12 days of celebration after that or traditionally 40. + + #MyMasstakeaway #homily #sermon #christmas #advent #drawclosertogod #lovegod #godinspired #catholic #jesus

A post shared by Ingrid Blixt (@ingridblixt) on Dec 3, 2017 at 8:11pm PST

I spend a lot of my life waiting. Can you please go brush your teeth? This is the fifth time I've asked you to get dressed. What do you mean you can't find your shoes? I know reading is hard. Let's just keep trying. You loved melon when you were little. Want to give it a try today? How about we try the potty? Put on pants? Wear a coat? I spend a lot my life waiting. How long has He been waiting for me? #mymassyakeaway #mysundaybest

A post shared by Ginny Kochis (@ginnykochis) on Dec 3, 2017 at 1:01pm PST

Your turn:

I want to know your Mass Takeaway too! Comment with your thoughts on the readings, your pastor’s homily, or anything that struck you during your time at Mass.