Sunday Meditation: First Sunday of Advent, Godsplaining Style

I going to do something a little different this Sunday for the meditation.  I’m going to embed this Godsplaining episode to go over the Mass readings.  Just a little background.  Godsplaining is one of my favorite podcasts, and it provided by a particular group of young Dominican preachers.  On Sundays, what they like to do is read the Mass readings and then take turns reflecting on each of the readings.  Here we have Fr. Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, Fr. Gregory Pine, and Fr. Patrick Briscoe each giving their improvisational homily on all three readings.  Let me provide the readings so they are at hand for you to read, and then just click the video as they explain them. 

 

Reading I

Jer 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.”

 

Reading II

1 Thes 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.

 

Gospel

Lk 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.”

 

Check out their podcast.  They talk on all religious subjects and even subjects that don’t appear to be religious but may be, including literature.  There is usually a little more playful back and forth between the brothers, but I think it’s a little less so on the Sunday reflections on the Gospel.