First Sunday of Advent Mass | November 27, 2022 | 9:30am and 11am

Blessed Sacrament Parish, Walpole MA | www.walpolecatholic.net | First Sunday of Advent | Today, we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent. This is the beginning of a sacred season of two purposes. The rst is that we, as church, ready ourselves. We have hope for the second coming of Jesus and we also prepare ourselves for the festive celebration of the birthday of Jesus Chris, otherwise known as the Nativity of the Lord. We look forward to and anticipate the judgement day, and the second coming of Christ, the day of peace. Also, on this First Sunday in Advent we begin anew the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church. This will be Year A and we will read primarily from the Gospel according to Matthew on Sundays and on weekdays, it is considered to be Cycle 1. According to the Ordo, Book 7, human beings cannot live without hope. Unlike the animals, we are –blessed or cursed- with the ability to think about the future and to anticipate how our actions will shape it. So essential is this to human life, that human beings cannot live without hope, without something to look forward to. To be without hope is to have nothing to live for and is to surrender to death in despair. One of the reasons we read from the Old Testament during Advent is to learn what to hope for. They hoped for big things. That the dessert would be changed into fertile land- that their divided people would be united again - that the blind would see - that the deaf would hear- that the lame would walk– and that all people would be united in peace. According to Acts 11:26, it is estimated that Matthew’s Gospel was written in the rst century, possibly at Antioch in Syria. Antioch would have been a place that nurtured Matthew’s Gospel account and his devotion to Jesus, as well as his profound knowledge of ancient Jewish traditions, ethical concerns, and cultural coloring. The Gospel of Matthew came out of a group of scribes who had been “instructed in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew’s view of Jesus is exalted. Matthew tells us that Jesus is genealogically descended from Abraham and David and carries a prophetic name, Emmanuel, “God with us.” Matthew reminds us that Jesus is a king from birth who, without e ort, conquers disease and evil “by a word” and that word has a majestic authority, “You have heard that it was said.” “But I say to you.” And His word will never pass away. Unique among Gospel accounts, Matthew pays attention to the community of Jesus’ followers. Matthew is the only one who refers to this community as ChurchEcclesia. The Apostles and especially Peter serve as models for others to follow. They also show themselves to be human beings, as Jesus chides them for their lack of faith. O ye of little faith. Peter truly stumbles as a disciple when he was walking on water, only to have to seek rescue from the Lord. Peter spoke before he thought, Peter slept at the post and Peter denied the Lord. Yet, Jesus called him the Rock when he was building his church. Despite all their faults, the twelve became the foundation stones of the kingdom community. The Apostles, just like us, heard the call of Christ. Come to me all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest. Mt 11:28 Matthew’s Gospel is a powerful teaching and learning tool for us all. Let us Rejoice this Advent Season and stay awake with Hope in our Hearts. With thanks to Ordo, from Paulist Press and Sourcebook 2023 from liturgy Training Publication. From the Desk of Fr. John Healy, Parochial Vicar