He Will Come
First Sunday of Advent (A)
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Matthew 24:37-41 – Jesus said to his disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left. Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
This is the beginning of Advent, a time of preparation, expectation, and recollection. There are two major themes that the Church gives us to focus on in the Gospels in Advent—the Second Coming of Christ (the end of time), and the First Coming of Christ (as a baby in His Incarnation). The Church begins by focusing on Christ’s Second Coming. Slow down and consider: Jesus will come again, and when He does, everything will be set straight. We cannot forget that we will meet Jesus face to face, if not at His Second Coming, then beforehand, at the time of our death.
Jesus tells us that since we don’t know when these events will happen, we must be always “prepared,” “awake.” Advent is a time to prepare our souls and our lives to meet Jesus Christ. Our meeting with Him shouldn’t take us by surprise—we should always be expecting that it will happen someday. Now is the time to deal with sin. It is not just sin that keeps us from being prepared for Christ, but also attachment to and busyness with unnecessary things. If we live distracted by attachments and busyness we cannot live lives devoted to God. Advent is a time to slow down, to recollect. If we do not make time to recollect in Advent, to cut out unnecessary activity, and to pray—we simply cannot be ready for Christ. What unnecessary activity can each of us cut out this Advent in order to replace it instead with recollection and prayer?
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
Like Pier? Share it with others (via links below) / Subscribe to it (below) / Support (the mission)
