Isaiah 2:1–5; Romans 13:11–14; Matthew 24:37–44 USCCB First Sunday of Advent Liturgical Readings Page Your browser does not support the audio element. A cartoon by Tim Bertram shows a man wearing a Christian-themed T-shirt, a 25k golden cross, a Christian logo cap, and a WWJD bracelet. He listens to the latest Christian music, drinks distilled water called “Sea of Galilee,” and drives a car with a bumper sticker “I love Jesus,” a plate number JHN 316, and the fish emblem. ...
A New Dawn After the Storm
Monday of the First Week of Advent, Dec 1, 2025 Isaiah 4:2–6 2 On that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel. 3 Whoever is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, 4 once the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning. ...
The Dream That Refuses to Die
Tuesday of the First Week of Advent, Dec 2, 2025 Isaiah 11:1–10 1 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3 His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. ...
The Veil of Ignorance
Wednesday, Dec 3, 2025 - Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest Isaiah 25:6–10a 6 On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. 7 And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; ...
The Tale of Two Cities
Thursday of the First Week of Advent, Dec 4, 2025 Isaiah 26:1–6 1 On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; he sets up victory like walls and bulwarks. 2 Open the gates, so that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. 3 Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace— in peace because they trust in you. ...
When The Tyrant Shall be No More
Friday of the First Week of Advent , Dec 5, 2025 Isaiah 29:17–24 17 Shall not Lebanon in a very little while become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be regarded as a forest? 18 On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a scroll, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. 19 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord, and the neediest people shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. 20 For the tyrant shall be no more, and the scoffer shall cease to be; all those alert to do evil shall be cut off— 21 those who cause a person to lose a lawsuit, who set a trap for the arbiter in the gate, and without grounds deny justice to the one in the right. ...
Path to Follow, Healing Touch, and Rain for the Seed
Saturday of the First Week of Advent, Dec 6, 2025 19 Truly, O people in Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you. 20 Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. 21 And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” ...