First Sunday of Advent

You, the Lord, yourself are our Father,
‘Our Redeemer’ is your ancient name.
Why, the Lord, leave us to stray from your ways
and harden our hearts against fearing you?
Return, for the sake of your servants,
the tribes of your inheritance.

Oh, that you would tear the heavens open and come down!
No ear has heard,
no eye has seen
any god but you
act like this
for those who trust him.
You guide those who act with integrity
and keep your ways in mind.
You were angry when we were sinners;
we had long been rebels against you.
We were all like men unclean,
all that integrity of ours like filthy clothing.
We have all withered like leave
sand our sins blew us away like the wind.
No one invoked your name
or roused himself to catch hold of you.
For you hid your face from us
and gave us up to the power of our sins.
And yet, O Lord, you are our Father;
we the clay, you the potter,
we are all the work of your hand.Isaiah 63:16 - 64:8


Advent is the time for preparing for the coming of the Lord. In one sense we prepare for Christmas to celebrate the fact that God became man. But is is also a time to prepare for the Lord’s second coming.

The reading from Isaiah tells of the people of ancient Israel who over time have lost their fervor for the Lord and even fallen away.
And yet, O Lord, you are our Father;we the clay, you the potter,we are all the work of your hand.

It is the new beginning - the advent of the Lord - come home to the Lord!