Be Watchful!

The First Sunday of Advent -  Year B

                                                    L-Ewwel Ħadd ta’ l-Avvent                                                          

Messalin B  75

Noqogħdu Għassa!

Reading 1                

ISaiah 63:16B-17, 19B; 64:2-7

You, LORD, are our father, our redeemer you are named forever. Why do you let us wander, O Lord, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage. Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, with the mountains quaking before you, while you wrought awesome deeds we could not hope for, such as they had not heard of from of old. No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you doing such deeds for those who wait for him. Would that you might meet us doing right, that we were mindful of you in our ways! Behold, you are angry, and we are sinful; all of us have become like unclean people, all our good deeds are like polluted rags; we have all withered like leaves, and our guilt carries us away like the wind. There is none who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to cling to you; for you have hidden your face from us and have delivered us up to our guilt. Yet, O Lord, you are our father; we are the clay and you the potter: we are all the work of your hands. This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Ewwel Qari

Qari mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Isaija 63,16-17,19; 64,1-7

Int, Mulej, missierna, Il-feddej taghna,  ismek minn dejjem. Ghaliex, Mulej, iggeghelna nwarrbu minn triqatek u twebbsilna qalbna biex ma nibzghux minnek? Erga’ lura, minhabba l-qaddejja tieghek, it-tribujiet li huma wirtek. Mhux li kont iccarrat is-smewwiet u tinzel minn hemm! U quddiemek il-muntanji jtħeżhżu  bhalma n-nar ighalli l-ilma; biex tgharraf ismek lill-eghdewwa tieghek, u l-gnus jitrieghdu quddiemek; meta int taghmel eghgubijiet li ma konniex nistennewhom, u sa mill-qedem qatt ma smajna bihom! U la widna ma semghet  u la ghajn ma rat Alla bhalek, Alla li jhabrek ghal min jitma fih, Int tilqa’ bil-ferh ‘il min jaghmel is-sewwa, ‘il dawk li jiftakru fi triqatek. Ara!  int kont mghaddab ghalina, u ahna dnibna. Domna fi dnubna, u kontra tieghek qomna ghal hafna zmien.  Tniggisna lkoll, u sirna bhal carruta mahmuga; bhal werqa lkoll dbilna, u hzunijietna bhal rih garrewna. Hadd ma hawn li jsejjah ismek, li jitharrek biex izomm mieghek. Ghax int hbejt wiccek minna  u rhejtna f’idejn hzunijietna. U issa, Mulej, int missierna; ahna t-tafal, u inti l-fuhhari; ahna lkoll eghmil idejk. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm                                 

PSalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19

   R/ (4)   Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power,
and come to save us.                                                 R/

Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.      R/

May your help be with the man of your right hand,
with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name.     R/

Salm Responsorjali                                                                                              

Salm 79

R/ Reġġagħna għal li konna o Alla ta’ l-ezercti; dawwal wiccek u nkunu salvi.

O Ragħaj ta’ Israel, aghti widen;

Int li qiegħed fuq il-kerubini, iddi;

Qajjem il-qawwa tiegħek,

u ejja ħa ssalvana.                                          R/

Alla ta’ l-ezercti, erga ejja:

ħares mis-sema u ara,

 u żur ‘il din id-dielja.                                       

Ħu ħsieb dak li ħawwlet il-leminija tiegħek,

Ir-rimja li kabbart għalik.                                  R/

Ħa tkun idek fuq il-bniedem tal-lemin tiegħek,

fuq il-bniedem li int qawwejt għalik.

Aħna ma nitbegħdux minnek;

aħjina, u aħna nsejħu ismek.                          R/

Reading 2                                                    

1 CORinthians 1:3-9

Brothers and sisters: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, that in him you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge, as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you, so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. This is the Word of The Lord.

It-Tieni Qari

Qari mill-Ewwel Ittra lill-Korintin 1, 3-9

Huti:  Grazzja lilkom u sliem minn Alla Missierna u Sidna Gesu’Kristu. Jiena nizzi hajr dejjem lil Alla tieghi minhabba fikom ghall-grazzja ta’ Alla li nghatat lilkom fi Kristu Gesu, li fih intom staghnejtu f’kollox, f’kull kelma u f’kull gherf, skond ma x-xhieda ta’ Kristu intom u tistennew id-dehra ta’ Sidna Gesu Kristu.   Huwa hu li jwettakom sa l-ahhar biex tkunu blahtija fil-jum ta’ Sidna Gesu’ Kristu, Alla jzomm kelmtu; minnu kontu msejhin biex tidhlu fix-xirka ta’ Ibnu Sidna Gesu’ Kristu. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                                  

MarK 13:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his own work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch. Watch, therefore; you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: “Watch!” This is the Word of The Lord.

Top of Form

L-Evanġelju

Qari skond San Mark 13,  33-37

F’dak iz-zmien:  Gesu’ qal lid-dixxipli tieghu: “Kunu ghajnejkom miftuha, ishru, ghax  ma tafux meta se jasal il-waqt. Jigri bhal meta bniedem ikun siefer u telaq mid-dar, ihalli kollox f’idejn il-qaddejja tieghu, kull wiehed fuq xoghlu, u lil tal-bieb jordnalu biex jibqa’ jishar. Mela ishru, ghax ma tafux meta jerga’ jigi sid id-dar,  jekk hux fil-ghaxija, jew f’nofs il-lejl, jew x’hin jidden is-serduk, jew inkella mas-sebh, li ma jmurx jigi ghal gharrieda u jsibkom reqdin. U dak li qieghed nghid lilkom, qieghed nghidu ghal kulhadd, ishru!’’ Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Rehearsal of the Great History of Memories

Commentary on Sunday's gospel by Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB

This weekend the Church enters into the liturgical season of Advent. Christians proclaim that the Messiah has indeed come and that God's reign is "at hand." Advent does not change God. Advent deepens our longing and anticipation that God will do what prophets and the anointed have promised. We pray that God will yield to our need to see and feel the promise of salvation here and now.

During this time of longing and waiting for the Lord, we are invited to pray and to ponder the Word of God, but ost of all, to become a reflection of the light of Christ, indeed of Christ himself. But we all know how difficult it is to mirror the light of Christ, especially when we have become disillusioned with life, accustomed to the shadowy existence of the world, or grown content with mediocrity and emptiness. Advent reminds us that we must be ready to meet the Lord at any and every moment of life. Just like a security alarm wakes up a homeowner, Advent wakes up Christians who are in danger of sleeping through their lives.

For what or for whom are we waiting in life? What virtues or gifts are we praying to receive this year? Do we long for healing and reconciliation in broken relationships? What meaning and understanding do we desire to have in the midst of our own darkness, sadness, and mystery? How are we living out our baptismal promises? What qualities of Jesus are we seeking in our own lives this Advent? Many times, the things, qualities, gifts, or people we await give us great insights into who we really are. Tell me whom you are waiting for and I will tell you who you are!

Advent is a time for opening eyes, focusing views, paying attention, keeping perspective on God's presence in the world and in our own lives.

In the first reading from the prophet Isaiah on the first Sunday of Advent, the Almighty One breathes hope back into the heart and soul of Israel and shapes Israel and events anew just as a potter shapes his pottery.

In the second Scripture reading, writing to his beloved community at Corinth, Paul looked forward to the "Day of the Lord" when the Lord Jesus will be revealed to rescue those whom He has called. And in Gospel for the first Sunday of Advent this year, Mark's depiction of the doorkeeper watching out for the Lord whenever he "suddenly" appears is an image of what we are expected to be doing all year long but especially during the season of Advent.

Our own baptism is a share in the royal, messianic mission of Jesus. Anyone who shares this mission also shares royal responsibilities, in particular, care for the afflicted and the hurting. Advent is a wonderful opportunity to "activate" our baptismal promises and commitment.  Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger once wrote:

The purpose of the Church's year is continually to rehearse her great history of memories, to awaken the heart's memory so that it can discern the star of hope. It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us, memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope.

This Advent, allow me to suggest that you mend a quarrel. Build peace. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a love letter. Share some treasure. Give a kind answer even though you would like to respond harshly. Encourage a young person to believe in him/herself. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Find the time. Make time. Forego a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation. Listen more. Apologize if you were wrong. Be kind even if you weren't wrong! 

Try to understand. Flout envy. Examine the demands you make on others. Think first of someone else. Appreciate. Be kind, be gentle. Laugh a little. Laugh a little more. Deserve confidence. Take up arms against malice. Decry complacency. Express gratitude. Go to Church. Stay in Church a little while longer than usual. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love. Speak it once again. Speak it even more loudly. Speak it quietly.

Rejoice, for the Lord is near!

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Is Jesus the King of my Life?

   

                              Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ The King

34th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Solennita’ ta’ Sidna Ġesu’Kristu Sultan tal-Ħolqien Kollu

                             L-Erbgħa u Tletin Ħadd matul is-Sena                         

Missalin A  p 426

Reading 1                                        

Ez 34:11-12, 15-17

Thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will look after and tend my sheep. As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep. I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark.  I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD. The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly. As for you, my sheep, says the Lord GOD, I will judge between one sheep and another, between rams and goats. This is the Word of the Lord.

L-Ewwel Lezzjoni

Qari mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Eżekjel 34, 11-12, 15-17

Dan jgħid Sidi l-Mulej:  "Arawni, hekk jien se nfittex in-nagħaġ tiegħi  u nieħu ħsiebhom. Bħalma r-ragħaj jaħseb fil-merħla tiegħu meta jsib ruħu f'nofs in-nagħaġ mxerrda tiegħu, hekk naħseb jien fin-nagħaġ tiegħi, u nsalavhom minn kull fejn xterdu fi żmien is-sħab u s-swied ta' l-ajru. Jiena stess nirgħa n-nagħaġ tiegħi, u jiena nserraħom. Oraklu ta' Sidi l-Mulej.  Jiena nfittex il-mitlufa, irreġġa'  lura l-imxerrda, ninfaxxa l-ġrieħi tal-miġrugħa, u nqawwi l-marida.  Inħares is-smina u l-qawwija, u nirgħhom bil-ġustizzja. Imma għalik, merħla tiegħi, hekk jgħid Sidi l-Mulej: Ara, jiena nagħmel ħaqq bejn nagħġa u nagħġa, bejn imtaten u bdabad. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm                                                                          PsALM 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6

R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose.       R.

Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.                                       R

You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.                                           R.

Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.                                           R

.

Salm Responsorjali                                                                                              

Salm 22 (23)

            R/  Il-Mulej hu r-ragħaj tiegħi, xejn ma jonqosni.

Il-Mulej hu r-ragħaj tiegħi,

xejn ma jonqosni,

f'mergħat kollha ħdura jqegħedni.        R/

Ħdejn l-ilma, fejn nistrieħ, jeħodni;

hemm hu jrejjaqni.

Imexxini fit-triq tas-sewwa

minħabba l-isem tiegħu.                      R/

Int tħejji mejda għalija

quddiem l-għedewwa tiegħi.

Iż-żejt tidlikli rasi,

u l-kalċi tiegħi tfawwarli.                       R/

Miegħi, iva, jimxu t-tjieba u l-ħniena

il-jiem kollha ta' ħajti.

U ngħammar f'dar il-Mulej

Sakemm indum ħaj!                            R/

Reading 2                                                                                                         1 CorINTHIANS 15:20-26, 28

Brothers and sisters: Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through man, the resurrection of the dead came also through man. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life,  but each one in proper order: Christ the first fruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ;then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. When everything is subjected to him,then the Son himself will also be subjectedto the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all. This is the Word of the Lord.

It-Tieni Lezzjoni

Qari mill-Ewwel Ittra lill-Korintin 15, 20-26,28

            Ħuti, Kristu kien imqajjem tassew mill-imwiet, l-ewwel fost dawk li raqdu.   Għaliex, jekk permezz ta' bniedem feġġet   il-mewt, bi bniedem ukoll iseħh il-qawmien mill-imwiet. Għax bħalma il-bnedmin kollha jmutu f'Adam, hekk  ukoll jiksbu l-ħajja fi Kristu. Imma kulħadd skond kif imissu:  jibda l-ewwel frott  li hu  Kristu, wara, dawk li  huma a' Kristu, f'jum il-miġja tiegħu. Imbagħad it-tmiem, meta Kristu jerħi s-saltna f'idejn Alla  l-Missieri, wara li jkun qered kull ħakma u kull setgħa u kull qawwa.  Għax jeħtieġ li hu jsaltan sa ma jqiegħed l-għedewwa kollha taħt riġlejh.  L-aħħar għadu li jinqered tkun il-Mewt. U meta kollox ikun imqiegħed taħtu, imbagħad l-Iben  stess jitqiegħed taħt Dak li jkun qegħedlu kollox taħtu, sabiex Alla ikun kollox f'kollox. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel                                                                                              Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus said to his disciples: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right,'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply,'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing,  ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.' Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

L-Evanġelju

Qari skond San Mattew 25, 31-46

F'dak iż-żmien, Ġesu' qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: "Meta jiġi Bin il-bniedem fil-glorja tiegħu u bl-anġli kollha miegħu, imbagħad joqgħod fuq it-tron glorjuż tiegħu.  U quddiemu jinġabru l-ġnus kollha, u hu jifridhom minn xulxin, bħalma r-raħaj jifred in-nagħaġ mill-mogħoż:  in-nagħag iqegħedhom fuq il-lemin u l-mogħoż fuq ix-xellug. Imbagħad is-Sultan jgħid lil dawk ta' fuq il-lemin tiegħu:  "Ejjew, imberkin minn Missieri, ħudu b'wirt tagħkom  is-Saltna li tħejjiet għalikom sa mill-ħolqien tad-dinja.  Għax jien kont bil-ġuħ u tmajtuni, kont bil-għatx u sqejtuni, kont barrani u lqajtuni, kont  għeri u libbistuni, kont marid u ġejtu tarawni, kont fil-ħabs u ġejtu żżuruni." Imbagħad iweġbuh il-ġusti:  "Mulej, meta rajniek bil-ġuħ u tmajniek, jew bil-għatx u sqejniek?   Meta rajniek barrani  u lqajniek, jew għeri u libbisniek?   Meta rajniek marid, jew fil-ħabs u ġejt nżuruk?" U s-Sultan iweġibhom u jgħid: "Tassew, ngħidilkom, kull ma għamiltu ma' wieħed mill-iżgħar fost dawn ħuti, għamiltuh miegħi." Imbagħad jgħid ukoll lil dawk ta' fuq ix-xellug: "Morru minn quddiemi, misħutin, fin-nar ta' dejjem li tħejja għax-xitan u għall-anġli tiegħu.  Għax jien kont bil-ġuħ u ma tmajtunix, kont bil-għatx u ma sqejtunix, kont barrani u ma lqajtuniex, kont għeri u ma libbistuniex, kont marid u fil-ħabs u ma ġejtux iżżuruni!" Imbagħad huma wkoll iweġbuh:  "Mulej, meta rajniek bil-ġuħ, jew bil-għatx, jew barrani, jew għeri, jew marid, jew fil-ħabs, u aħna ma waqafniex miegħek? Iiweġibhom imbagħad u jgħidilhom:   "Tassew, Ngħidilkom, dak li ma għamiltux ma' wieħed minn dawk iż-żgħar, anqas miegħi ma għamiltuh." U dawn imorru fit-tbatija ta' dejjem u l-ġusti fil-ħajja ta' dejjem." Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Gospel Commentary for This Sunday

Jesus Christ, 

King of the Universe 

and of Hearts 

By Father Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap

  The annual solemnity of Christ the King that brings to a close our liturgical year, was instituted only recently. It was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 in response to the atheist and totalitarian political regimes that denied the rights of God and the Church. The climate in which the feast was born was, for example, that of the Mexican revolution, when many Christians went to their deaths crying out to their last breath, Long live Christ the King!

But if the feast is recent, its content and its central idea are not; they are quite ancient and we can say that they were born with Christianity. The phrase “Christ reigns” has its equivalent in the profession of faith: “Jesus is Lord,” which occupies a central place in the preaching of the apostles.

Sunday’s Gospel passage narrates the death of Christ, because it is at that moment that Christ begins to rule over the world. The cross is Christ’s throne. “Above him there was an inscription that read, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’” That which in the intention of his enemies was the justification of his condemnation, was, in the eyes of the heavenly Father, the proclamation of his universal sovereignty.

To see what this feast has to do with us, we need only recall to our minds a very simple distinction. There are two universes, two worlds or cosmoses: the “macrocosm,” which is the whole universe external to us, and the “microcosm,” or the little universe, which is each individual man. The liturgy itself, in the reform that followed Vatican II, felt the need to accent the human and spiritual aspect of the feast over the, so to speak, political aspect of the feast. The prayer of the feast no longer asks, as it once did, “that all the families of nations, now kept apart by the wound of sin, may be brought under the sweet yoke of [Christ’s] rule” but that “every creature, freed from the slavery of sin, serve and praise [Christ] forever.”

Let us consider again the inscription placed above Christ: “This is the King of the Jews.” The onlookers challenged him to manifest his royalty openly and many, even among his friends, expected a spectacular demonstration of his kingship. But he chose only to show his kingship in his solicitousness for one man, who was, in fact, a criminal: “‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied to him, ‘Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.'”

From this point of view, the most important question to ask on the feast of Christ the King is not whether he reigns in the world but whether he reigns in me; it is not whether his kingship is recognized by states and governments, but whether it is recognized and lived in me.

Is Christ the King and Lord of my life? Who rules in me, who determines the goals and establishes priorities: Christ or someone else? According to St. Paul, there are two ways to live: either for ourselves or for the Lord (Romans 14:7-9). Living “for ourselves” means living like someone who takes himself to be the beginning and the end; it is a life closed in on itself, drawn only by its own satisfaction and glory, without any perspective of eternity. Living “for the Lord,” on the contrary, means living for the Lord, that is, with a view to him, for his glory, for his kingdom.

What we have here is truly a new existence, in the face of which, death itself has lost its definitiveness. The greatest contradiction that man has always experienced — that between life and death — has been overcome. The contradiction is no longer between “living” and “dying” but between living “for ourselves” and living “for the Lord.” [Translation by ZENIT]

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