Advent prepares the Church for celebrating Christ's birth. Like Lent, Advent is a penitential season of preparation through repentance.
The 1. Sunday in Advent is Populus Zion (People of Zion) from Psalm 24,7-10 and Zechariah 9,9:
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is drawing near to you; He is justifying and saving, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, so that the King of Glory may enter in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, so that the King of Glory may enter in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of Glory!
✠ We preach Christ and Him crucified ✠
Iesus Nazarenus rex Iudaeorum
The beginning of Advent continues the theme from the last there Sundays in the Liturgical Year of the Church, which focuses on the last day and Christ's return or second advent. Populus Zion also focuses our attention on the mission of Jesus' first advent: to redeem fallen humanity from sin, death and the grave. Thus, the Historic Lectionary Gospel is Matthew 21,1-9 (Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday). This event begins Holy Week and culminates with Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Prayer: Stir up Your power, O Lord, and draw near, so that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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