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Summary: Vigilance is the absolute theme of this passage from Matthew’s gospel selected for this First Sunday of Advent. Jesus clearly indicates that calamity often occurs when one is not prepared or focused on that which is important. For the follower of Jesus it is essential to keep our eyes fixed on Him and on the Kingdom He preached. We are called to be prepared, that is vigilant and not passive in our waiting for the coming of the Lord. This Sunday and the Second Sunday of Advent place an emphasis on the second coming of the Lord, whereas the Third and Fourth Sundays will emphasize the coming of the Lord in history.

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Summary: Calvary is the scene for today’s gospel selection and the theme is forgiveness. Most specifically, the words of forgiveness are spoken to one of the criminals that is crucified alongside Jesus. You will notice that the criminal asks for forgiveness and does not presume it. He asks: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus’ reply is: “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” We can see from this very short passage that to be forgiven we must seek forgiveness with an integrity of heart and never presume forgiveness, even though we have an “all loving God”. If we offend someone that we know loves us, we are called to ask for forgiveness and not simply presume that because of their love we are forgiven of our offense.

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Summary: In tandem with the other readings selected for this weekend, the gospel of Luke continues with the theme of the “end-times.” The gospel writer has Jesus painting a picture of utter destruction, turmoil, and enmity among people, even family members. Vivid images are drawn of the events; however, Jesus comforts those who hear of these experiences with the fact that their trust in Him will accompany them and sustain them throughout. He assures them that they need not worry, even in the midst of being hated because of His name. Ultimately trust and perseverance will see the believer through.

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Summary: In this Gospel passage from Saint Luke we see the Sadducees, who do not believe in the resurrection, asking Jesus a question about something they don’t believe in. Jesus is always willing to answer a valid question, but he sees this group for who they are and answers the Sadducees in manner that defies their disbelief. He recalls for them that God is an enduring God, by stating that in God’s encounter with Moses, God refers to Himself as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, a God of the living and not of the dead. God endures.

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Zacchaeus, very short in stature, becomes a towering symbol of faith in his encounter with Jesus. Here we have a short guy who scrambles up a tree to see this Jesus that he has heard so much about. Jesus takes the opportunity to help him get out of the situation of “being up a tree,” because of his past. In the conversation between Zacchaeus and Jesus, we see the two sides of the compassion in Jesus’ invitation to Zacchaeus and in Zacchaeus’ response. The Lord extends forgiveness to us, but there must be a response on our part. It is God’s intention that all the lost be found but the lost have to want to be found!

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