The First Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the liturgical year, initiating a season of expectant waiting for the commemoration of Christ's birth and His glorious return at the end of time.
The First Sunday of Advent commences the liturgical year, serving as the gateway to the Advent season, a period spanning four Sundays that culminates in the celebration of Christmas. This pivotal Sunday sets the tone for a time of profound spiritual preparation, inviting the faithful to reflect on the dual aspects of Christ's coming: His historical birth in Bethlehem, which inaugurated salvation history, and His anticipated second coming at the end of time. Through this annual cycle, the Church recalls the long period of waiting by the people of Israel for the Messiah and simultaneously encourages vigilance and hopeful expectation for the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.
The First Sunday of Advent, commemorated on November 30, 2025, marks a profound and pivotal moment in the liturgical calendar of the Church, signaling the commencement of a new ecclesiastical year. Far more than just a chronological beginning, this day inaugurates the season of Advent, a four-week period of expectant waiting and spiritual preparation that culminates in the joyous celebration of Christmas. It is a season rich in symbolism and theological depth, inviting the faithful to reflect on the dual comings of Christ: His historical birth in Bethlehem over two millennia ago, and His glorious return at the end of time, often referred to as the Parousia. This dual focus defines the unique character of Advent, distinguishing it from other liturgical seasons and setting the tone for the entire year's spiritual journey. The readings and prayers of this Sunday call the faithful to a renewed sense of vigilance, hope, and conversion, preparing their hearts not only for the infancy of Christ but for His ultimate reign.
The biting winds of late November swept through the small, ancient village of Veridian, stripping the last defiant leaves from the oak trees. The fields lay fallow, covered in a thin, frosty veil, and the short, grey days seemed to press down on the spirits of the villagers. It was the cusp of winter, a time of quiet endurance after the bustling harvest and before the deep slumber of the coldest months. Life was hard, punctuated by the rhythm of the seasons and, more profoundly, by the rhythm of the Church.
On the eve of the First Sunday of Advent, a hush fell over Veridian different from the usual evening quiet. It was a silence imbued with expectation. Inside the humble stone church, Father Thomas, his face etched with years of pastoral care, carefully arranged the evergreen branches into a circular wreath on the altar. Four candles, three purple and one rose, stood ready to be placed. The air was thick with the scent of pine and beeswax, a subtle shift from the incense of ordinary time. As the first vespers of Advent began, the villagers, bundled in their warmest cloaks, entered the chilly nave. They had come not just for prayer, but for the initiation of a sacred journey.
Father Thomas, his voice resonating with a quiet solemnity, spoke of the coming season. He reminded them that just as the earth lay dormant, awaiting the spring, so too did their souls yearn for the coming of their Savior. “This,” he declared, his gaze sweeping across the faces of his flock, “is not merely a waiting for the Christ Child in the manger, though we shall prepare our hearts for Him. No, my dear ones, Advent calls us to a deeper vigilance. It is a time to remember the long vigil of Israel, yearning for the Messiah, and a time to awaken our spirits to the glorious return of our Lord at the end of all days.” He spoke of watching, of praying, of casting off the works of darkness, just as the Apostle Paul had urged.
Then came the moment that stirred the deepest recesses of their souls. As the first hymn of Advent, a plaintive chant speaking of ancient prophecies, filled the air, a young acolyte stepped forward. With a trembling hand, guided by Father Thomas, he lit the first purple candle on the Advent wreath. A small, steady flame flickered, pushing back against the encroaching gloom of the late afternoon. It was a single point of light, yet in that moment, it seemed to pierce the very darkness of the world outside, a beacon of hope in the lengthening shadows.
The villagers watched, mesmerized. Each flicker of the flame seemed to whisper promises: of a Savior born in humility, of a King who would come in glory, and of the light that would ultimately dispel all shadows. In the days and weeks that followed, that single candle would be joined by others, each adding to the growing illumination, mirroring the increasing closeness of Christ's coming.
This was the faith of Veridian, a faith not just of grand pronouncements, but of lived anticipation. The First Sunday of Advent was their annual call to arms, a spiritual awakening that reminded them that life was a journey towards an ultimate encounter. It imbued their ordinary days with extraordinary purpose, transforming the mundane wait for winter into a profound vigil for the Lord of all creation. Through the simple act of lighting a candle, they reaffirmed their commitment to watch, to pray, and to prepare their hearts for the Light of the World, both in Bethlehem's manger and at the dawn of eternity.
December 2, 2007
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
With this Sunday, the First of Advent, a new liturgical year begins, a new journey of the Church through time, towards the encounter with Christ. Advent is the season in which Christians are prepared to welcome the Lord who comes, to celebrate the mystery of Christmas, and to live vigilant in expectation of his final return. The first part of Advent, until 16 December, emphasizes the expectation of the Lord's glorious return, and is therefore an invitation to vigilance; the second part, from 17 to 24 December, is instead aimed at preparing for Christmas, and is therefore an invitation to welcome the Lord who comes in the humility of our flesh.
The readings of this Sunday are organized around the theme of vigilance and expectation. The Prophet Isaiah announces the coming of the Lord, who will establish his reign of peace, and invites everyone to walk in the light of the Lord (cf. Is 2:1-5). The Apostle Paul exhorts us to 'wake from sleep', because 'salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed' (Rom 13:11); and he invites us to 'put on the armour of light' (Rom 13:12), that is, Christ. In the Gospel, Jesus exhorts us to be vigilant, to be ready to welcome him at the moment of his coming (cf. Mk 13:33-37).
'Watch, therefore; for you do not know when the master of the house will come' (Mk 13:35). The theme of vigilance is crucial in this first Sunday of Advent. The Lord addresses this invitation to us so that we are always ready to welcome him when he comes, at every moment of our life, in every moment of history. The Advent season wants to reawaken in us the expectation of Christ who comes, the sense of expectation and vigilant readiness. This means that we must be attentive to the presence of God in our lives, attentive to the signs of his coming, attentive to his Word, attentive to our neighbour, attentive to the challenges that history presents us with. We must be like the servants in the Gospel, who are ready to open the door to their master as soon as he comes.
Advent is a time of grace, a time of strong spiritual commitment, a time of hope. It is a time when we are called to convert our hearts, to turn to God with renewed trust, to open ourselves to his grace. It is a time to deepen our faith, to strengthen our hope, to make our charity more ardent. It is a time to reflect on the meaning of our life, on our relationship with God and with our neighbour. It is a time to prepare for the encounter with Christ, who comes to visit us in the mystery of Christmas, and who will come at the end of time to judge the living and the dead.
The liturgy of Advent helps us to live this season intensely. The readings, the prayers, the songs, the symbols, all contribute to creating an atmosphere of expectation and hope. The Advent wreath, with its four candles, each lit on a Sunday, symbolizes the progressive approach of Christmas and the increasing light that Christ brings to the world. The colour violet, which characterizes the vestments of the priest and the liturgical adornments, indicates the penitential and expectant nature of the season. The absence of the Gloria in the Mass, except on solemnities, also expresses this sense of expectation and penance.
Advent is a season that invites us to look beyond the immediate, to look to the future, to look to the ultimate destiny of humanity and of the cosmos. It invites us to remember that this world is not our definitive home, that we are pilgrims on a journey towards the Heavenly Jerusalem. It invites us to live in the light of eternity, to evaluate our choices and our actions in the light of God's judgment. It invites us to live with a sense of urgency, knowing that the time of salvation is short and that we must make the most of every moment to do good and to grow in holiness.
In this Advent season, we are called to imitate Mary, the Mother of Jesus, who lived in profound expectation of the Messiah. Her 'fiat', her 'yes' to God's will, is the model for our own readiness to welcome Christ. Mary is the 'Star of Evangelization', who guides us towards her Son. May she help us to live this Advent season with intense spiritual preparation, so that we may truly welcome the Lord who comes, and be ready for his final return.
Dear friends, let us begin this new liturgical year with renewed enthusiasm, with a firm hope that the Lord will come and renew all things. Let us open our hearts to him, let us allow ourselves to be transformed by his grace. Let us live this Advent season as a time of conversion and spiritual growth, so that we may truly celebrate Christmas with joy and be ready for the glorious return of our Lord. Amen.
The lighting of the first purple candle on the Advent wreath, often accompanied by family prayer, marking the beginning of the liturgical season.
This tradition is intrinsically linked to the First Sunday of Advent as it visually signifies the commencement of the four-week period of preparation and the growing anticipation of Christ's coming.
Beginning to open the doors or windows of an Advent calendar, revealing a picture, scripture verse, or small treat each day leading up to Christmas.
The Advent calendar serves as a daily countdown and a tangible way to build excitement and focus on the spiritual journey of Advent, starting with or immediately following the First Sunday.
Initiating the Jesse Tree tradition, where a tree or banner is adorned daily with symbols representing the biblical ancestors and prophecies leading to Christ, starting from creation.
This practice connects the First Sunday of Advent to salvation history by visually recounting the lineage and prophecies that foretold the coming of the Messiah, providing a daily reflection throughout the season.
Commencing the setup of home Nativity scenes (crèches), sometimes by placing the stable or landscape elements, with figures of Mary, Joseph, and the Christ Child added closer to Christmas.
This tradition creates a visual focal point in the home for the Advent season, building anticipation for the celebration of Christ's birth on Christmas, and aligns with the preparatory nature of the First Sunday of Advent.
A traditional gathering for coffee or tea, accompanied by a variety of special Advent pastries, cookies (such as Plätzchen), and cakes.
This culinary custom typically commences on the First Sunday of Advent and is repeated on subsequent Advent Sundays, serving as a social and familial way to mark the progression of the Advent season and foster a sense of anticipation for Christmas.
The widespread practice of baking and consuming various seasonal cookies, breads, and cakes that are characteristic of the Advent and Christmas period.
The First Sunday of Advent signals the beginning of the liturgical season of preparation, prompting families in many cultures to commence their festive baking activities that will continue throughout Advent and culminate in Christmas celebrations.
Small chocolates, candies, or other confectionery items found behind the numbered doors of an Advent calendar.
While Advent calendars typically begin on December 1st, the First Sunday of Advent establishes the overarching theme of anticipation and countdown to Christmas, aligning with the daily enjoyment of these treats as a popular way to mark the season.