6th Sunday of the Great Advent with the readings of 1st Sunday of Advent, year A

 Sixth week of the Great Advent: the Prophets

Isaiah 2: 1-5

This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come, the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream toward it; many peoples shall come and say: "Come, let us climb the LORD's mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths." For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

Psalm 122: 1-9

I rejoiced because they said to me,

"We will go up to the house of the LORD."

And now we have set foot

within your gates, O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, built as a city

with compact unity.

To it the tribes go up,

the tribes of the LORD.

According to the decree for Israel,

to give thanks to the name of the LORD.

In it are set up judgment seats,

seats for the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

May those who love you prosper!

May peace be within your walls,

prosperity in your buildings.

Because of my brothers and friends

I will say, "Peace be within you!"

Because of the house of the LORD, our God,

I will pray for your good.

Romans 13: 1-14

Brothers and sisters: You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and lust, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

Matthew 24: 37-44

Jesus said to his disciples: "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left. Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."

Questions:

- It is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah: “(…) one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.” – What example do I give to others, especially young people and children? When does my behavior create conflicts or arguments? Do I tend to stick to my opinions and to want everything to go my way regardless of the cost? What helps me to be more open to solving problems, reconciliation with others, and building peace?

- It is written in the Letter to the Romans: “(…) it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep (…) Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light” – What are the works of darkness that I can identify in the world around me? How can I reject the works of darkness in my life, in the life of my family? What is the armor of light which helps me and other family members to defend ourselves against these works, to remain close to God and walk in his light? How can we strengthen this armor?

- Jesus said in the Gospel: “Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” – What would I do if I knew that Jesus would come and stand before me tomorrow? Would I live as I do now, or would I change something? What do I do to receive Him every day when he comes to me in spiritual way?

Questions for children:

- It is written in the book of prophet Isaiah: “(…) one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.” – What could be a "sword" that which hurts me or others in the context of our daily life? Try to give some examples. Do I use such swords at times? When? How can I try to avoid hurting others?

- It is written in the Letter to the Romans: “(…) it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep (…) Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light” – What is this “sleep” about which Paul the Apostle is writing? Is my soul awake? And what do we do to awake our soul and spirit?

- Jesus said in the Gospel: “Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” – What would I do if I knew that Jesus would come and stand before me tomorrow? Would I live as I do now, or would I change something? What do I do to receive Him every day when he comes to me in prayer, in the Eucharist, in meeting others?