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Our Lady of Victory
490 Charles Street
Gatineau, Qu?bec
J8L 2K5
(819)986-3763
olv@videotron.ca
Mass: Sunday 9:00 AM
Thursday 10:00 AM |
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St. Malachy
3889 Route 315
Mayo, Qu?bec
J8L 3Z8
(819)986-3763
olv@videotron.ca
Mass: Saturday 7:00 PM
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Parishioners who are unable to attend the mass celebration in person may
join the parish’s on-line Zoom mass by clicking on the link below:
ZOOM MEETING INVITATION - OLV SUNDAY CELEBRATION
| Meeting ID: |
926 951 7613 |
| Passcode: |
514537 |
The link will be open 15 minutes before the celebration, at 8:45 am.
This Zoom meeting will be available every Sunday.
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| Fr. Albanus' Reflections on the Sunday Liturgy - 29 November 2020 - 1st Sunday of Advent |
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First Reading:
Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:
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Ezekiel 34.11-12, 15-17
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want
1 Corinthians 15.20-26,28
Matthew 25.31-46
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The readings of the four Sundays of Advent call us to be vigilant and ready for the coming of our Lord. They tell us that Jesus has not come just once. He keeps coming. He comes and is present at all the events of our lives, the cheerful or sad ones. Jesus comes and is present in all that happens in our world and in our Church; in those who speak words of love, peace and reconciliation and in those who strive to build a new world under the reign of Christ. Today’s liturgy sets the tone for the theme of being alert, watchful and prepared because Christ second coming (the end of the world) can occur at any time. In the first reading, the Prophet calls God “Father” and “redeemer”. As such, there is no situation that he cannot improve and no one is so enslaved by sin that s/he cannot be freed and redeemed. He, thus, prays for God’s active presence so that the Jewish community, returning from Babylonian exile may remain faithful to their God. In the second reading, St. Paul presents to us the Corinthian Christians as an example of vigilance, their shortcomings notwithstanding. God is not surprised at or shocked by our mistakes; we only need to open up our hearts to his gifts.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the servants and gatekeeper of the Master to instructs his followers to be alert and prepared so as not to be afraid of the end or the Second coming of Christ and judgement. They are expected to be vigilant because the Master is sure to return and the time of His return is uncertain. We should not be so foolish as to forget God and become immersed in worldly matters. “We are so future –oriented that we forget the present entirely. We spend too much time trying to protect ourselves against future misfortunes. We save for a rainy day, to get married, to buy a home, to send the children to college, to return in comfort and to protect ourselves against future misfortunes. But we need to be more spiritually wakeful and prepared for our eternal life because we can die any day and that is the end of the world for us.” (Fr Tony Kadavil).
The Master of the house represents Jesus. While leaving this world, He entrusted His disciples with the many tasks in His house (the community). Every Christian is expected to exercise a ministry in the service of his neighbors according to his/her ability. The doorkeeper, who is expected to be more vigilant than all, represents those in the Christian communities who bear responsibility for more important services. These include the bishops, priests and community leaders/ministers, who are expected more than anybody else, to lead an irreproachable life. They must through their thoughts, words and actions, keep their weaker brothers and sisters awake when they are being tempted to adjust themselves to the views and ways of the world. On this first Sunday of Advent, may we take the right first steps as we prepare to celebrate the fond memory of Christ’s first coming 2000 years ago during this coming Christmas. Amen.
Happy Sunday!
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