“Be watchful” is a popular theme during the Advent readings. In this time of anticipation and waiting, we must be vigilant always keeping our eyes open for the coming Messiah. From the Greek gregoreo, “keeping watch” meant not only to be on the lookout but also to remain awake, even through the night.

This excerpt from One Sunday at a Time: Preparing Your Heart for Weekly Mass (Cycle B) is reprinted with permission of Ave Maria Press.

As previously mentioned, two of the ongoing themes throughout
Advent are the need for vigilance and the epic battle between the light and the darkness. Night is associated with darkness (for obvious reasons). The Romans structured night into four watches of three hours apiece. St. Mark references all four different watches in his account of Jesus’s Passion, making use of common time telling standards his Roman audience would have found familiar.

This excerpt from One Sunday at a Time: Preparing Your Heart for Weekly Mass (Cycle B) is reprinted with permission of Ave Maria Press.

The psalm mentions the cherubim, who are the second highest rank within the nine orders or choirs of angels. Double winged and man like in appearance (although in the book of Ezekiel, they are given an even more otherworldly appearance), they are the guardians of God’s glory. The nine angelic choirs ranked, in order, are seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominions, virtues, powers, principalities, arch angels, and angels.

This excerpt from One Sunday at a Time: Preparing Your Heart for Weekly Mass (Cycle B) is reprinted with permission of Ave Maria Press.

Challenge for the Week

This week, when it best works practically, fast from knowing the
time for an hour, an afternoon, or a day. Do not look at your phone
or clock once. Embrace the given moment with complete presence
of heart, mind, body, and spirit. Take the time to journal afterward
about your experience, and reflect on how you can try to make this
practice of being fully present a more common occurrence in your
life.

This excerpt from One Sunday at a Time: Preparing Your Heart for Weekly Mass (Cycle B) is reprinted with permission of Ave Maria Press.

God is Faithful

Opening Prayer

Lord, thank you for today. For the mystery, hope, and joy that come
in anticipation of all the good you have yet in store. Please be with
us in all our anxieties. Teach us how to have faith in your will for our future. Amen.

First Reading: Isaiah 63:16b–17, 19b; 64:2–7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 80:2–3, 15–16, 18–19
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3–9
Gospel: Mark 13:33–37

This excerpt from One Sunday at a Time: Preparing Your Heart for Weekly Mass (Cycle B) is reprinted with permission of Ave Maria Press.