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The First Sunday of Advent
November 28, 2004
The First Lesson Isaiah 2:1-5
The word that 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 of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!
The Psalm Advent I Psalm 122
This antiphon is sung first by the choir, then repeated by all. The choir sings the verses; all sing the antiphon after each pair of verses.
To you, O Lord I lift up my soul, to only you,
O Lord; I wait for your return.
1 I was glad when they said to me, *
"Let us go to the house of the Lord."
2 Now our feet are standing *
within your gates, O Jerusalem. Antiphon
3 Jerusalem is built as a city *
that is at unity with itself;
4 To which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, *
the assembly of Israel, to praise the Name of the Lord. Antiphon
5 For there are the thrones of judgment, *
the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: *
"May they prosper who love you. Antiphon
7 Peace be within your walls *
and quietness within your towers.
8 For my brethren and companions’ sake, *
I pray for your prosperity.
†9 Because of the house of the Lord our God, *
I will seek to do you good." Antiphon
We will print the epistle reading in Spanish each week and will, from time to time, read the lesson in Spanish in lieu of the English translation. This is a sign of hospitality toward Spanish speakers and a recognition that we are worshipping in a multi-cultural, multi-lingual environment in Austin.
La Segunda Lectura Romanos 13: 8-14
No tengan deudas con nadie, aparte de la deuda de amor que tienen unos con otros; pues el que ama a su prójimo ya ha cumplido todo lo que la ley ordena. Los mandamientos dicen: "No cometas adulterio, no mates, no robes, no codicies", pero estos y los demás mandamientos quedan comprendidos en estas palabras: "Ama a tu prójimo como a ti mismo." El que tiene amor no hace mal al prójimo; así que en el amor se cumple perfectamente la ley. En todo esto tengan en cuenta el tiempo en que vivimos, y sepan que ya es hora de despertarnos del sueño. Porque nuestra salvación está más cerca ahora que al principio, cuando creímos en el mensaje. La noche está muy avanzada, y se acerca el día; por eso dejemos de hacer las cosas propias de la oscuridad y revistámonos de luz, como un soldado se reviste de su armadura. Actuemos con decencia, como en pleno día. No andemos en banquetes y borracheras, ni en inmoralidades y vicios, ni en discordias y envidias. Al contrario, revístanse ustedes del Señor Jesucristo, y no busquen satisfacer los malos deseos de la naturaleza humana.
The Second Lesson Romans 13:8-14
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet"; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
The Gospel Matthew 24:37-44
Jesus said to the disciples, "For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."
