1st Sunday of Advent Year B

• First Reading – Isaiah 63:16B-17, 19B; 64:2-7: We acknowledge You as our eternal redeemer, yet we’ve strayed and become sinful. We long for Your mighty presence and deeds, as we are lost without Your guidance.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 80: Shepherd of Israel, hear us and save us. Look down, care for us, and let Your face shine upon us that we may be strong and faithful.
• Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 1:3-9: I thank God for the grace given to you, enriching you with knowledge and spiritual gifts as you await Jesus Christ, who will keep you steadfast until His return.
• Gospel – Mark 13:33-37: Jesus advises his disciples to stay vigilant as no one knows when He will return. It’s likened to a man going on a journey who instructs his servants to be watchful in his absence, emphasizing the need to remain prepared at all times.

The readings for the First Sunday in Advent for Year B are a call to be alert in waiting for the coming of the Lord. The first reading begs the Lord to return to us and save us. The psalm also asks God to look upon us and have mercy. The second reading calls us to remain steadfast in our discipleship. And in the gospel, Jesus warns us to be watchful. Not everyone will be ready in the final hour.

• The Unpredictability of God’s Timing: The text stresses that the timing of divine actions is not for humans to know. It challenges believers to trust in God’s timing and plan, despite not knowing the details.
• Vigilance: The passage emphasizes the importance of being watchful and alert. It suggests that one must always be prepared for significant events or the return of Christ, as the exact time is unknown.
• Preparedness: The theme of preparedness is linked to the concept of vigilance. It implies that one should live in a state of readiness, both spiritually and morally, for the end times or second coming.
• Accountability: The passage indicates that there will be a time of reckoning. It teaches that individuals are responsible for their actions and must be ready to account for them at any unexpected moment.
• Faithfulness in Duty: Servants are instructed to carry out their tasks diligently. This reflects the broader spiritual principle that followers should be consistent in their responsibilities and faithful in their duties.

See the Homilies and Reflections section and the More Thoughts section for further expansion on these readings and some reflection questions for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B.

Be Watchful! Be Alert! – A Lesson Plan on Advent

The lesson plan for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B focuses on the theme of readiness for Jesus’ coming, as highlighted in Mark 13:33-37. It suggests practical ways to prepare, like engaging in prayer, participating in service projects, and performing small acts of charity, such as baking cookies for neighbors or donating items. The plan emphasizes the importance of stepping out of our daily routines to be more attentive to spiritual callings and to put a greater focus on others rather than oneself.

Homemade Model Magic Recipe

The first reading for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B mentions Isaiah 64:7, which reflects on God’s role as a creator, likening us to clay in the hands of a potter. One possible activity is to make homemade model magic dough, which serves as an economical alternative to store-bought modeling clay. While crafting sculptures with this dough, youth can discuss the reading and its implications, considering how we are shaped by a our loving Father.

The Book of Isaiah

The first reading for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B from Isaiah speaks of a confession of the people’s waywardness and acknowledgment of God as the redeemer. It expresses a yearning for God’s intervention and presence, recognizing that the people have lost direction. Isaiah also propels the vision forward to a time when all nations, not just Israel, will recognize and worship God. The passage acknowledges the people’s current challenges but also focuses on the hope of a future filled with joy and peace for those who remain faithful, culminating in a new heaven and earth.

Psalm 80: A Cry for God’s Help and Restoration

The responsorial Psalm for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B, Psalm 80, is a call for the Shepherd of Israel to come to the aid of His people, to care for and enlighten them, making them strong and faithful. It reflects a plea for healing and restoration in a world that has experienced harm and neglect. It is a prayer for divine help to initiate change and bring new life.

See a prayer based on Psalm 80

Resources and Reflections for the Gospel of Mark

The Gospel reading for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B from Mark 13:33-37 features Jesus advising his disciples to stay vigilant and aware, in anticipation of future trials and the end times. This advice is given during the last week of Jesus’ life and amid his predictions about the temple’s destruction and forthcoming challenges. A significant theme throughout the Gospel of Mark is discipleship and the demands it places on followers of Jesus, including the readiness to endure hardships and persecution. This passage calls on believers to assess their dedication to Christ and their willingness to endure difficulties for their faith.

Advent Vigilance

Jeff Cavins discusses the importance of preparing for the Lord’s coming on the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B. He emphasizes the need to be ready at any time, using an anecdote from his childhood when his father returned home unexpectedly to illustrate the point. Cavins relates this to a passage from Mark’s Gospel which advises vigilance since the time of the Lord’s return is unknown. He recommends increased prayer, reading the Bible, and attending Mass to stay spiritually awake. Cavins encourages listeners to remain spiritually active during Advent to grow closer to Jesus in words and actions, and not to be caught spiritually sleeping.

Longing for the Savior

Bishop Robert Barron, in his homily for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B, emphasizes the penitential nature of Advent, comparing it to Lent. He encourages believers to feel their need for a Savior to truly appreciate His coming. Drawing on Isaiah 63 and the concept of a hard heart, Barron suggests that we must become aware of our sinfulness and our distance from God to prepare for Jesus’s arrival. The homily underlines the importance of recognizing our failings and our need for divine assistance to soften and shape our hearts, making us ready to receive God’s grace.

Watch for Him

Scott Hahn reflects on the readings of the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B, emphasizing the themes of anticipation and penitence. The liturgy’s serious tone calls for reflection on personal failings and the need for God’s guidance and salvation. Just as Israel sought God’s presence and forgiveness, individuals are encouraged to examine their conscience, recognize their disobedience, and seek renewal through God’s faithfulness. Paul’s epistle reassures of God’s gifts, like the Eucharist and penance, to sustain believers until Christ’s return. The central message is to remain vigilant and prepared for the Lord’s unexpected coming.

Watching for Grace

Bishop Robert Barron’s homily for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B centers on the Advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” highlighting the theme of longing for God’s presence in a state of spiritual exile. He draws parallels between the ancient practice of ransom and captivity to modern experiences of addiction and powerlessness. Isaiah’s lament and Paul’s message in the Corinthians encourage turning to God for salvation and embracing grace. Barron urges the faithful to enter the Advent season with an awareness of their need for God and the peace and fellowship offered through Jesus Christ.

Reflecting on Advent’s First Call

The gospel for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B, Mark 13:33-37, is a passage where Jesus instructs his followers to be watchful and alert, drawing an analogy to a man going on a journey who leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their own task, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. This reflection will focus on the themes of vigilance and preparedness that are central to the season of Advent.

On this 1st Sunday of Advent Year B, this scripture invites Catholics to adopt a posture of awareness. As we enter this liturgical season, it’s a time to focus on the anticipation of Christ’s coming. Just as the servants in the parable are tasked with specific roles, each person has unique responsibilities in their life. The call to be alert reminds us to perform our duties diligently, whether in our family life, work, or community engagement, with the conscious intention that our actions should align with the teachings of Christ.

The doorkeeper’s role in the parable underscores the importance of readiness. For Catholics, Advent is not just about preparing for the celebration of Jesus’ birth but also for his eventual return. This scripture can prompt a reflection on personal spiritual preparedness. Are we actively engaging in prayer, confession, and acts of charity? The anticipation of Jesus’ second coming should inspire a reflection on the state of one’s soul and how we live out our faith in daily life.

Lastly, the instruction to ‘watch’ is a powerful reminder of the need for spiritual vigilance. This can be interpreted as staying steadfast in faith amidst life’s distractions and uncertainties. The unpredictable hour of the master’s return in the parable can be seen as a metaphor for the unexpected nature of events in our own lives. As such, maintaining a strong spiritual foundation ensures that, whatever the hour, one is not taken by surprise but is found living in a way that is pleasing to God.

Embracing Advent’s Gifts

The second reading for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, speaks of grace, fellowship, and the strengthening of faith as we await the revelation of Jesus Christ. This passage is fitting for the first Sunday of Advent, which marks a period of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus and the anticipation of His return.

The beginning of Advent is a time to reflect on the grace that is given to us through Christ. Just as Paul greeted the Corinthians with a message of grace and peace, Advent ushers in a season to embrace these gifts anew. This grace is not earned, but it is a gift that sustains believers, enabling them to be enriched in every way. As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, we’re invited to reflect on how this grace has been evident in our own lives and how we might extend it to others.

Paul also speaks of the Corinthians not lacking any spiritual gift as they wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. This assurance is a reminder that God provides what is necessary for the journey of faith. In Advent, Catholics are called to trust in God’s provision, recognizing that spiritual growth is part of the preparation for Jesus’ coming. The gifts of the Spirit are sources of strength and should be nurtured through prayer, reading Scripture, and participating in the sacraments.

Finally, the passage ends with a promise that God will keep us firm to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Advent is a time of hopeful expectation, but also a call to perseverance. The period of waiting is not passive; it’s active vigilance, where believers are called to live out their faith authentically. The reflection on this promise can be a source of comfort and motivation, as we strive to live in a manner worthy of the calling we have received in Christ, especially during this season of watchful anticipation.

Patience and Vigilance in God’s Plan

As we enter the season of Advent, it’s a time for anticipation and reflection. It’s common for us to become impatient, especially when things don’t go according to our plans. During the first week of Advent, we are reminded that our own plans may not align with God’s vision for the world. God remains faithful even when we stray. The readings call us to return to God’s path, recognizing that His aim is the restoration of all creation to Himself, not merely fulfilling our individual desires.

Isaiah speaks to us of a people who have wandered from God’s ways. We too can relate to this wandering. In the midst of our daily challenges, we can become lost, focused on our immediate wants and grievances. However, the call of Advent is a call to turn back, to trust in God’s plan even when it seems distant or difficult to comprehend.

In the gospel for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B, Jesus warns his disciples to be vigilant, to stay awake. This is not just a call for the disciples of Jesus’ time but for us today. Life is full of unpredictable events, both tragic and joyful. It is not for us to know the time or the place when we will face these trials or when we will encounter Christ in our daily lives. Therefore, we must live in a state of readiness, serving Christ through our actions, words, and thoughts, at every moment.

Advent is a time to renew our commitment to God’s plan, to embrace the waiting and the uncertainty with faith and hope. It’s a period to prepare, to watch, and to be attentive to the ways in which we can serve and encounter God every day. Let this first week of Advent be a reminder to us to slow down, to reflect, and to align ourselves with God’s will, ready to act with love and compassion at every opportunity presented to us.

• What specific responsibilities in my life require more attention to detail and conscientiousness?
• How can I improve in performing my daily duties with an awareness that I am serving Christ through them?
• In what ways can I enhance my spiritual preparedness during Advent, and what practices might help me to achieve this?
• How does the concept of spiritual vigilance apply to my life, and what distractions do I need to guard against?
• Reflecting on the past year, how have I experienced grace, and how can I extend grace to others in my community?
• Which spiritual gifts do I wish to develop more deeply this Advent, and what steps will I take to nurture them?
• How does the anticipation of Jesus’ return influence the way I live my life on a day-to-day basis?
• What aspects of God’s plan am I struggling to trust in, and how can I surrender my own plans to His will?
• Can I identify ways in which I may have wandered from God’s path, and what concrete actions will lead me back?
• What does living in a state of readiness for the coming of Christ mean for me in practical terms?
• How will I renew my commitment to God’s plan this Advent, and what does embracing the season’s uncertainty look like in my life?
• In what specific ways can I prepare my heart and mind to be more open to encountering Christ daily?

• Awake O Sleeper
• Awake to the Day
• Christ Be Our Light
• City of God
• Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
• Come to Set Us Free
• Everlasting God
• Eye Has Not Seen
• Let Heaven Rejoice
• Let the King of Glory Come
• Miracle of Grace
• O Come, O Come Emmanuel
• People Look East
• Praise to the Lord the Almighty
• Praise to You O Christ Our Savior
• Prepare the Way
• Ready the Way
• Sing Out, Earth and Skies
• Stay Awake
• The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns
• To You O God, I Lift Up My Soul
• Wake Up My People
• Your Love Awakens Me

What date is the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B?

The next date is Sunday November 29, 2026.
For other years see the links below:
1st Sunday of Advent Year A
1st Sunday of Advent Year C

What are the Mass readings for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B?

The Mass readings for Sunday November 29, 2026 are:
First Reading – Isaiah 63:16B-17, 19B; 64:2-7: Prayer for Divine Intervention
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 80: Cry for Deliverance
Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 1:3-9: Thanksgiving and Assurance
Gospel – Mark 13:33-37: Vigilance Urged

What Are the themes for the Mass readings for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B?

Vigilance, longing for God’s intervention, and being prepared for Christ’s return are key themes.

How do these readings for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B connect?

They express a need for divine presence and guidance, and the importance of readiness for God’s ultimate plans.

What does the first reading for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B passage express?

The reading from Isaiah is a plea for God to act and guide humanity back to righteousness, acknowledging human failings.

What does the responsorial psalm for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B ask of God?

Psalm 80 is a prayer for God’s attention and salvation, for strength and fidelity among His people.

How is grace described in the second reading for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B?

In Corinthians 1:3-9 grace is portrayed as a gift that enriches and sustains believers, helping them remain faithful until the end.

What does the gospel for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B highlight?

Mark 13:33-37 emphasizes the necessity of being spiritually vigilant, as the timing of Jesus’ return is unknown.

What is the context of the gospel for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B?

Mark 13:33-37 comes from Jesus’ teachings about the end times, known as the Olivet Discourse. Jesus is telling his disciples to be alert and prepared for his return, which will be unexpected.

What does Jesus mean by “Be on guard, keep awake” in the gospel for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B?

Jesus is emphasizing the importance of spiritual vigilance. The instruction means to live in a state of readiness and awareness, morally and spiritually, because the time of His return is unknown.

Can we know when the Second Coming will happen from the gospel for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B?

No, Mark 13:33-37 makes it clear that the timing is not for us to know. This unpredictability is a call to constant readiness rather than trying to predict the end.

What does the analogy of the man leaving his house represent in the gospel for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B?

Mark 13:33-37 likens Jesus to a man who goes on a journey, leaving his house in the care of his servants. The servants are entrusted with responsibilities and are expected to fulfill them in the master’s absence.

How can we apply this ‘watchfulness’ from the gospel for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B in daily life?

Being watchful translates to living responsibly and ethically, staying true to Christian teachings, and being mindful of our actions, knowing they have spiritual significance.

How can we apply the themes for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B?

By living with an awareness of our need for God and keeping our focus on spiritual growth and readiness.

Are there practical steps to take for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B?

Maintain a consistent prayer life, seek opportunities for spiritual learning, and engage in community support and service.

What’s the central message for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year B?

These readings call for an active and expectant faith, where believers are continually seeking God’s presence and preparing for Jesus’ return.