1st Sunday of Advent Year A

• First Reading – Isaiah 2:1-5: In the future, the Lord’s mountain will be the highest. All nations will come to learn His ways, and there will be peace. Let us walk in the light of the Lord.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 122: We rejoice as we enter Jerusalem, the unified city of the Lord. We pray for peace and prosperity in Jerusalem, and we give thanks to the Lord’s name.
• Second Reading – Romans 13:11-14: Wake up, for our salvation is near. Live properly, putting aside darkness and putting on the light of Jesus Christ.
• Gospel – Matthew 24:37-44: Jesus warns that His coming will be sudden, like the days of Noah. People will be taken unexpectedly, so stay awake and be ready at all times.

Lectionary Reference: 1

Upcoming Dates: November 30, 2025, December 3, 2028, November 30, 2031

The 1st Sunday of Advent in Year A starts a new season of hope and preparation. Advent is a time for watching, waiting, and preparing for Christ. The readings call us to stay alert, live with purpose, and seek peace.

• Staying Awake for Christ: Advent reminds us to stay watchful and ready. Jesus urges us to be aware and prepared, not caught off guard by his coming.
• Hope and Anticipation: Advent brings a season of hope for what is to come. This hope pushes us to prepare our hearts and lives for the coming of Christ.
• Living in the Light: Paul’s letter encourages us to live in the light and leave behind actions that keep us in darkness. Advent is a time to step forward with kindness, honesty, and peace.
• Embracing Peace: Isaiah’s vision of nations gathering in peace shows God’s hope for a world united. We are reminded to be peacemakers, especially as we prepare for Christ’s coming.
• Turning from Distractions: The Gospel warns of the dangers of letting daily life distract us from Christ’s arrival. Advent is a call to put aside what pulls us from God and make room for Him.
• Beginning Again with Faith: Advent opens a new church year and invites us to refresh our faith. We are called to enter the season with hearts open to grow closer to God.

The 1st Sunday of Advent invites us to slow down and focus on God. As Advent begins, we are called to prepare, stay alert, and live with hope.

Get on Noah’s Ark

The 1st Sunday of Advent Year A includes a reminder of Noah’s story in the Gospel, calling us to be prepared and watchful. A fun game like “Get on Noah’s Ark” can connect younger students to this theme with simple supplies like laundry baskets and stuffed animals. This easy game lets them experience the story of Noah, thinking about the importance of listening to God and being ready. Through play, children can begin to understand the meaning of Advent as a time to pay attention to God’s message and prepare our hearts.

Sleeping Conductor Game

The 1st Sunday of Advent Year A calls us to stay alert and be ready, just as in the Gospel’s reminder about staying watchful. The “Sleeping Conductor” game is a fun way for children to learn about awareness. Played with a small paper “ticket,” it encourages kids to focus, pay attention, and practice being alert.

This game can be played indoors or outdoors and is a perfect way to reinforce the Advent theme of readiness. By being watchful, children connect with the idea of staying prepared for what God has in store.

An Advent Challenge

In his homily for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year A, Bishop Robert Barron calls us to focus on God as the true center of our lives. He reflects on Isaiah’s image of God’s mountain as the highest, asking us to examine what we truly worship. Paul and Jesus both urge spiritual wakefulness, warning against sleep and distraction. Bishop Barron reminds us that Advent is a season of attention, challenging us to clear distractions and prioritize God. This vigilant preparation, he says, brings peace and harmony within ourselves as we prepare for Christ’s coming.

Get Ready! Be Prepared!

In his reflection for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year A, Jeff Cavins encourages us to prepare for Christ’s return by staying spiritually awake. He shares a story of meeting St. John Paul II and compares that anticipation to waiting for Jesus. Cavins highlights Paul’s call to “put on Christ” by living with purpose, choosing actions that honor Jesus, and focusing on righteousness. He reminds us that Advent is not only about looking back at Jesus’ birth but also looking forward to His coming. Cavins urges us to be ready, living each day with our hearts open to God.

In a Dark Hour

In his reflection for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year A, Scott Hahn emphasizes the need to be spiritually ready for Christ’s return. Hahn explains that Jesus’ message is not about knowing the exact timing, but about the importance of repentance and staying prepared. He connects this with Paul’s call to live as “children of the light,” rejecting darkness and sin. Through the Church, the light of Christ shines for all nations, drawing us closer to God. As Advent begins, Hahn invites us to start fresh, rejoice in God’s presence, and keep watch for His coming with grateful hearts.

The 1st Sunday of Advent Year A begins a season of hope, reflection, and preparation. As we enter Advent, we are called to open our hearts and prepare our lives for the coming of Christ. The readings for this Sunday remind us to be peacemakers, live in the light, and renew our faith. Through these reflections, we can explore ways to deepen our relationship with God and strengthen our commitment to living as Christ taught.

Called to Be Peacemakers

The 1st Sunday of Advent Year A invites us to look at Isaiah’s vision of a world united in peace. Isaiah describes nations coming together, setting aside their weapons, and choosing understanding over conflict. This picture of unity shows God’s hope for humanity, a world where we seek peace with one another. Advent is a time to reflect on how we, too, can create peace in our families, communities, and even within ourselves.

Being a peacemaker doesn’t mean ignoring problems or pretending there’s no conflict. It means working for solutions that bring people closer together instead of tearing them apart. Just as Isaiah speaks of nations working side by side, we are called to find ways to understand each other, even in disagreement. This vision reminds us that we each play a role in creating harmony wherever we are.

As we prepare for the coming of Christ, peace becomes more than a distant hope; it’s something we can practice. Advent encourages us to be peacemakers with patience, love, and respect. We can ask ourselves how we can bring a little more peace to our relationships. By doing so, we participate in God’s vision for unity and readiness to welcome Christ into our world.

Choosing to Live in the Light

Paul’s message in the 1st Sunday of Advent Year A reminds us to live in the light and leave behind actions that keep us in darkness. He describes a life of kindness, honesty, and hope as a way to step forward. Advent is a season to think about our actions and to choose the light, putting aside behaviors that keep us far from God’s love and from each other.

Living in the light doesn’t mean we’re perfect, but it means we make an effort to reflect Jesus in our daily lives. It can be small actions like choosing kindness over anger or being truthful in situations where we might not want to be. Paul encourages us to keep working to make choices that reflect who we want to be as followers of Christ. These choices help us be ready to welcome Him.

As Advent begins, we’re invited to let go of darkness, such as selfishness, impatience, or fear. We’re called to step forward, choosing the light in how we think, act, and treat others. This Sunday calls us to prepare ourselves for Jesus’ coming by living with faith, even when it’s hard. As we choose the light, we open ourselves to God’s love and grace.

Renewing Our Faith as Advent Begins

The 1st Sunday of Advent Year A opens the new church year and gives us a chance to refresh our faith. Advent is a season of waiting, but it’s also a time to draw closer to God. Starting a new church year is like starting a journey with renewed purpose, reminding us that we are all called to grow in faith.

Renewing faith doesn’t always mean making big changes. Often, it means finding small ways to connect with God daily. We can do this through prayer, helping others, or simply taking a moment to reflect on God’s presence in our lives. Advent invites us to open our hearts and make room for Jesus, letting go of things that keep us from experiencing God fully.

As we begin Advent, we’re called to be open to where God may lead us. Whether through acts of kindness, spending time in prayer, or focusing on gratitude, we can use this season to grow closer to God. The 1st Sunday of Advent reminds us that faith is a journey, and Advent is a special time to move forward on that path.

The 1st Sunday of Advent Year A encourages us to step forward with hope and intention. As we continue on the Advent journey, we are invited to embrace God’s call to peace, kindness, and faith. May these reflections inspire us to live more fully in the light and prepare ourselves to welcome Christ with open hearts and minds.

Prayer

Loving God, help us to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. Lead us to live in peace, kindness, and hope. Let your light guide our path through this Advent season. May we be ready to welcome Jesus into our lives with open and willing hearts. Amen.

• How can I bring more peace into my relationships during Advent, especially with those closest to me?
• What habits or attitudes do I need to let go of in order to live more fully in the light?
• How can I renew my faith this Advent season through small, daily practices?
• What does preparing for Christ’s coming mean to me personally this Advent?
• In what ways can I be a peacemaker in my family, my workplace, or my community?
• How can I make time each day to connect with God, even in a busy season?
• What distractions keep me from being fully present to God and others, and how can I set them aside?
• How can I invite more honesty and kindness into my actions and conversations?
• Where do I see a need for light in my life, and how can I invite God to guide me there?
• What hope do I hold for this Advent season, and how can I nurture that hope as I prepare for Christ’s coming?

These music selections for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year A focus on themes of watchfulness, preparation, and hope. Many songs invite us to awaken spiritually, calling the Church to stay alert for Christ’s coming. Some emphasize God as our guiding light in dark times, while others encourage us to walk in the light, letting go of distractions and sin. There are also songs of rejoicing, reminding us to be joyful as we journey toward God’s house and celebrate the beginning of Advent. Together, these songs help us prepare our hearts with a sense of expectancy and readiness.

• Arise, O Church by John Angotti
• Awake, O Sleeper by Ike Ndolo
• All the People Said Amen by Matt Maher
• Christ Be Our Light by Bernadette Farrell
• Come, Lord! Maranatha by Ricky Manalo
• Find Us Ready by Tom Booth
• Gather Your People by Bob Hurd
• Here I Am to Worship by Passion with Chris Tomlin
• Holy, Holy, Holy by Audrey Assad
• In the Day of the Lord by M.D. Ridge
• Let Us Go Rejoicing by Steve Angrisano
• Maranatha by Gerard Chiusano
• Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus by Janèt Sullivan Whitaker
• Patience, People by John Foley
• Prepare the Way by Passion with Charlie Hall
• Prepare Ye by Lorraine Hess
• Psalm 122: Let Us Go Rejoicing by Rawn Harbor
• Psalm 122: Let Us Go Rejoicing by Bob Hurd
• Psalm 122: Let Us Go Rejoicing by Curtis Stephan
• O Come, O Come, Emmanuel by Lauren Daigle
• Ready the Way by Curtis Stephan
• Save Us, O Lord by The St. Louis Jesuits
• Sing Out, Earth and Skies by Marty Haugen
• Soon and Very Soon by Andraé Crouch
• Stay Awake by Christopher Walker
• To You, O God, I Lift Up My Soul by Bob Hurd
• We Will Run by Gungor
• You Are the Light by Josh Blakesley

Music directors and musicians, consider trying some of these selections for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year A. These themes encourage us to prepare, celebrate, and renew our focus on Christ’s coming. We’d love to hear your own music suggestions that reflect these Advent themes! Share your recommendations in the comments to help inspire others.

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

The next date is Sunday November 30, 2025.
For other years see the links below:
1st Sunday of Advent Year B
1st Sunday of Advent Year C

What does it mean to stay awake in the 1st Sunday of Advent Year A readings?

Staying awake means being aware of God in our daily lives. It reminds us not to get lost in routine but to stay alert to God’s presence and purpose for us.

Why does Paul tell us to put on the light in the second reading for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year A?

Paul wants us to live with honesty, kindness, and hope. Putting on the light means acting in ways that reflect Jesus and letting go of bad habits or choices that pull us from God.

How does Isaiah’s vision of peace apply to us?

Isaiah describes a world where people live together in peace and trust. We are called to help make peace in our own lives and communities, especially as we prepare for Jesus.

What does it mean to prepare for Christ in Advent?

Advent is about making room for Jesus in our lives. This might mean spending time in prayer, helping others, or setting aside distractions that keep us from focusing on God.

Why are distractions seen as dangerous in the Gospel reading for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year A?

The Gospel warns that getting too caught up in daily things can make us forget what matters most. We are reminded to keep God first, even with busy schedules.

What does the 1st Sunday of Advent Year A tell us about hope?

Hope is a big part of Advent. This hope helps us look forward to the future with faith and invites us to trust God’s plan.

How can we put these readings for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year A into practice?

We can start by making time for God each day. This can include prayer, helping someone in need, or reflecting on how we can live with more kindness and peace.

Why is peace important in the 1st Sunday of Advent Year A?

Isaiah shows a world where people turn away from conflict and choose peace. Advent is a reminder to seek peace with others and within ourselves.

What does it mean to live in the light during Advent?

Living in the light means doing what is good and right. During Advent, we are called to be more aware of how we treat others and to be a positive example.

How can we be more awake to God this Advent?

We can try to notice God’s presence each day, in both quiet times and busy moments. Being awake to God might mean seeing Him in others and finding small ways to serve or help.