1st Sunday of Advent Year A (2022)

Mass Readings for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year A

• First Reading – Isaiah 2:1-5: “He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.”
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 122: “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”
• Second Reading – Romans 13:11-14: “For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand.”
• Gospel – Matthew 24:37-44: “Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left.”

Themes for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year A

The readings for the 1st Sunday of Advent Year A speak of readiness for the coming of Jesus Christ. In the first reading we hear that God will establish His kingdom and we must be ready to walk in the light of God. In the second reading Paul warns us to be awake. In the gospel Jesus warns us not to be unprepared, as people were in the days of Noah. This is a time to prepare for our Lord to come into our hearts.

• Be awake
• Be ready
• Be prepared to work
• Things which are temporary vs permanent
• Walking in the light

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 A.

Get on Noah’s Ark

Get on Noah’s Ark is an easy game. All you need is some laundry baskets and stuffed animals. Even your youngest VBS students will enjoy this game. Use more animals for older students.

Sleeping Conductor Game

This is a fun easy game to prepare. All you need is a small piece of paper to be the ticket. It is moderately active and can be played indoors or outdoors. Since there is not a lot of running, it even works in a meeting room.

Have an Advent Prayer Service

Today, say a simple Advent prayer service together. It doesn’t need to be lengthy. In fact, with very young children, shorter is sometimes better.

Make a Jesse Tree

A Jesse tree is a traditional Advent craft which shows the relationship of Jesus to famous people from the bible. Every day you read the story of somebody related to Jesus from the Bible and hang an ornament on the tree.

Set Up an Advent Table

Now is the time to set up and Advent table in your home or youth ministry room. If at home, put it in your family room or another room your family uses every day. Use it as a focal point to remember to observe Advent.

Make a Good Deeds Chain

A good deeds chain is a simple paper chain, but you must do a good deed for each piece of paper you add. Make a long chain during this season!

The Mountain of the Lord

From Bishop Robert Barron. Our first reading from the prophet Isaiah describes how every nation streams towards God’s holy mountain. As you enter the Advent season, think about this holy mountain. Is the mountain of the Lord higher than every other mountain for you? Do you stream toward it with your whole being?

Getting the House in Order

Also from Bishop Barron. Advent is, perhaps most immediately, a preparation for that coming; we are getting ourselves ready to receive the Christ who wants, even now, to be born in us. Well, how do we do this? Our readings for this first Sunday of Advent give us some wonderful instruction.

In a Dark Hour

From Scott Hahn. Jesus exaggerates in today’s Gospel when He claims not to know the day or the hour when He will come again. His point here is that the exact “hour” is not important. What is crucial is that we not postpone our repentance, that we be ready for Him—spiritually and morally—when He comes.

Get Ready! Be Prepared!

In this first week of Advent, Jeff Cavins reminds us to prepare our souls for the coming of Christ.

The True Meaning of Advent

What is the best way to prepare for the season of Advent? Fr. Mike Schmitz tells us that we’re free to do what we know will help you prepare for Christmas the best. If decorating and so forth does not help you prepare for the coming of Christ, you can be the judge of whether it’s worth doing.

Now, But Not Yet

In this video from Life Teen, Joel Stepanek helps us understand the readings for the First Sunday of Advent for Year A. We are in the Kingdom now, but also not yet. In Isaiah we hear that one day there will be no war and conflict. We hear that our salvation by Jesus is near, and we do find great peace in Jesus. But we also know that we have not reached the end yet. But now is the time to get ready. Don’t delay.