First Sunday of Advent (B) | Nov 29, 2020
A New Beginning

Advent marks the beginning of a new liturgical year in the Church which makes the first Sunday of Advent like "New Year's Day" for us Catholics. When we think of the New Year, we often think of new beginnings. We make resolutions to accomplish certain goals, or to give up bad habits. Even though statistics show most New Year's resolutions are abandoned before the end of January, it's not a bad concept. We all need a chance at a new beginning from time to time. Given the events of 2020, we feel that now more than ever.

The celebration of the Church's New Year reminds us that the one who offers us a true new beginning is Christ. The first reading from Isaiah asks the poignant question, "Why do you let us wander, O Lord, from your ways?" Why do you allow us to sin? Why do you permit us to do evil; to cause harm to ourselves and others? Why allow us to experience fear and despair? What else could the answer be other than to allow us to make a return to the Lord? And so we pray with Isaiah, "Would that you might meet us doing right."

In the gospel, Christ reminds us to be watchful and alert, for we do not know when the day will come when we shall meet the Lord, therefore we must always be alert and ready. If we want the Lord to "meet us doing right" at his coming, we must begin today. This Advent, when so many of our holiday traditions will be disrupted, let's take advantage of the way this pandemic is shaking us from our comfort zones to be converted to Christ anew; to turn once more to the Lord and see his face, and there find mercy, peace and love. Let's make a new beginning.

We have some beautiful Advent resources prepared for you, to help you do just that. You'll find the details of them below. Happy New Year!

In Christ,
Deacon Matt
We may not be together in person for the season of Advent this year, but we have a variety of ways for you to stay connected with our ministry over break. We hope you take advantage of some of these offerings as you prayerfully prepare to celebrate with joy our Lord's Nativity at Christmas!
Join us each Sunday during Advent at 4:00 pm for a discussion of the scripture readings from Mass at https://meet.google.com/tkm-vmky-dtx
A series of reflections on our YouTube channel on the Incarnation of Christ. Episodes will be released at noon every Tuesday and Thursday from Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving Day) through Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve). Click here for the playlist.
Join Catholic students from colleges and universities across the Diocese of Charlotte for a FREE Online Advent Retreat Dec 18-19. As we wait in anticipation of a time when we can gather together with friends and family again, let us gather together in community as we canβ€”in spirit and onlineβ€”to share our faith, to pray, and wait in the spirit of Advent to celebrate Christ’s birth, and his eventual return in glory. Click here to learn more or to register.
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Catholic Campus Ministry at WCU
Deacon Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
828-293-9374