(Please read the passage cited above first.)
My sisters and brothers,
Today we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent. All the comings that we experience prepare and promise the last and majestic coming of our Lord Jesus Christ when he comes again in his glory.
We are already increasing and abounding in love for one another and for all: may the Lord make us continue to grow and find us more in love for one another and for all.
We are chosen by God: May God make us strong and without blame as people made holy before our God and Father.
St Paul prayed for the Thessalonians that they continue their good works for God. He knew there would be times of persecution and testing because of their faith in Christ., and he wanted to encourage them in this life until the Lord would come again.
The message of St Paul certainly concerns us as well. In the four weeks before the feast of the Christmas, we have many things to do to prepare, from shopping on Black Friday to the Friday of Christmas Eve.
We love our families and friends and, we claim to love everyone. May the Lord make us increase and abound in love for one another and for all.
God chose us for God’s kingdom and calls us into his family. When Jesus manifests himself in is glory, may he find us strong and without blame within ourselves as people made holy in the presence of our God and Father.
St Paul loved his Thessalonians very much. They had welcomed him with great joy when he came among them and preached the Gospel. They also provided for his upkeep when Paul preached the Gospel to other places.
The Church likewise loves us. The Church prays that our faith, our hope, and our love grow to perfection on the day of the coming of Christ.
We have suffered for our faith and for our love of the family. Nevertheless, we have been consecrated, made holy, for God and for his Son, our Lord. May God bring to perfection within us the good work God has begun in us.