First Sunday of Advent, Year B
The first of the four Sundays before Christmas Revised Common Lectionary, Year B, the year of Mark Blue
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The Gospel: Mark 13:24–37
Jesus describes the Son of Man coming in the clouds, gives the lesson of the fig tree, and tells all to keep watch.
What is going on
The church year starts over today, and Advent begins with the end of the story, not the beginning.
Jesus tells his disciples that the sun will go dark and the Son of Man will come with power, and that no one knows the day or the hour.
He points to a fig tree putting out leaves as a sign that summer is near. Then he says one thing to everyone: keep awake.
Mark 13:24-37
Most churches stand for the Gospel, and sing or say a short response before and after it.
The passage
24 But in those days, after that oppression, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, 25 the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 Then he will send out his angels, and will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky. 28 “Now from the fig tree, learn this parable. When the branch has now become tender, and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near; 29 even so you also, when you see these things coming to pass, know that it is near, at the doors. 30 Most certainly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don’t know when the time is. 34 “It is like a man, traveling to another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you don’t know when the lord of the house is coming, whether at evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning; 36 lest coming suddenly he might find you sleeping. 37 What I tell you, I tell all: Watch.”
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Jesus Speaks About the End, scene by scene on Free Scripture
The other readings
In the order they are read on Sunday, before the Gospel.
Isaiah 64:1-9
The people beg God to tear open the heavens and come down, confessing their sins and calling him their Father, the potter who shaped them.
Read it here
1 Oh that you would tear the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence. 2 As when fire kindles the brushwood, and the fire causes the water to boil; Make your name known to your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at your presence! 3 When you did awesome things which we didn’t look for, you came down, and the mountains quaked at your presence. 4 For from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen a God besides you, who works for him who waits for him. 5 You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned. We have been in sin for a long time. Shall we be saved? 6 For we have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7 There is no one who calls on your name, who stirs himself up to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have consumed us by means of our iniquities. 8 But now, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay and you our potter. We all are the work of your hand. 9 Don’t be furious, the LORD. Don’t remember iniquity forever. Look and see, we beg you, we are all your people.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
A plea to the Shepherd of Israel to hear, restore, and let God’s face shine so the people may be saved.
Read it here
1 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock, you who sit above the cherubim, shine out. 2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might! Come to save us! 3 Turn us again, God. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved. 4 The LORD God of Armies, how long will you be angry against the prayer of your people? 5 You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in large measure. 6 You make us a source of contention to our neighbors. Our enemies laugh among themselves. 7 Turn us again, God of Armies. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved.
17 Let your hand be on the man of your right hand, on the son of man whom you made strong for yourself. 18 So we will not turn away from you. Revive us, and we will call on your name. 19 Turn us again, the LORD God of Armies. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Paul greets the Corinthians and thanks God for the rich gifts they have received, assuring them that God is faithful and will keep them strong to the end.
Read it here
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I always thank my God concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus; 5 that in everything you were enriched in him, in all speech and all knowledge; 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 so that you come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ; 8 who will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
A question to carry into the week
What are you waiting for this Advent?
For your newsletter or sermon notes
These readings are told as stories on our sister site, Free Scripture, one scene at a time in plain words. The lines below are ready to paste. The next eight Sundays, and every story.
First Sunday of Advent · Revised Common Lectionary, Year B · the same Sunday at the Vanderbilt Divinity Library. Scripture text: World English Bible, public domain.
Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org Used by permission.