In the parable of the sower told earlier in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus spoke of the “the seed that fell among thorns,” which are like the “ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit.”

THE BEGINNING OF something new always feels suspiciously like the end of the world. That was how each new school year affected me as a kid: like the death of another wonderful, liberating summer. Each birthday reminds us we’ll never be 10, 20, 50 again. What will we be is yet to be seen, but we know for sure the old year’s gone for good.

Whatever you do, don’t go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that’s coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man.

As we start this first day of Advent, we remember that we go forth not alone but with our faith community. In this season of hope, we can trust that together we will find strength and encouragement for whatever adventures and challenges lie ahead.

As we begin our preparation for the birth of the Lord, we ask God to forgive us for the times we have turned away from God.

“The days are coming”: a fulfillment of God’s promise for a new covenant, a new David, a Son of Man whom God has given all authority, glory, and power to judge and whose reign will provide God’s people with justice and security.

See, days are coming . . . when I will raise up a righteous branch for David; as king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is just and right in the land. —Jeremiah 23:5