Psalm Reflection: The First Sunday of Advent - Cycle A

“Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.” - Psalms 122

Yes, you read that right. This is the exact same Responsorial Psalm as last week. However, the depth of scripture is inexhaustible. You can read the same passage every day and get something new from the Lord each time. And so, in anticipation of Thanksgiving tomorrow, I am thankful that the Lord has spoken something new through this Psalm for me to share with you this week.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, I am reminded of the family homes we would gather in when I was young for big celebrations and holidays. My grandparents house was the central gathering place for most of my young life until they both passed away. I loved going there to see all of my cousins, explore the back yard, and play basketball or baseball in the cul-de-sac with the neighbors.

But there was one house I was always excited to go to: Pat and Robin’s.

Pat and Robin were a married couple that my parents were friends with. They did not have any children, at least not any that were close enough in age to me to have been living there when we would visit, but we would go there often for dinner or parties to enjoy their company. 

I loved it there mainly because of Pat. He had swords lining the wall going upstairs. He would show me card and coin tricks that were so impressive, and then he would teach them to me so I could amaze or swindle my friends at school. It seemed like every time we went there, there was something new and exciting that Pat wanted to show me. 

I loved going there because I felt seen and valued there. Pat enjoyed some of the same things I did, or at least he pretended that he did, because he wanted me to feel welcome in his home. 

God is the same way. He sees into the depths of who we are and He delights in everything about us. He is interested in our interests and He loves what we love. He appreciates and celebrates the things that make us unique, and wants to foster the special gifts He has given us so that they blossom. 

In the same way that I rejoiced at the opportunity to go to Pat and Robins, and in the same way you rejoice when you get to go to your favorite places that feel like home, we should approach the house of the Lord with joy and delight every time we gather for worship. We should approach prayer with excitement, because that is where we encounter a God who truly sees, hears, and knows us.

It is in prayer where we encounter our truest selves, reflected back to us in the eyes of our loving Father. Following Jesus should not make us less of ourselves, that is what sin does. Sin dulls the unique ways we can glorify God, and separates us from our source. It impedes and dampens our will and our intellect. A Sacramental relationship with Jesus that is rooted in prayer frees us and allows us to be who we were truly created to be.

As we enter into the season of Advent, we are invited to hope for Christ’s coming with joyful anticipation. Let this season be an exploration of that great hope we have in Him, and an invitation for the Lord to show up in our lives every day. Let us never lack in joy, zeal, and excitement to encounter the Lord and go to His house!

In what ways do you feel God delights in your unique interests and gifts? How can you use these gifts to glorify Him and serve others?

Consider how sin might dull your ability to express your true self. What steps can you take to overcome the sin in your life and live more fully in the freedom of Christ?

How can you create a welcoming environment in your own home or community that reflects the joy and hospitality you experience in God's house?

What specific actions can you take this week to approach the house of the Lord with renewed joy and excitement? How can you share this joy with others?

I am praying for you. Please pray for me and my family, and I will see you in the Eucharist.

Matt

This reflection is based on the Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday, November 30th, 2025, the First Sunday of Advent - Cycle A: Psalms 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9.