Catholic Men’s Daily Devotional and Bible Study – 1st Week of Advent – Sunday – Cycle A – Matthew 24:37-44

After mysteriously predicting His Passion and Resurrection and warning the disciples not follow those who proclaim false messiahs, Christ uses the Old Testament to describe His Second Coming, the end of the world and the Final Judgment.

Christ likens the Second Coming to the sudden cataclysmic destruction revealed in the well-known Old Testament account of Noah.  During Noah’s time, despite the perversion and sinfulness, human activities continued up until the sudden and devastating flood. Despite the appearance of normality in human activities, where there is perversion at the time of the Second Coming, there will be sudden destruction.

Christ reveals the selective nature of the coming holocaust and offers Divine Counsel to those who will be granted eternal life. Men (or women) in identical circumstances will be selectively saved (one man/woman taken, the other man/woman left); the sinful will be destroyed and the just preserved. Christ urges men to be perpetually on watch for He will come at a unexpected time; men must continually prepare themselves and their families for the final Judgment.

Awed by Jesus Christ – Son of God, Christ recounts the ancient Scripture He inspired men to write. Divine Prophet, Christ warns of the coming destruction and offers advice as to how to survive.  Divine Judge, Christ makes clear that many will be destroyed and some will be accepted into Heaven.

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1)  Today begins the start of the Liturgical year with the first Sunday of Advent. While there is great joy in the anticipation of the Savior at Christmas, the Church begins with Christ’s somber warning of the coming Judgment and the need for watchfulness. Reflect on Christ’s strong warnings for the need for men to be ready for Christ’s Advent (meaning, “arrival” or “coming”).

2) With the pleasures and pressures of the world, many men simply ignore or postpone the need to seek holiness. Pray for Christ to help you properly prepare to greet Him at Christmas through prayer and daily reading of the Gospel during  Advent.

3) Men are created by God to be watchful; men anticipate, observe, protect and defend. Mediate on Christ’s direction for you to be watchful and commit to embrace a spirit and practice of watchfulness this Advent.

Spiritual Practices – Include in Today’s Prayers

Sacred Mystery of Rosary – The Glorious Mysteries

Daily Devotion – The Blessed Trinity

Virtue of the Day – Charity

Corporal Work of Mercy – To feed the hungry

Spiritual Work of Mercy – To admonish the sinner