Lord jesus Christ, you are just and merciful. Help me to understand what justice means and how I can live with justice in my daily life. I ask forgiveness for the times that I have failed to seek justice in the world. Guide my heart amd mind closer to you today, Amen.

Jesus Christ had a mission on earth: to save us. That's literally what His name means, Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew) literally translates to "God saves."

In the first reading, God promised us a "righteous branch" out of the line of (King) David. Jesus is this branch out of David's family tree; David is an ancestor of Jesus earthly father, St. Joseph.

In the second reading, St. Paul encourages the souls living in Thessalonica to live like Jesus- the blameless one. Why? So they would ultimately be saved

Judegement day will come, as St. Luke's Gospel reminds us. There will be signs and warning but those who know and follow Jesus won't need to fear. The trick is to live like ou life could enf tomorrow. No one knows the day or the hour, so we are to live each day like it is our last - not sinful and selfish, but holy and blameless.

It might seem, at first glance, like these readings move quickly from "good news" to "bad news," but only if you're not following the Lord. The season of Advent is not all about Christmas. During Advent we focus on the battle between good nad evil, light and darkness, life and death. God is coming to save us...we just need to live in a way that allows Him to do so.

Through the prophet Jeremiah, the Holy Spirit tells us, "the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made..." Little did Jeremiah or his followers know that meant approximately 600 years later. So, the next time you pray and are waiting on an answer from the Lord, remember He's timeless. Be patient. God answers when the time is right.

Jeremiah says, "a righteous branch will spring forth for David." The Hebrew word (which was the language Jeremiah was writing in) for branch is nazer; Jesus of Nazereth is the Branch from David's family tree.

The word "advent" comes from the Latin adventus, meaning "the coming" or "the arrival." We are celebrating the coming or impending arrival of the Lord, as darkness sloely gives way to more and more light (as signified by things like hte Advent hwreath).

1. What is one thing that God has promised you through these readings today? How can you prepare yourself to receive what God has promised?
2. The shoot of David (Jesus Christ) comes to do what is right and just. Ask yourself, "Do I imitate Christ in my actions? Do I do what is right and just?"
3. Our actions should reveal Christ at work within us. Do your actions reveal a readiness to answer to Christ for your choices?
4. What can you fo in your daily life to uphold justice?

To do what is just means to do what is in accord with remaining morally right and fair. Jesus Christ is the ultimate example and upholder of justice. Take some time this week to reflect on your actions this past month - have you acted in accord with what is right and fair? If not, how can you correct your actions or make up for what you have done? How can you change your actions to do what is right and fair and prepare you heart ot receive Christ at Christmas?

This week's reflection comes from Ascend, a companion to the Sunday Mass Readings published by Life Teen International, 2015.