If the first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of a new liturgical year, why does the Gospel focus on endings as it talks about the sun and moon darkening and the stars falling from the sky? We’re supposed to be preparing to celebrate Jesus’ birth as the Messiah, not hear about the end of the world. What’s going on here?

Throughout the First Sunday of Advent, our mission is: “Be vigilant and pray! Be whisperers of abundant hope!”

This Sunday brings the liturgical year of the Church to its culmination. At the close of the year, the Church draws our attention to Jesus’s Kingship and the coming of his Kingdom through this Sunday’s readings.

We’ve all heard predictions about the impending end of the world. We are often fascinated with the possibility of the end of the world, but this interest can easily become distorted and misconstrued. When we obsess over trying to solve the puzzle of when the world is going to end, we miss the Gospel message the Jesus was really preaching.

A widow in Jesus’ time would have been one of the most outcast in society. With no man to own property, home, or bring in an income, she would be struggling to get by. And yet, with great humility and great courage, she still presents herself in the Temple, showing her brave faith. She trusts in God’s word. She hopes in his promise. And she gives all that she has. While no one else may notice, Jesus does. He notices the ways in which we empty ourselves when we don’t think we have more to give. Jesus sees. Jesus sees the mother who gets up for the sixth time in the middle of the night to comfort her crying baby. Jesus sees the father who takes up the daily grind to provide for his family, exhausted and wanting for a respite. Jesus sees the child who shares their Cheerios snack with a friend. Jesus sees us. And our reward for these moments of quiet humility and generosity will be great.