'Stay awake.' Sunday Reflections, 1st Sunday of Advent, Year B

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Young Jew as Christ, Rembrandt 
[Web Gallery of Art]

Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)

Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa)

Gospel Mark 13:33-37 (English Standard Version Anglicised: India).

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.  Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”


Léachtaí i nGaeilge


Liam Whelan  (1 April 1935 - 5 February 1958)

If this is the end, then I'm ready for it. 

These were the last words of Liam Whelan who died in a plane crash at Munich Airport on 6 February 1958 along with other members of the Manchester United football (soccer) team as they were returning from a match in Belgrade. About ten years ago I learned from a friend named Brendan whom I have known for more than 60 years that, when they were both aged 14 or so, Liam rescued him when he got into difficulties in a swimming pool in their area. And about four years ago I discovered that another friend, who was a classmate of for five years in secondary school and for two years in the seminary, also named Liam, that this talented young footballer had been a neighbour of his and that even when he had achieved fame as a professional footballer he would still play knockabout football on the street with the local boys whenever he would come home.

Continue at Bangor to Bobbio.

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