Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming, so that, gathered at his right hand, they may be worthy to possess the heavenly kingdom. First Sunday of Advent Year B, 3 December 2023.

What makes the Church focus on the second coming of the Lord is the keen sense – arising out of the condition of our world – that the longed-for messianic salvation is far from complete.