Nicholas was born in the city of Patara, a port on the Mediterranean Sea, in Asia Minor in the Roman Empire, to a wealthy family of Greek Christians.

Nicholas is also said to have visited the Holy Land. The ship he was on was nearly destroyed by a terrible storm but he rebuked the waves, causing the storm to subside. Thus, Nicholas became venerated as the patron saint of sailors and travelers.

He is said to have been imprisoned and tortured during the Great Persecution under the Emperor Diocletian, was released under the orders of the Emperor Constantine the Great.

In 325, Nicholas is said to have attended the First Council of Nicaea, where he is said to have been a staunch opponent of Arianism and a devoted supporter of Trinitarianism, and one of the bishops who signed the Nicene Creed.

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊  

Isaiah 25:6-10a

On this mountain

 Jesus has talked about the destruction of the temple and of the city of Jerusalem.

He has discussed persecution, terrible signs, and signs of his own coming.

Just as new leaves on a deciduous tree are a sign that summer is near,

so when you see these last signs taking place (21:25-28), you know that the kingdom of God is at hand.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊  

Daniel 7:2-14

Daniel said,

Jesus in the Gospel invites all to become like him, “the little one.”

Only those who become childlike can know the will of the Father.

It takes a level of faith and trust to be open to seeing the world with these eyes.

They are at an age where they are entirely dependent upon their parents and tutors. 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊  

Isaiah 11:1-10

From the stump of Jesse

Andrew was one of the four disciples who came to Jesus on the Mount of Olives

to ask about the signs of Jesus' return at the "end of the age".

The iconography of the martyrdom of Andrew — showing him bound to an X-shaped cross —

Ｎow commonly known as a "Saint Andrew's Cross"

— supposedly at his own request, as he deemed himself unworthy to be crucified

on the same type of cross as Jesus had been.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊  

 Romans 10:9-18

You are saved,

Jesus has preferential option for the house of Israel,

An army captain of the Roman empire begs His to heal his servant.

His deep faith amazes Jesus.

His openness to address the needs even of those considered as pagans by His own people.

He does not withhold His help to people of other nationalities and faith. 

St. John of Damascus, priest

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊  

Isaiah 2:1-5

The vision of Isaiah,

 There are possible persecutions every day. These persecutions may come from enemies from different sides:

 From our faith opponents, from political figures, and even from our own families.

 And they may be few or everyone.

 The exhortation that Jesus gives is for us to be strong and to hold on to God no matter what:

 “By your patient endurance you will save your souls.” 

For God’s promise never fails.

 1st Reading: Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28* (...) 

Under the influence of wine,

Advent begins today.

Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.

O Lord, help to recognise you

Those who "wait" for the Lord will not be disappointed.

He will surely come with his grace and saving help.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7

For you are our Father,

The Temple of Jerusalem during Jesus’ time, It is the second temple after the first one built

by Solomon was destroyed in 586 BC by Nebuchadnezzar,

the King of Babylon, when he conquered Jerusalem.Yet Jesus correctly foretold its destruction.

In the gospel, the disciples see the external adornment, but fail to see the spiritual bankruptcy behind the façade

– the hypocrisy – the oppression the rejection of the Messiah

and the Gospel and the impending death of God’s Son at the hands of the religious authorities.

The Temple was built to honour God and as a place of prayer but there were those who didn't see beyond its surface.

Dn 3:57, 58, 59, 60, 61 Give glory and eternal praise to him.

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊  

Daniel 2:31-45*

In your vision you saw

Do not suffer yourselves to be drawn into the fashions of the world;

the pleasures we seek blurs the importance of God in our lives,

and so these calamities shall come upon you when you least expect them.”

There is need of cautioning the disciples of Jesus now that they do not indulge in the festivities of this life,

and “forget” that they are to die and come to judgment.

 Blessed Virgin Mary

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊  

Daniel 7:15-27

I, Daniel, was deeply troubled,

The widow gives everything she has to live off of that day.

Contrast this with the others who simply give out of their surplus.

We should not measure the gifts we give by size or amount, but by the sacrifice they entail.

Jesus is teaching us everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded;

and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48)

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊  

Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20*

(...) As Daniel was resolved