THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
8 DECEMBER, 2024

In his days shall justice flourish, and great peace forever.

FIRST READING: BARUCH 5:1-9

Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever: wrapped in the cloak of justice from God, bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name. For God will show all the earth your splendor: you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship. Up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights; look to the east and see your children gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that they are remembered by God.

Led away on foot by their enemies they left you: but God will bring them back to you borne aloft in glory as on royal thrones. For God has commanded that every lofty mountain be made low, and that the age-old depths and gorges be filled to level ground, that Israel may advance secure in the glory of God. The forests and every fragrant kind of tree have overshadowed Israel at God’s command; for God is leading Israel in joy by the light of his glory, with his mercy and justice for company.

SECOND READING: Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11

Brothers and sisters: I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

GOSPEL READING: LUKE 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the desert:“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD!

St. John the Baptist is a prominent figure who appears often during the Season of Advent with his powerful message. Today’s Gospel introduces him preaching from the wilderness of Judea, living on lucusts and wild honey and wearing a garment of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. This shows that he is a man with a mission, living a life of austerity and simplicity. But his message is stern and straight, piercing ears and hearts, exhorting people to. “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” His message is particularly directed to the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to him for baptism.

There is much to be changed, and there is an urgency in the situation because the One who is going to baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire is coming soon. The Baptist’s messege is as relevant for us today as it was before the coming of the Messiah. Conversion is an ongoing process. There is need to repent and return to the ways of the Lord daily so that the Kingdom of God can take root and grow in us.

“It is a beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus open the doors of hope.” —Pope Benedict XVI

Advent comes from the Latin Ad-ventus which means COMING. So it’s a season of Waiting, Hoping, Expecting and Preparing for the COMING of our Messiah. May the Lord enlighten our life with His light of Peace. May He bless our heart, life, relationship, marriage and family with PEACE.

The second Sunday of Advent gives us the opportunity to prepare our hearts in faithful waiting, celebrate the birth of Jesus, and ready ourselves for his second coming. It’s a beautiful chance to reflect on the ways prophecy has been fulfilled and to ponder what the future (promised to us through prophecies) will bring.

After a chaotic year, there is comfort to be found when we pause to read, pray, and reflect over the course of the Advent season…a time when believers eagerly anticipate the celebration of Christ’s birth.

We pause to remember who God is and what He has done for us. When our lives are hurried, we only have the chance to focus on our to-do lists. Making space in our schedules for prayer and meditation helps us to better see God at work in our lives and in our world.

(Excerpts : crosswalk.com)

A PRAYER FOR PEACE

Father, prepare our hearts to celebrate your birth joyfully! We thank you for faithfully doing what you promised long ago when you sent your Son to earth so that we might have the chance to become part of your family. Let the promise of your second coming inspire us to live with hope and purpose, promoting peace in the world.

As we wait for your plan to unfold, give us the patience we need. Remind us of the peace we can access when we take time to still ourselves before you and remember that you are God. We thank you that you are both sovereign and gracious. We await the Messiah, who is the Prince of Peace. Amen