Catholic Caucus: Sunday Mass Readings, 12-10-17, Second Sunday of Advent

USCCB.org/RNAB ^ | 12-10-17 | Revised New American Bible

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Arlington Catholic Herald

Gospel commentary: Worth the wait

Fr. Matthew Zuberbueler

12/06/17

For believers, there are times when it is good to “hear voices” and times when it is good to discover roadblocks or obstacles in our way. At this time of year and, really, at all times of the year, there are such people standing quietly, even nervously in line waiting to confess their sins to a priest. The authenticity of their faith in what they are about to do is a powerful testimony to the action of God in peoples’ lives. They are in line willingly and freely and they want to go through the pride-challenging process of making a good confession, of being reconciled with God.

There were similar lines of willing and waiting believers in the days of St. John the Baptist. How blessed they were to have the humility to hear his wild, from-the-wilderness, compelling and convincing message. Other people, no doubt, quickly dismissed John as a fanatic or worse. But the people who took his message to heart were glad to do what he called them to do. They waited in long lines beside the river to receive the baptism of repentance, which he was offering to them. In those moments, waiting for their turn to be washed by the holy man, they did what we do — they called to mind their sins, admitting their need to acknowledge all that they had done to offend God and disobey His commandments.

Did John require them to say their sins out loud so that everyone could hear? Would we be willing to do that? In our day, we shudder at the idea of being known for our sins. Yet, there is a need for us to recognize the real effect our sins have on others around us and on the community at large.

Sins always bring about a distance between us and God. He does not move away from us, but we say, by our actions, that we prefer to keep a distance from Him. This distance keeps growing as we keep sinning. It is easy to understand why we might fail to hear or recognize the voice of God (oftentimes spoken through His church and her priests and deacons, if not through the fraternal correction of our brothers and sisters in faith) calling out to us in our consciences.

The distance between sinners and God highlights the beauty and goodness of each sinner willing to repent. St. John the Baptist was a master at calling sinners to sincere repentance. One by one the people approach him, the voice in the desert. They add to his prophetic words their own sincere expression of repentance. Such an exercise of devotion and truth brings them closer to the firm foundation of God’s presence in their lives. As they submit to this public ritual they arrive at a new and better place in their friendship with God. He no longer feels so distant from them. He has called them through this mysterious preacher and they have responded freely. What is next for them? The voice tells them: I have baptized you with water; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

Sincere and honest admission of and repentance for one’s sins is a great indicator that one is in a good place spiritually. The believers who responded to St. John the Baptist’s preaching most certainly experienced a new interior freedom. With this freedom they were able to ponder the promise he gave of one already among them who would offer them another baptism, one of greater power and significance. We can imagine their excitement when they began to hear about what Jesus of Nazareth was saying and doing. They must have been among the first and the best in their response to Jesus.

Freedom from our sins is a tremendous gift from God. When a person hears God’s voice from within calling him or her to admit sinful choices, that person is experiencing closeness to God. Of highest importance is the next step of accepting that these same sins form a real obstacle to His love.

Of all the lines we can wait in this Advent, the (hopefully) long and devotedly nervous line of repentant sinners is one of the best. While we wait, we can reflect on the best bargain ever — freedom from sin by means of the sacraments of baptism and (continuing with) penance. It is always obvious that the weight of His Cross, willingly embraced for us, makes our relatively short wait altogether worth it.

Fr. Zuberbueler is pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Falls Church.

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http://www.theworkofgod.org/Devotns/Euchrist/HolyMass/gospels.asp?key=152

Year B - Second Sunday of Advent

Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight - John the Baptist
Mark 1:1-8
1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way;
3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ “
4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.
8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
(NRSV)

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus
“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight”. This was the work assigned to my prophet John the Baptist.

Before he was even born, he was filled with the Holy Spirit in the womb of Elizabeth his mother, at the time of the visitation of my mother. He grew up as a holy man like no other before him, because he was given the task of preparing the way for my coming as the saviour of the world.

He was a humble man, who practiced austerity and self-denial; he offered his entire life to my service until the day he was put to death by Herod.

His preaching encompassed my entire message, which is that you all repent, because my kingdom is very near to you, he baptized with water and proclaimed my baptism with the fire of the Holy Spirit. In humility he declared his unworthiness in my presence, because he acknowledged that I was the Son of God, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

He was given the honour of baptizing me, in order for me to sanctify the waters of baptism, to allow you all to be washed of your sins and become part of my mystical body.

His mission was to call people to repentance, so that they could be worthy to meet me and obtain their salvation.

His work has been passed down to all of you who come to believe in me and to follow me. When you repent of your own sins and come humbly before me, you receive my greatest gift, the fire of the Holy Spirit; which transforms the normal man into a new Christ, a reflection of my own being. Your apostolate will be to bring me souls, so that they will be saved.

I call you all to be transformed by me. Prepare the way for the Lord by your repentance, by your humility, by your devotions and your life in imitation of me.

I will do my silent work in your soul and make you a child of God, I will sanctify you and give you my wisdom, I will grant you my peace and bless you to live joyfully for me.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary

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Archdiocese of Washington

The Fire Next Time – A Homily for the Second Sunday of Advent

Msgr. Charles Pope • December 9, 2017 •

The second reading for Sunday Mass speaks to us of “the fire next time” and reminds us of the need to be ready for the coming of the Lord. In this homily I will focus on that reading, in which St. Peter reminds us of the passing that will come for us all one day.

Because Advent is a time to prepare, through prayer and repentance, we do well to heed this sacred teaching and warning. It is echoed by St. John the Baptist, of whom the Gospel today says, A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mk 1:2-3).

Note four aspects of the second reading:

I. The PATIENCE that is PURPOSEFUL – The text says, Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Though the Lord seems long-delayed in coming (about 2000 years!), the text tells us that this delay is so that as many of us as possible can be saved.

Notice that the text says that God wants us to come to repentance. God’s patience should not be seen as an excuse for presumption, but, rather, a time for repentance. This is no time to be saying, “Later.” It is a time to be serious about repenting and about preparing to meet the Lord.

The Greek word here translated as repentance is μετάνοιαν (metanoian), and refers not just to better behavior but also to a new mind. Our transformation is not merely external, but internal as well. When what we think changes, so does our behavior. When our thinking is conformed to God’s revealed truth, our priorities, feelings, desires, and decisions all begin to change. Conversion and repentance are the result of becoming a changed and transformed human being with a new mind.

II. The PASSING that is PERILOUS – The text says, But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be found out.

In effect, the text says that God’s gonna set this world on fire one of these days. When He comes it will be

Sudden – The text says that the day of the Lord will come like a thief.

This image is quite a consistent with the one Jesus used for the Day of Judgment. However, this image should not be the future for those of us who wait and watch. St. Paul says, But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief … So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled (1 Thess 5:4,6).

Further, the image of God as a thief is not appropriate for us if we realize that all we have and all we are belongs to Him. For those who are worldly and who claim authority over themselves and their things, God is a thief who comes suddenly and in a hidden way. He overtakes their perceived ownership and possession, putting an end to it. To them, God seems to be a thief, as He “steals” what they consider theirs. They are badly misled.

For those who watch and are prepared (pray God), the Lord comes not to take but to give. He comes to bestow and reward as we inherit His Kingdom.

Shocking – The text speaks of the roaring heavens and of a fire that overwhelms; all will be dissolved by fire.

This image, though shocking, should not alarm us if we are already on fire. At Pentecost, as well as at our individual baptism and confirmation, the Lord lights a fire within us in order to set us on fire, to bring us up to the temperature of glory. For those in the Lord, the “weather” on that day will seem just fine.

The prophet Malachi speaks of the different experiences of the day of the Lord in this way: Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire, says the Lord Almighty. Not a root or a branch will be left to them. But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. Notice therefore, that for some the Day is burning with wrathful heat, but for the just, it is a sunny day wherein the sun of righteousness will bring warmth and healing (Mal 4:1-3).

An old spiritual refers to this verse saying, “God gave Noah the rainbow sign, no water but the fire next time.” God wants to get us ready by setting us on fire with His love and grace. If God is a Holy Fire, then we must become fire ourselves in order to endure the day of His coming.

Showing – The text says that all things will be revealed.

It would seem that this fire burns away the masks that many people wear, leaving them to be seen for what they really are. The Lord says, But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken (Matt 12:36). In the Gospel of Luke He says, There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs (Lk 12:2-3).

Even the just may wince at this, for all of us have a past; most would prefer that the past stay in the past. When I have visited “12-Step” meetings, I have sometimes seen people recount what they did when they were drinking. They seem to do so with little shame and much laughter, probably because they are sharing it with others who understand, who have also been set free from the source of the problem. Perhaps, for the just, the “day of disclosing” will be like that.

For those who are unrepentant, though, imagine their embarrassment and fear as their secrets, sins, and past injustices are disclosed to those who are also unforgiving and unmerciful. It’s a bad scene, really.

III. The PRESCRIPTION that is PROCLAIMED – The text says, Since everything is to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be, conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames and the elements melted by fire … Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.

The text asks us to consider what sort of persons we ought to be.

In a word, the answer is “fiery.” God has lit a fire within us to purify and refine us. Hence, on that day when the Lord will judge by fire, we will pass through. Although some final purifications (purgation) may take place, because the fire has been kindled in us and has already been fanned into a flame, we will be purified, not destroyed.

St. Paul describes the just as going through the purgatorial fire that leads to purification rather than destruction in Hell: If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames (1 Cor 3:12-15).

So the prescription for us is to let God set us afire now so as to purify us, making us more holy and devout. The fire of His Holy Spirit is the only thing that can truly prepare us; it will permit us to endure the day of His coming and be spared the “wrath to come” (cf 1 Thess 1:10; Matt 3:7; Romans 5:9; 1 Thess 5:9), when God will judge the world and everything in it by fire.

IV. The PERFECTION that is PROMISED – The text says, But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

This text presents the possibility that the created world will not so much be destroyed as purified by God’s fiery judgment. While it may also signify a total destruction of all that now exists and a replacement of it by new heavens and a new earth, some argue that it means that the created world will instead be renewed rather than destroyed and replaced. This view is supported by other passages (e.g., Isaiah 11 and Romans 8). For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God (Rom 8:20-21).

Whatever the answer to the debate, the bottom line is that the new (or renewed) world will be a Heaven wedded to earth; the full righteousness of God will be manifest. Further, we will be without spot or blemish; we will be at peace. Yes, God’s gonna set this world on fire one of these days, Hallelujah! God’s fire purifies that which is holy and burns away all else. God will restore all things in Christ!

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Video

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Sunday Gospel Reflections

2nd Sunday of Advent
Reading I: Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11 II: 2Peter 3:8-14

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Gospel
Mark 1:1-8

¹ The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
² As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way;
³ the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight--"
⁴ John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
⁵ And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
⁶ Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey.
⁷ And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
⁸ I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

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Interesting Details

• (v.1) In only one other place of Mark's Gospel does a human being proclaim that Jesus is Son of God: the centurion who put Jesus to death in 15:39. According to Mark, no one else would recognize Jesus' true identity while living with him and witnessing his powerful teaching and healing.
• (v.3) It was through the terrible wilderness that God led Israel out of the slavery in Egypt in the original Exodus; and it was also through the dreaded wilderness that God brought Israel out of Babylonian exile in the second Exodus. John's appearance as the voice in the wilderness is the sign that in the wilderness God is about to renew his covenant with Israel.
• (v.5) "... ALL the country of Judea, and ALL the people of Jerusalem ..." conveys an excitement that must have been experienced by those who heard John preach. Their conversion is described in a threefold manner: First, they "went out to him", to return to the "wilderness". Second, they undergo the ritual of baptism as the sign demonstrating their inner repentance. And third, they confess their sins.
• (v.6) The arrival of John himself had been announced: he is the messenger (Malachi 3:1) and the wilderness prophet (Is 40:3). Like the prophet Elijah, John is clothed with a leather belt and the hairy garment of a prophet. This continues the allusion to John as the God-sent messenger-Elijah who will prepare the way of Jesus and thus enhances Mark's portrayal of John as the expected Elijah figure.

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One Main Point

John calls the people of his time - and calls us, as well - to repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The main emphasis, however, is on the proclamation of Jesus as the one to come who surpasses John and whose baptism surpasses John's.

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Reflections

1. Have you ever had to wait to receive "word" about something? What emotions did you experience as you waited?
2. Were John to appear with this message today, what one place would you choose for him to declare it?

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'Imaginary or bodily visions are those which are most doubtful, and should in no wise be desired, and if they come undesired still they should be shunned as much as possible, yet not by treating them with contempt, unless it be certain that they come from an evil spirit;'

St. John of Avila

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The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:  And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.  Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.  Hail Mary . . .  And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.  Hail Mary . . .  Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.  Let us pray:  Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.  "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28)   "Blessed are you among women,  and blessed is the fruit of your womb" (Lk 1:42).

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Blessed Adolph Kolping

Fr. Don Miller, OFM

Image: Adolph Kolping | Den katolske kirke

Blessed Adolph Kolping

Saint of the Day for December 10

(December 8, 1813 – December 4, 1865)

 

Blessed Adolph Kolping’s Story

The rise of the factory system in 19th-century Germany brought many single men into cities where they faced new challenges to their faith. Father Adolph Kolping began a ministry to them, hoping that they would not be lost to the Catholic faith, as was happening to workers elsewhere in industrialized Europe.

Born in the village of Kerpen, Adolph became a shoemaker at an early age because of his family’s economic situation. Ordained in 1845, he ministered to young workers in Cologne, establishing a choir, which by 1849 had grown into the Young Workmen’s Society. A branch of this began in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1856. Nine years later there were over 400 Gesellenvereine–workman’s societies–around the world. Today this group has over 450,000 members in 54 countries across the globe.

More commonly called the Kolping Society, it emphasizes the sanctification of family life and the dignity of labor. Father Kolping worked to improve conditions for workers and greatly assisted those in need. He and St. John Bosco in Turin had similar interests in working with young men in big cities. He told his followers, “The needs of the times will teach you what to do.” Father Kolping once said, “The first thing that a person finds in life and the last to which he holds out his hand, and the most precious that he possesses, even if he does not realize it, is family life.”

Blessed Adolph Kolping and Blessed John Duns Scotus are buried in Cologne’s Minoritenkirche, originally served by the Conventual Franciscans. The Kolping Society’s international headquarters are located across from this church.

Kolping members journeyed to Rome from Europe, America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, for Father Kolping’s beatification in 1991, the 100th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s revolutionary encyclical “Rerum Novarum”–“On the Social Order”. Father Kolping’s personal witness and apostolate helped prepare for that encyclical.

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Reflection

Some people thought that Father Kolping was wasting his time and talents on young working men in industrialized cities. In some countries, the Catholic Church was seen by many workers as the ally of owners and the enemy of workers. Men like Adolph Kolping showed that was not true.

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Information: St. Gregory III

Feast Day: December 10

Died: 741

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Holy Spirit Interactive Kids: A Saint a Day

St. John Roberts

Feast Day: December 10
Born: 1575 :: Died: 1610

John was born in Wales to Anna and John Roberts. Although he was not a Catholic, he was taught by an elderly priest and at heart he was always a Catholic.

John went to Oxford University in England for a few years before going to study law. He then took a trip to France to have a good time. But his trip turned out to be more than fun.

It was in Paris, France, that another Englishman who was Catholic had great influence on him and John found great happiness in joining the Catholic Church.

John lost no time after this in taking steps to become a priest. He went to an English college in Spain and became a Benedictine monk.

Then his great dream of going back to England came true three years later when he and another monk were given permission to go. They knew the dangers they would face because Catholics were not welcome there, especially not priests.

In fact, they did not have long to wait before trouble began. They entered England wearing plumed hats and swords at their sides. But soon they were arrested for being priests and sent out of the country.

St. John Roberts managed to return to England again. He worked day and night to keep the Catholic faith alive during Queen Elizabeth's terrible persecution. Several times he was captured, put in prison, and exiled, yet he always returned.

The last time Father John was arrested, he was finishing Mass. This time there was no escape. When asked, he boldly said that he was a priest and a monk.

He explained that he had come to England to work for the salvation of the people. "Were I to live longer," he added, "I would continue to do what I have been doing." St. John was then condemned to death.

The night before he was to be hanged, a good Spanish lady arranged for him to have supper with eighteen other prisoners. They were also suffering for Christ's sake.

During their supper together, St. John was full of joy. Then he thought perhaps he should not show so much happiness. "Do you think I may be giving bad example by my joy?" he asked his hostess.

"No, certainly not," she replied. "You could not do anything better than to let everyone see the cheerful courage you have as you are about to die for Christ."

The next day, St. John was hanged. The crowds were so attracted by the personality of this young priest that they did not let the executioners make him suffer. St. John Roberts was martyred in 1610.

Today, let us pray for all of the dedicated men and women who boldly spend their lives to bring Jesus and the good news of salvation to others.

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CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Sunday, December 10

Liturgical Color: Violet

Today the Church honors St.
Miltiades, pope. Born in Africa,
he reigned from 311 to 314 A.D.
During his pontificate, the
emperor Constantine, after the
vision "in hoc signo vinces,"
issued his decree of tolerance
for the Christian Faith.

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Catholic Culture

Advent: December 10th

Second Sunday of Advent

MASS READINGS

December 10, 2017 (Readings on USCCB website)

COLLECT PRAYER

Almighty and merciful God, may no earthly undertaking hinder those who set out in haste to meet your Son, but may our learning of heaven wisdom grain us admittance to his company. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Recipes (1)

• Whole Wheat Sweet Porridge

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Activities (4)

• Advent and the Year of the Eucharist
• Christmas Wheat
• Posters for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany
• Jerusalem Christmas Decorations

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Prayers (9)

• Hungarian wheat
• Advent Prayers
• Jesse Tree Prayer Service
• Second Sunday of Advent: Prayer Devotions
• Advent Table Blessing 1
• Novena in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe
• Christmas Anticipation Prayer
• Book of Blessings: Blessing Before and After Meals: Advent (1st Plan)
• Novena to the Immaculate Conception

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Library (3)

• Jerusalem, Mother Of All Peoples | Pope John Paul II
• Jerusalem, Praise Your Saving God | Pope John Paul II
• The Question of Jerusalem | Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran

Old Calendar: Second Sunday of Advent

“As the journey of Advent continues, as we prepare to celebrate the nativity of Christ, John the Baptist's call to conversion sounds out in our communities. It is a pressing invitation to open our hearts and to welcome the Son of God Who comes among us to make divine judgement manifest. The Father, writes St. John the Evangelist, does not judge anyone, but has entrusted the power of judgement to the Son, because He is the Son of man.

“And it is today, in the present, that we decide our future destiny. It is with our concrete everyday behavior in this life that we determine our eternal fate. At the end of our days on earth, at the moment of death, we will be evaluated on the basis of our likeness or otherwise to the Baby Who is about to be born in the poor grotto of Bethlehem, because He is the measure God has given humanity.

“Through the Gospel John the Baptist continues to speak down the centuries to each generation. His hard clear words bring health to us, the men and women of this day in which even the experience and perception of Christmas often, unfortunately, reflects materialist attitudes. The 'voice' of the great prophet asks us to prepare the way for the coming Lord in the deserts of today, internal and external deserts, thirsting for the water of life which is Christ.” — Benedict XVI

Today is the feast of St. Nicholas which is superseded by the Sunday Liturgy.

Click here for commentary on the readings in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

Jesse Tree ~ Jacob

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Jerusalem
In Palestine Christians gather today in Jerusalem for the celebration of holy Mass. In Rome they proceed to the stational church "Holy Cross at Jerusalem" which serves to give the atmosphere of the Holy City.

Why "Jerusalem"? Excavations of ancient sites often reveal a number of strata. When enemies destroyed a city, a new one would rise on the same location, so that today there are several layers of remains, one city, as it were, above the other. Our Jerusalem likewise has four strata. The bottommost layer is the Jerusalem of the Jews, that venerable land where the Lord Jesus began His mission of redemption, where He suffered and died. This is the historical Jerusalem so dear to us Christians. Anyone making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land enters that ancient city with holy awe. That Jerusalem, however, lies buried deep.

For us another has been built upon it, the Jerusalem of Christians, God's kingdom on earth, the holy Church. This city still stands; it is the one which the divine King will enter at Christmas. Now we understand why we will hear so much about Jerusalem during the coming week. We should now clean and adorn our city, improving its streets and avenues through which the Savior will make His entrance. As a motto we should take the words of the precursor, St. John the Baptist: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths; let every valley be filled, every hill be leveled." Holy Mother Church's message today is that the Savior is coming to the Jerusalem of the Christians, to the Church.

Above the second stratum there arises a third, the heavenly Jerusalem at the end of time. Already now the Church sings of this Jerusalem. For during Advent we await the Savior who will appear on the Last Day to take all into "the new Jerusalem coming down from heaven."

Finally, there may be recognized a fourth Jerusalem, our souls in sanctifying grace. This city too must be adorned and prepared, for the King will want to enter. That is our present task.

On Epiphany, the climax to the current season, the Church will cry out: "Arise, shine, O Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee." That is the goal. Today we must prepare for the great King's visit to our city. The whole coming week must be devoted to it. The Church prays: "Awaken our hearts to prepare the way for Your only-begotten Son that we may serve Him with purified hearts."

In the time of the Roman Empire, rulers rode from city to city for the purpose of official visitations. Their appearance, called epiphany or parousia, was a great event, one preceded by months of preparation. Something analogous takes place in the Jerusalem of our souls. From a high watchtower we see the Lord coming afar off. Suddenly John the Baptist appears; he hurries into the city to announce the King's approach. God condescends to manifest Himself to us in grace; but He demands the proper reception.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace by Pius Parsch

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The Word Among Us

Meditation: Mark 1:1-8

2nd Sunday of Advent

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. (Mark 1:8)

The Holy Spirit—he makes all the difference. John had preached a baptism of repentance for sins, but he promised that someone “mightier” was coming—someone who would fill us with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:7). So what is that difference?

John’s baptism focused on the past, on forgiveness for sins already committed. He wanted people to put the past behind them. The Holy Spirit, however, focuses on the future. He comes to mold us and shape us, to lead us into the kingdom of heaven.

John’s baptism was for one purpose: for our pardon. But the Holy Spirit has many purposes. He reveals God’s love to us. He helps us understand Scripture. He teaches us how to live as brothers and sisters. He holds the Church together and moves us to work for the kingdom of God. And so much more.

When we are baptized into Christ, we get both blessings. Our sins are washed away, and we receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus doesn’t want us to miss out on anything! It’s all wrapped up in one gift, which we call the “seed of faith.” If we want to see these blessings unfold in our lives, we need to tend to and nurture this seed.

A simple analogy might help. The main reason most of us go on a healthy diet is to lose weight, but so much more happens when we change our eating habits. Yes, the weight drops. But our cholesterol levels also improve. Our immune system is strengthened. We feel more energetic, and we sleep better. We just wanted to lose weight, but our whole lives have been changed.

This is what happens when we care for our seed of faith. Not only do we experience God’s forgiveness, but we invite the Holy Spirit to work in every other area of our lives. We feel God’s love. We become more loving. We want to reach out to those who are hurting. We find the strength to say no to temptation. In short, we become a new creation.

“Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of the Holy Spirit! Lord, help me grow my faith.”

Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
Psalm 85:9-14
2 Peter 3:8-14

[Salvation]

A Christian Pilgrim

TO PREPARE FOR JESUS’ COMING 

(A biblical reflection on THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT [YEAR B], 10 December 2017) 

Gospel Reading: Mark 1:1-8 

First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11; Psalms: Psalm 85:9-14; Second Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-14 

The Scripture Text

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send My messenger before thy face, who prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes He who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:1-8 RSV)

In 2 Kings, we find Elijah, one of the most important figures in the Old Testament, clothed in the traditional garb of a prophet, a garment of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. Because 2 Kings 9 tells us that God took Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, some of the Jewish people believed God was saving Elijah for a special mission and that one day God would send him back to the earth to prepare the way for the Messiah.

The author of Mark’s Gospel begins today’s reading by quoting a passage from the prophet Isaiah that the Jews often understood as referring to Elijah’s return and he also informs us that John the Baptist dressed the same way Elijah dressed. In this subtle way, the author tells us that John the Baptist fulfilled the role of Elijah. He was the one God sent to prepare the way for Jesus, the Messiah.

In the first sentence of the first chapter of Mark, the author calls his work a Gospel about Jesus, who is both the Christ and the Son of God. The word “gospel” means “good news”, and Mark is the only one of the four evangelists to refer to his writing in this way.

The word “Christ” means “Anointed One”, a title the Jews used for the Messiah. This reference to Jesus’ being both the Christ and the Son of God indicates the Gospel is not an unbiased account of the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth. It is clear that Mark is a person of faith who wants to share that faith with others. This type of writing is called “salvation history”, a term biblical scholars use to describe an account of how God is working in the world.

Finally, some Jewish people went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. For many Jews, baptism was a sign of sorrow for one’s sins and an indication the person would try harder not to offend God. It was not a requirement for being a member of the Jewish faith.

Source: Jerome J. Sabatowich, Cycling Through the Gospels – Gospel Commentaries for Cycles A, B, and C, pages 122-123.)

Short Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for sending John the Baptist to prepare the way for the Messiah, Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who came to the world for our eternal salvation. Amen.

[Salvation]

Marriage = One Man and One Woman Until Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for December 10, 2017:

“John [the] Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Mk 1:4) The sacraments are essential to the Christian life. Encourage your spouse to go to confession regularly. Participation in this sacrament will strengthen not only your relationship with God but your relationship with your spouse.

[Salvation]

When Life is a Journey Through the Desert

Pastor’s Column

2^nd Sunday of Advent

December 10, 2017

  

“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!”

Luke 3:5-6

The first and third readings today almost sound like a big construction project, and in a way, they are: valleys being filled in, mountains leveled, roads straightened, rough roads paved. What in the world is being described here? These readings sound either irrelevant or hopelessly idyllic, but wait a moment.... These are all METAPHORS. The speaker is John the Baptist calling out from the desert. Let’s explore these spiritual places of the heart.

The desert: a place of testing, a place of trial and deprivation, of hunger and stark beauty, life and death. God often speaks in the desert places of our lives, when we have been purified by suffering or have experienced a loss or a hunger for God.

Valleys and mountains: Highs and lows. On the mountain we see clearly; we are exhilarated; we have achieved something; our path seems clear; the road ahead joyous. A mountain also indicates that the road to the top may be arduous and steep, difficult to climb and full of dangers and difficulties.

A valley: During such times as these we are often sliding downhill or seem to be. The view is limited; the way gets darker; the path is unknown; we may be in sin or depression or suffering.... The valley often means suffering in scripture. Yes, we have been here too.

The winding road: What does this represent? Many switchbacks, goals that must be altered, the way seems unsure; we seem to be making little progress, we may be getting discouraged, we must travel slower than we wanted, life has brought us confusion. We may not know where we are going or if we are even on the right road at all, yet we keep going.

The rough road. It speaks for itself! Our life is anything but smooth; it seems we are coming apart.

God’s light will cut through all of this.... All of these things are only a part of the journey. It is precisely in these kinds of difficulties: arduous climbs, depressing descents, confusing switchbacks in our progress, rough patches...... Desert Experiences.....that we find that God is most active. Our journey of life is not meant to be a freeway, so much as a hike; not easy, but challenging. We have the Holy Spirit as our guide and the Church, through whom he speaks, to lead us until we reach our home. Such is our Advent and our life’s journey.   

                                                                                                Father Gary  

[Salvation]

Reflections from Scott Hahn

Straighten the Path: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Second Sunday of Advent

Download Audio File

Readings:
Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
Psalm 85:9-14
2 Peter 3:8-14
Mark 1:1-8

Our God is coming. The time of exile – the long separation of humankind from God due to sin – is about to end. This is the good news proclaimed in today’s liturgy.

Isaiah in today’s First Reading promises Israel’s future release and return from captivity and exile. But as today’s Gospel shows, Israel’s historic deliverance was meant to herald an even greater saving act by God – the coming of Jesus to set Israel and all nations free from bondage to sin, to gather them up and carry them back to God.

God sent an angel before Israel to lead them in their exodus towards the promised land (see Exodus 23:20). And He promised to send a messenger of the covenant, Elijah, to purify the people and turn their hearts to the Father before the day of the Lord (see Malachi 3:1, 23-24).

John the Baptist quotes these, as well as Isaiah’s prophecy, to show that all of Israel’s history looks forward to the revelation of Jesus. In Jesus, God has filled in the valley that divided sinful humanity from himself. He has reached down from heaven and made His glory to dwell on earth, as we sing in today’s Psalm.

He has done all this, not for humanity in the abstract, but for each of us. The long history of salvation has led us to this Eucharist, in which our God again comes and our salvation is near. And each of us must hear in today’s readings a personal call. Here is your God, Isaiah says. He has been patient with you, Peter says in today’s Epistle.

Like Jerusalem’s inhabitants in the Gospel, we have to go out to Him, repenting our sins, all the laziness and self-indulgence that make our lives a spiritual wasteland. We have to straighten out our lives, so that everything we do leads us to Him.

Today, let us hear the beginning of the gospel and again commit ourselves to lives of holiness and devotion.

[Salvation]

 (Leonardo da Vinci

John the Baptist)

"Prepare the Way of the Lord, make straight his paths!"

The Word: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/121017.cfm

Mark 1: 1-8

I have wondered now and then that if the internet, websites or blogs were available to Jesus, John the Baptist, the Gospel Evangelists and St. Paul, would they have used them? Surely, St. Paul at least would have found the internet useful for communication between the ancient Christian communities.  His famed Epistles would have been spread far and wide in an instant.  Jesus’ preaching could have been read over and over again by crowds in distant regions.  The Gospel writers could have told the powerful life changing events of Jesus’ ministry, his death and resurrection and offered a blog for their personal reflections.  Indeed the Good News of the Gospel would have developed in a far different manner than it did.

Yet, this Sunday we see a far more primitive, by today’s standards, and basic method of communication: “John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”  The baptizer, a strange and unsettling figure in some ways, stands along the shore of a well-known river and apparently engaged the hungry crowds through his charismatic preaching and his cleansing baptism in the Jordan River. No books, no newspapers, no internet, websites or blog -  just a voice of conviction and his charismatic persona.

Yet the force and presence of this “voice” in the desert has become the quintessential call passed on from generation to generation as we “Prepare the way of the Lord.”  The fiery cry of John, like a television or radio announcer about to present a significant person of great notoriety, prepares anyone who would listen for Jesus formal coming.  As he (Jesus) is about to appear, we must be prepared and ready.  How?  Conversion and repentance of personal sin and the water of baptism is a rich sign of that repentance.

However, this figure John points to is no rock star, movie personality, or influential political figure, here today and gone tomorrow. This is the humble servant of God, the Lord who now enters our lives in human history and pushes forward the spirit of the ancient prophets and specifically of John himself.  He, John reminds us, “will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” He fulfills all that the prophets and Jewish people hoped for.  John sets the stage and raises the bar of expectation that something, someone in fact, will profoundly move history in a new direction.  John’s voice, then, is to be heard over and over again since the call to conversion is a daily invitation we all have.

We know there is something innate in the human spirit that longs for someone more powerful than us.  Those who study the power of an addiction, for example, may feel the pull of the addiction is more powerful than them.  It could be alcohol, smoking, drugs, gambling, or even technology. It could be something less but some repetitive behavior that I feel impossible to live without and that which consumes my time in an unhealthy way.  In its darkest most destructive form an addiction can destroy not only the person who is the addict but his/her family as well.

That power over us can only be overcome through hard work and in its purest form through faith as well.

We also long for community.  We are social creatures; made for one another and God intends us to live in relationship not isolation.  True loneliness is a feeling of isolation and pain.

John’s voice promises all a way to follow that will free us from isolation and powers which can destroy rather than build up.  As Isaiah speaks in our first reading this Sunday: “Comfort, give comfort to my people . . . every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low . . .then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.”  Jesus’ coming among us provides the WAY to freedom and peace.  In his coming the isolated are brought to community and the powers that destroy our freedom are broken though an embrace of his role and his way in our life.

Both Isaiah and John provide these images of great geographical changes which are symbolic of these forces and powers over us.  This person of whom John speaks is the One who will free us and, as Isaiah writes: “Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.”

These words of Isaiah brought solace to a people enslaved in a foreign land; a people exiled to Babylon who feared God had abandoned them.  For us, they may symbolize enslavement in the form of moral confusion and a life weighed down by bad choices or the unexpected surprises we all deal with at time to time.

So we are ready to welcome a God who is mighty and strong yet at the same time gentle and comforting.  In this end, this God will visit us not with force and fear but with mercy, gentleness and love.  Yet, we must prepare and we must accept whatever process we need to turn our lives around and to welcome him at his coming.

Come Lord and set us free!

That, when he comes in glory and majesty

and all is at last made manifest,

we who watch for that day

may inherit the great promise

in which now we dare to hope . . .

(Preface 1 for Advent)

[Salvation]

It’s All Grace: The Meaning of the Immaculate Conception

Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D.

The Beatitudes rank high on the list of all-time favorite Bible passages. But what is “beatitude,” anyway? In the bible, a “blessed” person is someone who has received gifts of the greatest value, gifts that lead to true fulfillment and lasting happiness.

If I were to ask you to name the first beatitude, you’d probably say “blessed be the poor in Spirit.” According to St. Matthew’s gospel you’d be right, but not according to Luke. At the very beginning of his gospel, Luke reveals that the very first beatitude is uttered by a woman filled with the Spirit, speaking of another woman overshadowed by the Spirit. Elizabeth says, “Blessed is she who has believed.” (Luke 1: 45).

Is Marian devotion important in Christian life? This has been a bone of contention between Catholics and Protestants for nearly 500 years.

Let’s look at the evidence in just the first chapter of Luke. First, the Angel Gabriel honors her with the greeting “Hail, full of grace” (Luke 1:29). Then Elizabeth prophesies “blessed are you among women.” Next the prophet John leaps for joy in his mother’s womb at the sound of Mary’s voice. Then, in her response to Elizabeth, Mary prophesies “all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48).

But it is Elizabeth’s final words to Mary that provide the key to understanding why Mary is to honored, namely, her faith.

One of the battle-cries of the Protestant Reformation was “Faith Alone!” One key conviction that united the many disparate strands of the Reformation was that it is impossible to earn God’s favor by our good works . . . that we rather we receive his love as a pure gift, a grace, through faith.

Now consider Mary. Did she crisscross the Mediterranean planting Churches like Paul? Did she give eloquent sermons like Stephen (Acts 7)? Did she govern the Church like Peter? No. Her claim to fame is that she simply said yes to God. She believed He could do as he said and would do as He said.

But true faith is not just intellectual conviction that God exists or that He can do thus and such. Faith involves entrusting oneself, abandoning oneself to God, willing to submit to his will. That’s why Paul talks about “the obedience of faith” (Romans 16:26). Mary surrendered her plan for her life, and yielded to God’s plan. And she did this not once, but again and again, even when he left her behind to begin his public ministry. And when that ministry led to the horror of Calvary, Mary’s faith stood its ground at the foot of the cross.

So Catholics honor Mary for being the perfect example of the greatest Protestant virtue. Ironic isn’t it? And the deepest meaning of that disputed doctrine, the Immaculate Conception, is that it was the grace of God working mysteriously from the moment of her conception that made possible Mary’s exemplary life of faith. Even her faith is a gift of His grace. It’s all grace, according to Catholic doctrine.

Mary, of course, knew this. That’s why she responded to Elizabeth’s praise with the humble, exuberant prayer known as the Magnificat: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” She is like the crystal-clear pool that reflects the sun’s rays back to the heavens. So no one needs to fear that honor given her will detract from the majesty of her divine Son. She deflects all the praise given her right back to God, the source of her greatness.

So the answer is that Marian devotion is necessary in Christian life. But what is true devotion to Mary according to the fathers of the Second Vatican Council? Not sentimental piety or gullible preoccupation with every rumored apparition, but rather, imitation of her virtues, particularly her faith (Lumen Gentium 67).

[Salvation]

Scripture Speaks: Prepare Your Hearts

Gayle Somers

In Advent, if we ask how we can prepare for the coming of Jesus in this new liturgical year, today’s readings are loaded with answers.

Gospel (Read Mk 1:1-8)

At the beginning of St. Mark’s Gospel, he announces that Isaiah’s centuries-old prophecy of one who will prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah (spliced together here with Ex. 23:20 and Mal 3:1) has finally been fulfilled. John the Baptist was the “messenger” God sent to prepare His people for this great event. Why would the Messiah need someone to “prepare the way of the LORD”? Why couldn’t He just come and get the work of salvation under way? St. Mark tells us that “John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” His somewhat eccentric mission (clothed in camel’s hair and eating locusts) was meant to get the people of Judah thinking about their relationships with God and, in particular, their sins. Why would this be important preparation for the coming of Jesus? If the people had become dulled and indifferent to their sins, if they were smug in the self-righteousness of religious observance, would they ever understand the need of a Messiah who would deliver them from their sin, not from Rome? Without a heartfelt comprehension of how needy and helpless they were to obey God’s commandments, John the Baptist’s description of Jesus as “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29) would fall on deaf ears.

Many people responded to the Baptist’s message. “People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him.” Apparently, his preaching hit a nerve. There was true contrition “as they acknowledged their sins” and were baptized in the Jordan. John knew that he could not remove the sins of the people. His baptism represented a sinner’s repentance—a recognition that he had not loved God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength, nor his neighbor as himself. John’s baptism was simply a preparation for the next thing that had to happen. In addition to repentance, the sinner had to undergo re-birth, too. It is one thing to be sorry for our sins and desire to put them away; it is another to have the sins forgivenand to get a new heart for God. Someone Else would have to do that.

John told the people about this Someone Else: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I have baptized you with water; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Once people had gotten as far as repenting of their sins and desiring something better in their lives with God, they would be eager for the baptism with the Holy Spirit. They would be ready for Jesus. John’s work of preparation would be done.

The Gospel’s emphasis on repentance as proper preparation for the arrival of Jesus helps us understand why purple is the liturgical color of Advent. This is a penitential season, as is Lent. It is a fresh opportunity to think about our sins and our great need of a Savior from them. If we don’t spend any time in self-examination in Advent, we are not letting it do its full work in us.

Happily, our other readings will give us the help we might need to avoid missing the meaning of Advent.

Possible response: Lord Jesus, please help me to examine myself during this season of Advent; I want to prepare for You.

First Reading (Read Is 40:1-5, 9-11)

Here is Isaiah’s prophecy of a “voice [that] cries out: “In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!” The first few verses help us understand that God punished Judah for repeated covenant infidelity by sending the people into Exile. That punishment was to come to an end (“she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins”). The prophet looked ahead to a time of comfort, which would include God’s own coming: “Here comes with power the LORD God.” His appearing would be “like a shepherd” who feeds His flock and cares tenderly for them.

So, how did Isaiah describe the preparation for this revelation of the glory of God? “Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!” If we think about this exhortation as a landscaping metaphor for our own soul work in Advent, we might look for where there are valleys in us, a kind of deficiency or dip or sinking in the virtues of our lives. Those valleys must be filled in. What about the mountains or hills, the obstacles of pride or self-righteousness that puff us up? Those need to be flattened. What about the stumbling stones of temptation that trip us up and hinder our way? They need to be removed, leaving a “plain” that is easy to navigate.

If we let Isaiah help us to prepare the way of the LORD in Advent, we will be ready, when our Lord appears, to be gathered into His arms and carried in His bosom.

Possible Response: Lord Jesus, I do want to make the rough places in me plain, an open walk for You into my life. Please show me those rough places.

Psalm (Read Ps 85:9-14)

The psalm describes for us what it is like for God to be with His people, “glory dwelling in our land.” Because God is goodness itself, His presence will mean that “kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss.” If these are some of the characteristics of God’s presence among men, fulfilled in the Incarnation of Jesus, what sort of preparation is necessary for us to live that way? Even if we simply use the four words mentioned in this reading—kindness, truth, justice, peace—to examine ourselves, to see if they are alive in us, we will certainly not miss the meaning of Advent this year!

When we think through our lives this way, being willing to act on what we find, we will be ready to say with the psalmist: “LORD, let us see Your kindness and grant us Your salvation.”

Possible response: The psalm is, itself, a response to our other readings. Read it again prayerfully to make it your own.

Second Reading (Read 2 Pet 3:8-14)

St. Peter gives us wonderful advice about how to observe our season of waiting. We have been waiting a long time for the Second Coming of Jesus, much longer than the people of St. Peter’s day. Yet he had to encourage them not to be impatient. He assured them that any “delay” had only one purpose—more repentance and more conversions! Jesus is simply giving people more time to be ready when He appears. However, He will appear one day, so it is wise to give thought to “what sort of persons ought [we] to be while waiting for and hastening the coming day of God.” St. Peter suggests we should be people of “holiness and devotion…eager to be found without spot or blemish before Him, at peace.” Here again we see emphasis on preparation by self-examination and a commitment to live the life Jesus has won for us.

As we can see, Advent is to be a busy time for Catholics, but not in the way our culture is busy at this time of year. Our preparation for Christmas is entirely inward. When it is thorough, then we will be ready on Christmas Eve to “cry out,” as Isaiah says, “at the top of [our] voice…and say…Here is [our] God!”

Possible response: Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me another year in which to be ready for You. Help me resolve to aim for holiness and to be patient in waiting.