Second Sunday of Advent

Year of Saint Joseph

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

In other years: Saint John Almond (c,1565-1612; Saint Birinus (7th century); Saint Hedda (-7050; Blessed Bartholomew Fanit (c.1428-1495)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 53:16-23 The Reception of Guests

Mass: Baruch 5:1-9; Resp Ps 126; Ph 1:4-6, 8-11; Lk 3:1-6

The Lord has done great things for us.

HEART OF JESUS, THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Welcome to the Second Week of Advent, this holy "period of devout and expectant delight". Last Sunday we were talking about removing things that burden us, things that make us drowsy. We are meant during this time to stand tall and be alert so that we are clear in mind and heart to remember the birth of Jesus, and to look forward to His Second Coming. How did your week go? No matter, we can always begin again as we hear from John the Baptist in today's Gospel. He is the voice crying out in the desert: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths." (Lk 3:4). So why not listen to Servant of God Catherine de Hueck Doherty: "Let every day be the day of beginning again, of loving Christ a little more, of hungering for him a little more, of turning our face to him. To accomplish this, all we need to do is to look at the person next to us. We must never forget that we shall be judged on love alone. And that there is only one way to love God and "prove it" to him: by loving our "neighbor," the person next to us at any given moment." Catherine's words are fitting too for Saint Benedict's Chapter 53 on the Reception of Guests. Our holy father Benedict begins in this way: "All guests themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for he himself will say: I was a stranger and you welcomed me (Mt 25:35). Proper honor must be shown to all, especially to those who share our faith, and to pilgrims" (RB 53:1-2). We don't have to wait for guests either, or look outside our homes, communities, places of work, or even very far, for the guest is the person next to us at any given moment. 

SAINT JOHN ALMOND,

SAINT BIRINIUS,

SAINT HEDDA,

BLESSED BARTHOLOMEW FANIT,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Our Advent Wreath, lit for the Second Week of this holy season.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

First Sunday of Advent 2017

Readings of the day: RB 52

Mass: Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7; Resp. Psalm 80; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Welcome to the new liturgical year 2017/2018.

May God be praised!

Now that we are in the midst of Advent [began with First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) last night and ends before First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of Christmas], let us remind ourselves of what our Church teaches us about this holy season.  In the Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year, 39, we learn of the ‘twofold character’ of the season. Advent ‘is a time of preparation for the Solemnities of Christmas, in which the First Coming of the Son of God to humanity is remembered’. In the same way, Advent is ‘a time when, by remembrance of this, minds and hearts are led to look forward to Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time. For these two reasons, Advent is a period of devout and expectant delight.’

Looking to this teaching and today’s readings, I reflect on how I will open my mind and heart to make Advent a period of devout and expectant delight.

I have asked myself a few questions that helped me list three practical and specific ways I will enlarge my mind and heart during this season. Others may them find helpful for personal, communal, and/or family discussion: how have my senses become dulled so that I don’t notice the ever-present Christ in the beauty and wonder of those with whom I live or work? How have I wandered from your ways, O Lord, and hardened my heart with anger, jealousy, or resentment? How can I better witness to the joy and delight of God’s love and mercy that envelop me? Do I stop to see and hear the glory of creation, the work of God’s hands? Indeed, ‘no ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you doing such deeds for those who wait for him’!

Almighty God,

help us to be watchful and alert for your presence now,

and look forward with delight to when You come again.

‘WHAT I SAY TO, I SAY TO ALL: “WATCH!”’

Lord, make us turn to you;

let us see your face and we shall be saved.

(Resp. Psalm 80)