Second Sunday of Advent
By Rev. Joe McCloskey, S.J.
See, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep. Isaiah 40:10-11
But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him. 2 Peter 3:13-15a
As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Mark 1:2-4
Study
The Sacrament of the Present Moment has to do with the fact that one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day when you are with the Lord. The now of our lives always touches the eternal Now of the Lord. The definition of heaven as the “Eternal Now” by St. Thomas Aquinas reveals the importance of the now of our lives. How to live each moment waiting for the coming of the Lord is helped when we think of how brief life on earth is before the wonders of eternal life.
What am I willing to do to be happy forever? What question does the thought of the Second Coming of the Lord bring for you?
John the Baptist says of himself: “I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.” His humility and ours clash. Advent is a time of expectancy and getting ready. But what can I do? The Lord gives us his life in Baptism. The least born to the kingdom of heaven by Baptism is greater than John. We have Christ’s life within us. How we live the fullness of that life is fed by the Eucharist when he comes to us again and again with his life and love to be our food for eternal life. We all have the responsibility to prepare the way of the Lord. We all can make straight his paths.
Action
Like a shepherd Christ feeds his flock; He gathers us in his arms. He calls us to prepare his way. Our good works during Advent can make a highway for our God. The image of the valley being filled in so that the road of the Lord can be followed with ease delights my soul. The good works during Advent in a time of such great need by so many people can be preparing meal, buying presents of what is needed for the poor. The giving trees of many parishes will need more donors than usual with so many unemployed at this time. Making work for others so that they can earn something for their children is the best of all the gifts we could give. The Apostle Peter encourages us to be without blemish before God.
Let us call on the mercy of God for ourselves and offer the mercy of God to those who need us. We are nothing without the Lord. He needs our arms and our feet to bring his gifts to those who need us. As we prepare for the birth of Christ let us make a special effort to be born again in the simplicity of
No comments:
Post a Comment