The Gospel of Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 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. 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. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 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. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Let us Pray: Father, in the wilderness of the Jordan you sent a messenger to prepare people’s hearts for the coming of your Son. Help us to hear his words and repent of our sins, so that we may clearly see the way to walk, the truth to speak, and the life to live for Him, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Today we light the candle of HOPE. Now we light the candle for the second Sunday in Advent. This is the candle of PEACE. As we prepare for the coming of Jesus, we remember that Jesus is our hope and our peace. From Isaiah “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6-7
From the Gospel of John “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” John 14:27
Let us pray: Gracious God, Grant that we may find peace as we prepare for our Lord’s birth. May divisions in ourselves and our families be peacefully resolved. May there be peace in our cities and the countries of our world. Please help us to see the paths of peace in our lives and then give us the courage to follow them. Lord, let us remember that you only are the giver of lasting peace and that you are always with us. Amen.
The Gospel tells us that it’s in the desert where the messenger and message are to be found. And there in the desert the voice is “crying out”—trying to get our attention. Unfortunately, many of us are in the desert, but we don’t hear the message because we are not listening. Deserts don’t come in any “one-size-fits-all.” Some desert visits last a long time; others may be very intense and mercifully brief. Some are inner spiritual isolations when faith seems to offer no solace. Others are outer struggles when life’s sureties collapse, and the old supports fail us. But, as difficult as desert periods are, the scriptures today suggest they may also be the place we meet the messenger from God, with a message we need to hear. Somehow and somewhere, Isaiah says, God will come to us and lead us through our current deserts. As difficult as the desert is for us, the prophet promises that there the “glory of the Lord shall be revealed.” Where we are most vulnerable, there God’s power will be felt. God will not provide a quick escape hatch, or instant relief, but the tender God the prophet describes is concerned about exiles and refugees who see a long desert journey ahead of them.
John the Baptist’s voice announces that now the time is at hand when God will fulfill the ancient promises to Israel. Those who heed his voice are to repent, turn from their self-delusions and thoughts that they can make it on their own. John says that God has noticed their plight and that One is coming who will be powerful, where they are weak. This One will pour God’s Spirit into them, to revive their own drooping, discouraged and road-weary spirits. A new road is being cut thought the desert and it is Jesus who will walk with us along it; help us deal with hills and valleys that would make it impossible for us to travel them on our own.
This Advent Season, our task is for inclusion, prayer, and preparing the coming of the Mighty Savior through charity and abstinence from world pleasure. To know that God is great and powerful, we have to be innocent and vulnerable. To live without greatness and power is to live an innocent life; we should be powerless and humble. We have to be in God, with God, and of God. If you have turned your back on God, don’t ever think he has turned his back on you. Quite the contrary. He’s got the porch light on and dinner on the table, waiting for you to come home.
Let us Pray: Let us pray: Holy God, we ask you to help us make time for true preparations this Advent. In the midst of the rush of life, help us to find inner quietness and an awareness of your presence. Let this Christmas be a time when we focus more on others and their needs and utilize the spiritual gifts you give so unselfishly. This we pray in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Reflections by Bob 