Cycle A - Year II:  

8 December 2019: Second Sunday of Advent 

(Liturgical Color: Violet)

Readings:

First Reading:        Isaiah 11:1-10

Second Reading:   Romans 15:4-9

Gospel:  Please Read  Matthew 3:1-12

"Prepare the way of the Lord....!"

On the second Sunday of our Advent journey we meet a "man of mission" in the person of John the Baptist.  His whole life was fueled by on burning passion, which is to point others to Jesus Christ and the coming of His kingdom.

Let us know more about John the Baptist in order to understand the significance of his message for our lives today.

Scriptures tell us that John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb by Christ Himself.  We learn about this in the Visitation, when Mary who was already pregnant with Jesus visited her cousin Elizabeth, and John leaped in her womb as they were filled by the Holy Spirit. (Lk 1:41)

 John the Baptist was the last of the prophets who was sent by God with a special mission, which is to prepare the way of the Savior.  His appearance completed the cycle of prophets began by Elijah. (Mt 11:13-14)  John makes the way ready for the coming of the Messiah, God's anointed Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.  John announced the coming of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  Thus, the role of John the Baptist in our salvation history was very important because it was he who opened the way for Christ to start His public ministry.

In this Sunday's Gospel, Matthew wrote thus: "John the Baptist appeared preaching in the desert of Judea saying 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!' " (Mt 3:1-2)  His is the voice in the wilderness calling all to prepare the way of the Lord by baptizing his followers in the river Jordan as they acknowledged their sins.  John gives testimony to the light and truth of Jesus Christ, "...the one who is coming after me is higher than I.  I am not worthy to carry his sandals.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." (Mt 3:11)   

In our time, we, too, are called today to give testimony to the light and truth of Jesus Christ, much like what John the Baptist did.  That is why we need to prepare ourselves for His coming through conversion and repentance of our sins, so that we can point others to Christ in the way we live, work and speak.

 Now repentance is like a door that opens to allow God's visit to our soul.  While God's throne is in the highest heaven surrounded by majesty, glory and splendor, yet God's dwelling place on earth is found in a humble and contrite heart that repents sincerely.  And conversion is a continuous process, which starts with a decision to come into a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord.

 And so the Church teaches that everyone who is baptized is also a "man of mission", and our mission is to proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of heaven through our faith, good examples and words.  Our mission is to prepare the way for Christ's coming on His birthday on Christmas day, His coming in our lives through the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, and His final coming at the end of times.

So let us pray:  Lord, let Your light burn brightly in my heart that I may know the joy and freedom of Your kingdom.  Fill me up with the Holy Spirit and empower me to witness the truth of Your Gospel so that by words and examples I can point others to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior in my home, workplace and wherever I may be.  Amen.

A blessed Sunday to us all.  And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!