Cycle B - Year II

10 December 2023: Second Sunday of Advent 

(Liturgical color: Violet)

Readings:

First Reading:        Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11

Second Reading:   2 Peter 3:8-14

Gospel:  Please read  Mark  1:1-8 

Are we ready for the Lord?

The liturgy continues to exhort us to prepare and get ready for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ on Christmas Day.  Our evangelist is St. Mark, and his Gospel starts with John the Baptist signaling the beginning of Jesus' public Ministry. 

St. Mark wrote: "John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins." (Mk 1:4-5)   

Who is John the Baptist and what is the significant of his message?  John the Baptist was the last of the prophets sent by God with a special mission to prepare the way for the Savior. He was to make the way ready for the coming of the Messiah, God's anointed Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. It was John who 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.

To his listeners, John proclaims: "One higher than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of His sandals. I have baptized you with water, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." (Mk 1:7-8)

John's ministry was a call to preparation and formation, to seek repentance through baptism and forgiveness of sins to make ourselves ready for Christ. Advent in particular calls us to a special season of preparation, and of joy as well.

Speaking of repentance, it is like a door that opens to allow God's visit to our soul. For 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. Conversion is a continuing process, which starts with a decision to come into a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord.

The message of John the Baptist applies just as much today as it did in the first and original Advent.  God's love for us His people is never-ending, and He sent Jesus Christ as a testament to it. All we need to do is prepare ourselves for His coming, especially the Second Coming.

The First Reading from Isaiah speaks of comfort for Jerusalem with the Promise of Salvation. But the people must prepare the way of Yahweh in the wilderness.

In the Second Reading, Peter encourages Christians to live Godly lives to prepare for Christ's second coming and look forward to the day of the Lord, which will come like a thief in the night.

Now, the Church teaches that all who are baptized become "a man of mission" like John the Baptist, and our mission is to proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of heaven through our faith, words and examples. Our mission especially this Advent Season and also the whole of our Christian life 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 we know: Today's reading is the beginning of the Gospel narratives of the evangelist Mark. He starts his Gospel accounts simply with the appearance of John the Baptist in the desert and his ministry.  The appearance of John the Baptist in the beginning of Mark's Gospel account requires no explanation to his readers as John the Baptist was a powerful force in Israel before our Lord Jesus began His ministry.

Also, in contrast to other evangelists, Matthew and Luke begin their Gospel with the Annunciation or the birth and ancestry of Jesus Himself.  The Gospel of John the evangelist with the explanation that God sent John the Baptist and his mission to herald the Messiah.

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

Ad Jesum per Mariam!