The Second Sunday of Advent

The following is a preview from the Comprehensive Catholic Lectionary, a project by women priests Jane Via and Nancy Corran that aims to include every significant story about women in the bible, eliminate exclusive language for God and humans, and bring a spectrum of Biblical theologies to readers and communities.

Advent reflections (below the readings) will be posted on the Table. Download the complete Advent and Christmas section of the Lectionary to access the entire offering including background notes, alternative readings, and responsorial psalms.

Call to Prayer: You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Holy; for you will lead us, preparing the path. You will give all people knowledge of their holiness.  The tenderness of God turns the earth towards a healing sun, illuminating spirits wherever death’s shadow appears, a light to guide our feet into the path of peace.

Readings:

Isaiah 40:1-5, 9 (or 9-11); Psalm 122, Luke 1:76-80; 1 Cor 1:3-9 + 2 Cor 13:11-13; Mark 1:1-8, John 1:19-20

FIRST READING

A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah 40:1-11

“Comfort, O comfort my people! Give them peace,” says God. “Speak tenderly to my people and proclaim to them that their service is at an end, that iniquity has been removed.” For from God’s hand, they have known a double measure for all their wrongdoings. A voice cries out: “Prepare a way in the desert for the Holy One, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be raised up, and every mountain and hill be made low. The rugged land shall be made a plain, the steep places become level. Then the brilliance of God shall be revealed, and all humanity shall see it together, for the mouth of God has spoken.” A voice said, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry? For all humanity is grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers and the flower fades when the breath of God blows upon them.” “Even so,” the voice persists, “although the grass withers, and the flower fades, the Word on God’s breath will stand forever. And so climb to a mountaintop, you that bring good news. Cry at the top of your voice, O, herald of good tidings. Shout out fearlessly, saying to all the towns, Here is your God!” Here is the Holy One, your God, who comes in the power of love, coming to lead with and embrace us in the strong arm of love. For God will feed the whole flock like a shepherd, and keep them together by holding them in God’s arms. Against God’s bosom the lambs will be carried, and God will lead the mother sheep to water.

SECOND READING

A Reading from Paul’s 1st and 2nd Letters to the Corinthians 1 Cor 1:3-9; 2 Cor 13:11-13

Grace to you and peace from God our Creator and Jesus the Christ. I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus. Through God, you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge, as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you. As a result, you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of Jesus the Christ. God will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of Jesus the Christ. God is faithful, and by God you were called to community with Jesus the Christ. Finally, beloved, we wish you joy. Mend your ways. Encourage one another. Have a common spirit, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All God’s people send you greetings. The grace of Jesus the Christ, the love of God, and the Holy Spirit be with you all.

GOSPEL

A Reading from the Gospels attributed to Mark and to John Mk 1:1-8; Jn 1:19-23

Glory to you, O God. The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ, born of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, Who will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of our God. Make straight the highway.” John the Baptist was in the desert, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People from the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem flocked to him. As they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, they confessed their sins. John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. When he preached, he proclaimed, “One more powerful than I is coming after me. I am unworthy to stoop and untie the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water, but the one to come will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” … And this is the testimony of John, when the Judeans sent religious authorities from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of our God,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

Reflection:

As we enter the 2nd week of Advent, our readings remind us of the role we play in preparing  for the rebirthing of Christ in  our world. Isaiah announces that comfort is coming for those in exile, his proclamation reminds a people in pain that they will experience the tender love of God and  justice will prevail.   We live in a world and church that desperately is in need of prophetic voices that proclaim justice and compassion.  The Gospel presents John the Baptizer as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s reading, he  is the one who comes in the wilderness to prepare and announce the coming of Jesus.

Like John, we are also called to be the hope for a rebirthing of Christ in our world, a birthing that brings dignity and justice to the oppressed and exiled.  We are called to  be a people who embody and live justice and compassion in  every aspect of our lives.  This call requires us to resist the temptation of going with the flow, rather we must be be willing to speak out boldly when necessary.  Isaiah tells us to cry out at the top of our voice to proclaim the good tiding that God is love, God is compassion and god is Justice.  

We can boldly proclaim this good news and rebirth christ in our world by:

Loving and protecting  the undocumented immigrants in our neighborhoods.

Fully recognizing the dignity of our LGBTQI brothers and sisters.

Honoring and recognizing the call to the priesthood of women in our parishes.

Commitments

Acting

How are you being called this week to be an agent of justice and compassion in your church and neighborhood?  Are you willing to say or act in a way that may be uncomfortable to be the agent of justice and compassion that rebirths Christ in our world?

Waiting and Preparing

In the midst of Advent and Christmas preparations and celebrations, take some quiet time to reflect on how Christ is present in the midst of your everyday activities.