SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT - CYCLE B

Open with a prayer: God, giver of all life, you sent John the Baptist to prepare people for the coming of Jesus, Our Savior. Open our minds and hearts, so that we will be ready for his coming. Help us to name the stuff that might be blocking us from recognizing Jesus' presence and activity in our midst. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sharing of life question: What are you most and least grateful for this past week?

Facilitator reads focus statement: New Beginnings. Isaiah announces a new beginning for the exiles. Peter speaks about a new creation for those awaiting the Lord's return. Mark introduces John the Baptist who promises a new beginning to all who repent.

Now read the readings for this coming Sunday. Pause briefly at the end of each reading.

FIRST READING: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11

In this reading Isaiah announces to the weary Israelites that their time of exile is over. Now they can return to their homeland. The reading opens in the heavens where God is holding court with his counsel (the prophets) who will be sent to speak a message of consolation to the weary and disheartened exiles: "comfort, give comfort to my people..." Guilt for their sin of disloyalty to God is to be removed. Then "a voice" from the heavenly court speaks of a new exodus. The Lord will create a new highway on which the exiles will travel back to their homeland. In the final two verses, Jerusalem (Zion) becomes God's messenger. She is to cry out to the cities of Judah telling them that God is in their midst. This mighty God is imaged as a gentle shepherd carrying his flock home.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 85

This psalm, like the first reading, announces God's salvation. God and his goodness, is about to revisit his people.

SECOND READING: 2 Peter 3:8-14

This reading underlines the importance of a Christian's moral rectitude as the proper disposition while awaiting the Lord's coming.

The awaited Second Coming of Jesus seems to be on hold. Why? Because, according to Peter, the Lord wants to give people more time to repent and prepare their lives for their ultimate encounter with God. Using apocalyptic imagery, the author describes the old order's demise and the creation of a new order. The redemption gained by Jesus impacts not only people, but all of creation. Finally, Peter urges his fellow believers to live righteous and blameless lives.

GOSPEL: Mark 1:1-8

Every year on the Second and Third Sundays of Advent, we encounter John the Baptist, calling people to prepare for the Messiah by repentance. John is seen as the messenger Isaiah spoke about in the first reading. As the people respond to John's call to repentance they are baptized with water - an outward sign of an inner cleansing occurring in their soul. Then John speaks of his subordinate role: one mightier than he is about to come, one who will baptize them with the Holy Spirit. John's diet of locust (grasshoppers) and honey would have reminded his audience of two traditional symbols of judgment and comfort. Locusts were considered as instruments of divine judgment because of their fierce punishing power (Ex. 10:4); whereas honey signified peace, plenty and blessing. For those who opened their hearts to John, his message would bring the "honey" of peace and joy. On the other hand, those who refused to receive the truth of his message would experience the devouring "locust" of divine judgment.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. What verse spoke to you and how does it relate to your life?

  2. The first reading speaks of God removing Israel's guilt for her sins. Often we feel guilty about things that we shouldn't feel guilty about (false guilt), and sometimes we don't feel guilty about things we should feel guilty about (true guilt). Why is this? What helps you to deal with guilt?

  3. What do you think drew people to John the Baptist? How would he be received today?

  4. What do you need to do this Advent to make straight a highway for the Lord?

RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD

Name one way you can act on the readings. Suggestion: Begin to pray to the Holy Spirit to help you see where there is sin in your life and for the grace of true repentance.

CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION

Ask the Lord to remove blocks in your life to his coming.