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Mass Readings

First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
Responsorial: Psalm 85:9-14
Second Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-14
Gospel: Mark 1:1-8

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120620.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

“…a voice of one shouting in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’”

Our readings today reinforce the Advent theme calling us to prepare for the coming of Christ. We all need to do a little tidying up before Christmas arrives. But what does that mean exactly?

There’s this interesting image from our first reading. Isaiah says we need to prepare for the Lord. He says we need to make his path straight, fill the valleys, level the mountains and hills (Isaiah 40:3-4). We hear that in our Gospel today. John the Baptist quoting Isaiah tells us, “…a voice of one shouting in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths’” (Mark 1:3).

Let’s talk about two important points that Isaiah makes. First, the Lord is coming. This is a critical distinction between the Christian faith and so many of the false religions of mythology. The Lord is coming. He pursues us! He is so eager that we all are united together with him.

The second point Isaiah makes is that we need to remove the obstacles from his path. One way for us to consider this passage is to ask ourselves what obstacles do we place in God’s way? Is it wealth, or comfort, or style, or ego?

This ties into our second reading from Second Peter. Peter says, “…make every effort to be found spotless and stainless, in peace; and think of Our Lord’s patience as salvation” (2 Peter 3:14). Not only does Peter tell us we need to focus on the obstacles or sin in our lives, but he says that the Lord’s patience is for our salvation. In other words, God is not trying to force himself on us. He pursues us, yes, but he gives us the room and the freedom to make choices in our lives. The time we have is an example of God patiently giving us time to make things right.

Time to do what? Well, in our own lives, we need to think about the sin in our lives carefully – but not the superficial stuff. We need to dig deep! We need to think about patterns or root causes of the sin in our lives. Why is it I have this or that bad habit or this overwhelming desire to hoard money or stuff? We should do some hard reflection, then bring it to confession. What happens near the end of the sacrament? We promise with God’s help to sin no more. In other words, we commit to breaking the pattern or habits of sin in our lives.

But there’s another important message in today’s readings. Isaiah also says, “Go up on to a high mountain, you who bring good news to Sion; lift up your voice with power, you who bring good news to Jerusalem” (Isaiah 40:9).

We are not supposed to only reflect on our own lives. We are supposed to go out into the world and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. Look at John the Baptist. Why did people go into the desert to be baptized by him? John the Baptist responded to a deep and real spiritual hunger. Our twofold challenge is to examine our lives and help other people. And I would suggest to you that there is a deep spiritual hunger out there.

Look at our world today, at least in the West. First, maybe people are too comfy, too cozy, too sheltered from the elements. We have every conceivable tool and toy and creature comfort anyone could ever want. And yet, something is missing! People yearn for more!

But there’s another example we must consider. We have a great need for healing in the United States after the presidential election. Sometimes we use words as if they are insignificant, and yet our words can inflict incredible pain. Like saying to someone on the left that they’re not Catholic because they voted for Biden. Or like calling someone on the right a bigot or a racist. The reality is that words have meaning, and the words thrown about during the election inflicted a significant amount of pain. Isn’t it funny that we who wait for the Word made flesh take for granted the words we use.

Now we Christians should know better, but too many of us fell into the trap. Why? I suggest to you because it is too easy to hurl a name than to figure out why they think the way they do. If we understand each other better, then perhaps we can address the problems that confront us. But when we’re operating with blinders on, well, nothing gets done.

This Advent season, I’m eager to read a book by the renowned sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild. In 2018, she published Strangers in Their Own Land based on a five-year study of Tea Party conservatives in Louisiana. She chronicles some of the reasons why blue-collar white males, in particular, feel left out of the American dream. I think this is a critical study to help us see past the rhetoric to better understand people.

As Christians, we should lead the way to get to the root cause of the problem rather than whitewashing over our problems.

This Advent challenges you and me to go deeper into our motivations and try to understand others. Only by tackling the sin in our lives and institutional sin which affects others will we be able to make the path straight and be better prepared for the Lord!

Homework! Inspired by God’s grace in the Sacraments, I encourage you to reflect on the following two questions this week.

First, considering the last couple of times I went to confession, is there a pattern to my sin? What might be the root causes of my sin?
Second, considering my behavior during the last presidential election – especially online – what can I do to help heal the wounds of division in my community? Another way of saying that is how can I spread Christmas joy this year even during the pandemic?

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Image Credit: Artist unknown. JPG file.

Notes: Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible quotes are taken from The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.

References:
1. Healy, Mary. The Gospel of Mark. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008. Kindle.
2. Montague, George T., SM. First Corinthians. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2011. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. The Good News: 422
2. The prophets and the expectation of the Messiah: 522, 711-16, 22
3. John the Baptist: 523, 717-20
4. The second coming of Christ: 671-75, 2849
5. Baptism in water and the Spirit: 720
6. Call to holiness: 824-27, 2012-16
7. God’s desire for all to be saved: 1037, 2822
8. A new heaven and a new earth: 1042-50

Second Sunday of Advent https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120620.cfm
Lectionary: 5

Reading 1
Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her service is at an end,
her guilt is expiated;
indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD
double for all her sins.

A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill shall be made low;
the rugged land shall be made a plain,
the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Go up on to a high mountain,
Zion, herald of glad tidings;
cry out at the top of your voice,
Jerusalem, herald of good news!
Fear not to cry out
and say to the cities of Judah:
Here is your God!
Here comes with power
the Lord GOD,
who rules by his strong arm;
here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;
in his arms he gathers the lambs,
carrying them in his bosom,
and leading the ewes with care.

Responsorial
Psalm 85:9-10-11-12, 13-14
R. (8) Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD—for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and prepare the way of his steps.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

Reading 2
2 Peter 3:8-14
Do not ignore this one fact, beloved,
that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years
and a thousand years like one day.
The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,”
but he is patient with you,
not wishing that any should perish
but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief,
and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar
and the elements will be dissolved by fire,
and the earth and everything done on it will be found out.

Since everything is to be dissolved in this way,
what sort of persons ought you to be,
conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion,
waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God,
because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames
and the elements melted by fire.
But according to his promise
we await new heavens and a new earth
in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, since you await these things,
be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.

Alleluia
Luke 3:4, 6
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths:
All flesh shall see the salvation of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.”
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.
John was clothed in camel’s hair,
with a leather belt around his waist.
He fed on locusts and wild honey.
And this is what he proclaimed:
“One mightier 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.”