December 4, 2011 — Second Sunday of Advent
Is 40:1-5, 9-11; Ps. 85:9-10. 11-12, 13-14; 2 Pt. 3:8-14; Mk. 1:1-8
We have entered the second week of Advent, and we spend our time patiently waiting in anticipation of the celebration of Christmas. But, as today’s readings remind us, we are to actively wait by preparing our hearts and minds through prayer and repentance, and by proclaiming the Good News that God became man for our sake so that He could suffer and die and then come again to bring us into heavenly glory
It is a beautiful message we proclaim. God has done so much for us and continues to do so, giving us innumerable gifts with which we can live our lives. And, much like the prophets in today’s readings, we ought to proclaim His mighty deeds boldly before all the nations.
In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah proclaims the end of the Babylonian exile, when God will intervene and the Jews will be able to return to Israel and, ultimately Israel will be restored. He knows God will intervene, and, as He waits for that to happen, He is active. He wants all to know of what is to come.
In the Gospel, John the Baptist is the prophet, proclaiming the coming of the Messiah. John, too, knows that God is soon to intervene in human history and send the One whom the Jews have long-awaited, and He wants all to know it.
We are privileged to know the One of whom John spoke, the Messiah whom the Jews long awaited. He has come, and, as His disciples, we are to proclaim Him to the ends of the Earth. So, as we wait to celebrate Christmas, as stewards we are called to preach the Good News – to use our time our talents and our treasure to proclaim Him boldly through the way we live our lives.
