CLICK HEREfor the Audio recording of the Readings of December 8th, 2019. The Second Sunday of Advent.
CLICK HEREfor the Readings of December 8th, 2019. The Second Sunday of Advent.
Mass Times
Saturday:4:00 PMEnglishEnglishEN
Sunday:8:00 AMEnglishEnglishENSeptember - May only9:00 AMEnglishEnglishENMemorial Day - Labor Day10:30 AMEnglishEnglishENSeptember - May only
Wednesday:6:30 PMEnglishEnglishEN
Thursday:8:00 AMEnglishEnglishEN
Friday:8:00 AMEnglishEnglishEN
Sunday, December 8th, 2019. The Second Sunday of Advent.
On that day…
...The wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat; The calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them.
Isaiah 11: 6
Is any of the above possible? Who of us would let their little child near any of these wild beasts, let alone let it guide them? When will all this happen? What time? What day?
The ‘future’ is something that is always on our mind. It, frankly might even preoccupy us more these days. What parent does not worry about securing a better tomorrow for his or her family, working long hours, putting in overtime, enduring, often times, unbearable people or places just to make sure the future is better taken care of. How many people say quiet prayers for peace and harmony in their lives?
The first reading is about ‘a longing’ or ‘a thirst’ for an age (a day, a future) that will be ‘peaceable’. The Prophet Isaiah forecasts for his listeners that a ‘day is coming’ when a new dawn will come on the earth. It will be a time of peace. When that day arrives, there will come a new savior king (messiah). No one will no longer be afraid of one another. There will be no fear. The attitude of living shall no longer be one of power and domination, hunter and prey (animal kingdom). Most importantly, when this new era arrives, ‘others’ must matter, not in as much as they are used as a tool or stepping stone to get to one’s hidden agenda or take advantage. No! It will be a time free of competition and manipulation. All this, the spirit of the new savior will overcome. Justice and peace will flourish. Where is this kingdom or era? When will it come, we still ask?
For John the Baptist, this kingdom is at hand, but it is not a physical area or territory as such. It is an attitude of living which begins in our hearts. A heart that is ready to change (conversion), a heart that is ready to rid itself of the malignant forces of malice and insincerity (a viper-like attitude). In such a heart, others matter.
In deed, Jesus is the new savior king who comes. He comes to bring us true peace. Are we ready to be agents of this kingdom, here and now? Are we willing to become ‘peacemakers’? Bring people together? Are we ready to refuse the worldly spirit of power and domination and embrace a spirit of service and selflessness, to make sure that everyone matters?
Have a Blessed week in the Lord! Fr. Anthony
CLICK HERE for an understanding of the Advent Season.
CLICK HERE for an understanding of the Christmas Season.
View the below video for another Sunday Reflection on the readings.