Second Sunday of Advent, Cycle B

FIRST READING
Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11
Isaiah tells the people to prepare a way for the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 85:9-14
The Lord's salvation is near.

SECOND READING
2 Peter 3:8-14
Peter teaches that we must always be holy because the return of the
Lord cannot be predicted.

GOSPEL READING
John the Baptist preached repentance and baptized the people, in
preparation for the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit.

GOSPEL MK 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."


BACKGROUND ON THE GOSPEL READING

Today's Gospel is taken from the beginning of Mark. Unlike Luke and
Matthew, Mark does not include any details of Jesus' birth. Instead Mark
begins with the appearance of John the Baptist in the desert. On this
the Second Sunday of Advent, we are invited to reflect upon the role of
John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus and the salvation that
he would bring to us.

Mark's description of the appearance of John the Baptist highlights
John's continuity with the Jewish prophetic tradition. Mark combines
quotations from the Old Testament books of Malachi, Isaiah, and Exodus.
Mark's description of John as an ascetic, living in the desert, clothed
in camel hair, and eating locusts and wild honey, is reminiscent of the
description of the prophet Elijah found in Second Kings. The people of
Judea and Jerusalem flock to him, listening to his message of repentance
and forgiveness; they also come to him to be baptized. Mark's Gospel is
clear, however, that John the Baptist's role is only to prepare the way
for another who will come, one who is greater than John.

Many scholars believe that the Gospels reflect the tension that likely
existed between followers of John the Baptist and disciples of Jesus.
Each of the four Evangelists report on John's preaching and baptizing,
and they each emphasize the importance of Jesus' baptism by John. The
four Gospels also explain that John was sent to preach in preparation
for another. In the Gospel of Luke, the question is raised as to whether
John the Baptist was himself the Messiah. Just as in today's Gospel,
however, John speaks quite explicitly that the Messiah was to come after
him.

In today's Gospel we hear John the Baptist contrast his baptism of
repentance with the baptism that Jesus will inaugurate. John says that
he has baptized with water, but that the one who is to come will baptize
with the Holy Spirit. John's baptism was not yet a Christian baptism,
but a preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism through which sins are
forgiven and the gift of the Holy Spirit is received.

John the Baptist is presented to us as a model during Advent. We, too,
are called upon to prepare a way for the Lord. Like John the Baptist, we
are messengers in service to one who is greater than we are. Our Baptism
commissions us to call others to life as disciples of Jesus.

FAMILY CONNECTION

The season of Advent invites us to renew our lives in preparation for
the coming of Jesus. The people who heard the message of John the
Baptist repented for their sins and were baptized as a sign of God's
forgiveness. In Baptism, our sins are forgiven, and we receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit, who helps us in our life of discipleship. Led by the
Holy Spirit, we use this Advent season to renew our lives so that we,
like John the Baptist, might prepare the way for Jesus.

As you gather together as a family, talk about ways in which the example
of others has called you to be a follower of Jesus. Name the people who
have been examples to you of Christian discipleship and describe their
characteristics that you have tried to emulate. Read together today's
Gospel, Mark 1:1-8.

As John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, Baptism commissions us
to prepare the way of the Lord. The gift of the Holy Spirit leads us to
continually renew our lives so that we might lead others to Jesus. As a
family, identify at least one action that you will take this week to try
to be more faithful followers of Jesus. Conclude in prayer together that
God will receive this action and use it to lead others to Jesus. Pray
the Prayer to the Holy Spirit.


Sources: Loyola Press;Sunday Readings

Nations Speak Out for Life and the Family in UN Human Rights Mechanism

By Rebecca Oas, Ph.D.

WASHINGTON, DC, December 8 (C-Fam) For decades, powerful bureaucrats and wealthy donor countries have used the UN human rights system to push a controversial abortion and “sexual rights” agenda on traditional countries.  Those countries are fighting back, using a relatively new UN human rights mechanism to encourage like-minded countries to resist.

In November, Kenya urged two other African nations to hold fast to their pro-life laws during a session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).  Kenya recommended that Benin “resist calls to further liberalize abortion, and instead implement laws aimed at protecting the right to life of the unborn and recognize that life starts at conception.”  In a similar recommendation, Kenya added a request that Zambia should “affirm that there is no international right to abortion.”

The UPR is a human rights mechanism in which each of the 193 UN member states is evaluated on its human rights record and offered recommendations by other countries.  Now in its third cycle, the UPR has seen more than 50,000 recommendations pass between countries, where the nation under review has the opportunity to “accept” or “note” each recommendation.  A relatively small but outspoken group of countries has recommended that countries liberalize their abortion laws or include sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) as a class of non-discrimination.

As a UN observer state, the Holy See does not receive recommendations from member states as part of the UPR, but can issue recommendations to others.  In the first two UPR cycles, the Holy See urged several countries to protect life from conception, and to defend the natural family and marriage between one man and one woman.

Egypt has been an outspoken in defense of family rights within the UPR, issuing several recommendations urging countries to defend the family as “the natural and fundamental group unit of society”—language from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), one of the foundational UN documents.  Bangladesh, Russia, Belarus, and Uzbekistan have also given similar recommendations.

While recommendations in the UPR are not binding, the UPR system wields more credibility than other UN human rights platforms because it is designed for nations to speak directly to other sovereign nations.  Because of this, the UPR provides a broad picture of the state of human rights as understood by the world’s governments—including areas that are hotly contested—as well as areas where consensus is universal or nearly so.

Expert committees that monitor compliance with human rights treaties have drawn criticism for promoting an interpretation of human rights that is supported by only a minority of UN members.  The oldest of these treaty bodies, the Human Rights Committee, which monitors the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, reviewed 19 countries in 2017.  The committee pressured 12 of them to liberalize abortion and all of them on sexual orientation and gender identity, though neither of the issues is mentioned in the treaty.

By contrast, the protection of human life and the family are explicitly enumerated in UN human rights treaties and therefore have strong legal support.  Despite this, the UDHR definition of the family has become controversial in recent years as expert bodies take an increasingly activist stance against the consensus of member states. Interventions like those of Kenya and Egypt within the UPR appear to be a reassertion of that consensus by national governments.

https://c-fam.org/friday_fax/nations-speak-life-family-un-human-rights-mechanism/

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

PURPOSE In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will. – Ephesians 1:11        Tears fell as Lysa flipped the alphabet cue cards and asked herself, “Why did I ever want this again?” Lysa Terkeurst, an author and motivational speaker, left her preaching ministry to pursue a significant calling— to teach basic education to two orphans she adopted from a war-torn orphanage in Africa.        When the boys got tested for schooling, they found out that they would need to be in kindergarten. But there were no classes that accept students aged 13 and 14. Lysa put on hold all her speaking engagements and committed to daily sessions of teaching the alphabet and numbers to her teenage boys.       Many times she just wanted to return the boys and go back to preaching, but she knew in her heart she was destined for a special purpose designed by the One who accomplishes all things according to His will.        Now, the boys are in college and Lysa is back to preaching God’s Word. And because people were inspired by her story, 44 other kids were adopted from the same orphanage.        When God calls us for a purpose, God honors our yes. He equips us to accomplish the mission He calls us to do. Veia Lim (veiallim@gmail.com) Reflection: Where God guides, God provides. Lord, I set my eyes on the prize until I see Your glory fulfilled. Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us.

COMPANION

1ST READING Mary is called the “New Eve” by the Fathers of the Church. This text points them towards this theological understanding, when it speaks of the one who will give birth to the Savior and who will crush the head of the serpent. Mary has a unique role in salvation history as the Mother of the Son of God, our Savior, and so it is only right to honor her for her obedience to God’s will. The Church teaches us that she is not simply the Mother of Christ but the Mother of the Church and, consequently, our Mother as well. Genesis 3:9-15, 20 9 After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree, the Lord God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” 11 Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!” 12 The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me — she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.” 13 The Lord God then asked the woman, “Why did you do such a thing?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.” 14Then the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you shall be banned from all the animals and from all the wild creatures; on your belly shall you crawl, and dirt shall you eat all the days of your life. 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.” 20 The man called his wife Eve, because she became the mother of all the living. P S A L M Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 R: Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds. 1 Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. (R) 2 The Lord has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. 3 He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. (R) All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. 4 Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. (R) 2ND READING  The Immaculate Conception refers to God keeping Mary free from original sin, as an appropriate preparation for her becoming the Mother of His Son, Jesus. This is not explicitly mentioned in the Scriptures but it does make eminent sense when we consider her calling and role in salvation history. Let us believe that God will provide us what we need to live out His call for us. Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 3 Brothers and sisters: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, 4 as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love 5 he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, 6 for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. 11 In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, 12 so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. GOSPEL Mary’s yes to God has to be the pattern for all true disciples’ yes. Acceptance of God’s will is probably the most difficult decision we will have to make because it sets us on the path of discipleship. There is no turning back. Jesus wants us all to commit to His will so that the work of the Gospel may be completed, and He will return and consummate it. Oh, what a day that will be! May we all see it from the perspective of eternal life with God forever in heaven. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women. Luke 1:26-38 26 The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, 33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” 35 And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36 And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; 37 for nothing will be impossible for God.” 38 Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.  think: What role does Mama Mary have in your life?

SABBATH

‘HAIL MARY, FULL OF GRACE’ Feasts in honor of the Immaculate Conception go back to at least the eighth century. But only in 1854 did Pope Pius IX declare the Immaculate Conception of Mary as a dogma. Four years later, Our Lady appeared to Bernadette in Lourdes, France, and introduced herself with the words, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” In other words, there is no one else like her — a human being without sin.        Sin and sinners are all around us. Today, however, we celebrate the feast of one of us: one woman, who never committed a sin — Mary of Nazareth, the Immaculate Mother of God.        “Immaculate” means without stain. Since sin is a “stain” on the soul, which should be pure in the sight of God, the Church believes that Mary was conceived without the “stain” of any sin.        Mary had a special mission in the redemption of mankind. So God created her as a “fitting dwelling place” for His Son Jesus, who was to be born of a woman who was totally free from sin, never under the power of the devil.        Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI made an interesting observation. He wrote: “I consider it important to focus on the final sentence of Luke’s Annunciation narrative: ‘And the angel departed from her.’ The great hour of Mary’s encounter with God’s messenger — in which her whole life is changed — comes to an end, and she remains there alone, with a task that truly surpasses all human capacity.”        Was she alone? No. The angel had greeted her with, “The Lord is with you.” This assurance of the Lord’s presence surely gave her the strength to face the difficulties that were lying ahead of her. And she walks with us sinners to guide us with motherly love so that we try to imitate her and avoid sin. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD -------- REFLECTION QUESTION -------- Do you try to avoid sin as much as possible or do you follow the trend in society which does not acknowledge the existence of sin? Lord, I am a sinner. Thank You for giving me Your sinless mother as my mother to guide and help me avoid sin. Amen. www.kerygmafamily.com

The Advent Wreath: Light in Darkness

By Monique Sammut

A Tradition Begins

A popular Advent tradition among both Catholics and Christians is that of the Advent Wreath.  It is a simple but beautiful way to capture the meaning and symbolism of Advent.  The tradition of using an Advent Wreath originated in pre-Christian times.  People would light candles during the winter in the absence of the sun.  Sometimes there was one candle per day and in some cases the candles were placed on a wreath.  During the Middle Ages, Christians adapted the wreath to serve as a preparation for Advent.  During the 1600s, the Advent Wreath had become a formal Advent tradition.

More Than Meets the Eye

The Advent Wreath, as the name somewhat implies, is a circle having no beginning and no end.  This symbolizes the fact that God also has no beginning and no end.  It can also remind us of the unending love of God for us that brought Jesus to earth to save us from our sins so that we might in turn have eternal life in Heaven!  The circle also reminds us of the immortality of our souls.

Eternity is now and the Advent Wreath can help us understand in some small way the great part we have in the story of salvation.  Christ’s coming is not an event isolated only in the past or of the future because He is still ever present in our world today.

The Advent Wreath is traditionally made using evergreens: plentiful, pliable, plants which last throughout the winter.  More modern wreaths may be made out of ceramic, metal, or resin and may include pictures pertaining to Advent and Christmas.  Using fresh evergreens to make the wreath had great significance because Christ is the way, the truth, and the LIFE!  He came to give us life and fresh branches are an excellent symbol of life and hope.

Other materials can also be used: Holly leaves and berries represent the crown of thorns and the Blood of Christ; Holly and pine represent immortality and an English legend says that the cross of Christ was made out of holly; Laurel reminds us of victory over trials and sufferings; Cedar calls to mind strength and healing; and pine cones symbolize the Resurrection.

Let There Be Light

Each Advent Wreath contains four candles, one for every week of Advent.  The candles provide a strong contrast between dark and light.  Jesus is the light of the world that came down to dispel the darkness that exists in our hearts and in the world because of the darkness of sin.  Each week, a new candle is lighted gradually dispelling more and more of the darkness as we draw ever closer to the coming of Christ at Christmas.  By the final week of Advent, all four candles are lit reminding us that the time to rejoice has finally arrived!

The candles on the Advent Wreath are three violet ones and one rose one – exactly the same as the colors of the four weeks of Advent.  Some Advent Wreaths also contain a fifth white candle symbolizing purity – the Christ Candle – that can be lit during the Christmas Season.

Special Meaning

Each candle on the Advent Wreath has a special name corresponding to a particular week of Advent.

During the first week we light the Prophet’s Candle as we focus on the virtue of hope.  This week is a time to acknowledge that Jesus is coming.  We should begin preparing our hearts to welcome Him at Christmas.

The second week of Advent is a time to practice the virtue of faith as we light the Bethlehem Candle.  We should call to mind the journey of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem.  When they arrived there was no room at the inn – no room for Jesus.  It is a time to continue drawing closer to Christ so that when He comes He may find a home in our hearts.

On Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent, we celebrate joy and light the Shepherd’s Candle.  On Christmas night the Angels appeared to the shepherds and brought them, as the Bible says, “news of great joy!”

The final week of Advent is a time of peace as we light the Angel’s Candle.  We should be mindful of the Angels’ announcement of, “Peace on earth, good will to men!”

Lighting the Advent Wreath

The Advent Wreath should be placed in a significant place in the home.  One candle for every week of Advent may be lit starting on the Sunday.  For example, on the first Sunday of Advent, the first violet candle can be lit.  Some families choose to light the candles during dinner time or family prayer time.

The wreath is usually placed at the front of churches.  During the celebration of the liturgy the appropriate candles are lit.

Blessing the Advent Wreath

For use in a church, a priest blesses the Advent Wreath on the first Sunday of Advent.  However, for a family Advent Wreath, there is a special blessing that can be prayed by a parent or other member of the family.

“As We Await the Blessed Hope…”

These words, said during the Communion Rite, state clearly the meaning of Advent enshrined in the Advent Wreath.  As we light the candles we should be grateful for the coming of Christ who came to save us from the darkness of sin and death so that we might have eternal life.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.”  Isaiah 9:1

https://mycatholickids.com/the-advent-wreath-light-in-darkness/

First Sunday of Advent, Cycle B

First Reading
Isaiah 63:16b-17,19b;64:2-7
Isaiah prays for the Lord’s forgiveness of the people.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 80:2-3,15-16,18-19
A prayer for the Lord’s protection

Second Reading
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Paul gives thanks to God for the faith of the Corinthians.

Gospel Reading
Mark 13:33-37
Jesus warns his disciples to be watchful so that they will be ready when
the Son of Man comes.

Gospel MK 13:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Be watchful! Be alert!
You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge,
each with his own work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,
whether in the evening, or at midnight,
or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: 'Watch!'"


Background on the Gospel Reading

Today we begin the season of Advent which marks the start of a new
liturgical year for the Church. The readings for Sunday Mass are arranged
on a three-year cycle. Each year features a different Gospel—Matthew,
Mark, or Luke. Readings from the Gospel of John are interspersed
throughout all three years. With this year’s first Sunday of Advent, we
begin Cycle B of the Lectionary, which focuses our attention on the Gospel
of Mark. This week and next week, our readings from Mark’s Gospel present
two important Advent themes: the Lord’s return at the end of time and John
the Baptist’s preparation for Jesus.

Today’s Gospel is taken from the end of Mark’s Gospel, the chapter that
immediately precedes Mark’s account of Jesus’ Passion. Having been
questioned repeatedly by the scribes and the Pharisees, Jesus is now
questioned by his disciples—Peter, James, John, and Andrew—who want details
about his prediction of the destruction of the Temple. Jesus answers with
many warnings about the difficulties that the disciples will face.

Today’s passage comes at the conclusion of Jesus’ warnings to his
disciples. Jesus emphasizes the need for watchfulness. The Son of Man will
come without warning; only the Father knows the exact hour. The disciples
must not be caught unprepared when this time comes.

Scholars believe that Mark’s Gospel was written around the time of the
destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70. Mark’s audience
consisted of Christians who were living in difficult social and political
times, times of conflict. They were likely beginning to face persecution as
followers of Jesus. In this difficult time, it helped to recall that Jesus
had foretold of such difficulties. Early Christian communities took courage
from Jesus’ warning to remain alert and watchful, and they found in his
words a way to persevere through suffering.

Today’s Gospel reminds us that Advent is about more than our preparation
for the Church’s celebration of Christ’s birth at Christmas. Advent is also
about preparing ourselves for Christ’s return in glory at the end of time.
Like the disciples and the faithful in Mark’s community, we must also stay
alert and watchful. Our faithfulness to God, through the good times as well
as the difficult times, shows us to be ready for the coming of the Son of
Man.

Family Connection

In family life, we try to prepare ourselves for many future things: our
next vacation, our children’s education, our retirement. We are careful not
to allow ourselves to be caught by surprise so that we can handle any
challenges our family may face. Today’s Gospel reminds us that we are
called to be just as attentive and alert to the coming of the Son of Man so
that it will not catch us unprepared. This means attending to our family’s
spiritual life as carefully as we attend to other important family matters.

As you gather as a family, talk about a time when you received surprise
visitors at your house, perhaps a neighbor who stopped by or a relative who
arrived unannounced. Was your household prepared to receive this
unannounced guest? What might your family have done differently if you knew
ahead of time that this visitor was going to arrive? Jesus told his
disciples that no one knows when the Son of Man will return, except the
Father. Read with your family what Jesus told his disciples in today’s
Gospel, Mark 13:33-37.

During Advent, we not only prepare ourselves to celebrate the birth of
Jesus, we also check to see if we are doing all the things that will keep
us ready to receive Jesus when he comes again. Talk about how your family
can recommit to daily prayer, reading Scripture, and staying faithful to
God’s commandments. Pray together that through this Advent season your
family will be more prepared to receive Jesus when he comes again. Read as
a concluding prayer Paul’s words to the Corinthians found in today’s second
reading, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, or pray the Lord’s Prayer.

Sources: Loyola Press; Sunday Readings