Greetings on this the Second Sunday of Advent
Readings: Bar 5:1-9; Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6; Phil 1:4-6, 8-11; Lk 3:1-6
Notes: It is NOT IMPOSSIBLE. Change is possible with Divine Assistance.
Baruch – speaking to the people describes their situation by way of the understanding of the history of the people and their relationship with G-d. This trauma (the Babylonian Exile) is described as like the earlier history of the Jewish people: A repeating cycle of: sin, punishment, repentance, and return.
Metanoia – change in one’s way of life resulting from penitence or spiritual conversion (dictionary).
CCC 1431 Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed. At the same time it entails the desire and resolution to change one’s life, with hope in God’s mercy and trust in the help of his grace. This conversion of heart is accompanied by a salutary pain and sadness which the Fathers called animi cruciatus (affliction of spirit) and compunctio cordis (repentance of heart).
First reading
Baruch is a well know assistant to Jeremiah speaking to all of Jerusalem.
Your Exile is over!
The Divine has taken your cause and has freed you!
Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on forever the splendor of glory from God. for God is leading Israel in joy by the light of his glory,
with his mercy and justice for company.
Responsorial Psalm
The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Second reading
Paul’s prayer and my prayer for all of you.
“And this is my prayer:
that your love may increase ever more and more
in knowledge and every kind of perception,
to discern what is of value,
so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ
for the glory and praise of God.”
Alleluia Verse
Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths:
all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Gospel Portion
Emperor Tiberius Caesar, Governor Pontius Pilate, and Herod (Antipas) tetrarch of Galilee were all ignored regarding the message of repentance. Even the retired high priest Annas and during the high priesthood of Caiaphas were kept in the dark, so to speak being ignored regarding the message of repentance.
But the Word came to the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.
John calls everyone proclaiming a water baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
We are called now to water and spirit Baptism in Jesus Christ.
CCC 1429 St. Ambrose says of the two conversions that, in the Church, “there are water and tears: the water of Baptism and the tears of repentance.”
The call is still ours today now including the Lord Jesus Christ and the Trinity.
Why did so many powerful people get ignored in this announcement?
The inability to enter into metanoia.
The inescapable need.
A voice of one crying out in the desert: Changed here to speak to us this day.
Prepare within you the way of the Lord,
make straight his path into your heart.
Every valley or low place of your sorrow shall be filled
and every mountain high place and hill shall be lower so you can see him, the Messiah.
The winding roads of our lives shall be made straight,
and the rough ways of how we can be are made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God in you!
Don’t be worried that you can’t do it.
You can.
The Sacraments (the Divine help) are the making of the path.
Saint Paul’s prayer – invoke upon the people (action).
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Deacon Gerry Palermo 