Second Sunday of Advent (Year A)
December 4th, 2022

First Reading:  Isaiah 11:1-10  
Psalm # 72 R: In His days may righteousness flourish, and peace abound forever.
Second Reading: Romans 15:4-9
Gospel Acclamation Verse: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his path;
all flesh shall see the salvation of God. 
Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

Theme:  Week Two of Advent - Peace - Are You Ready?

Commentary by Jane Prini 

Do you have a sibling, cousin or close friend you know so well that you often guess how they will react to something before they say or do it? Did you know that John the Baptist, in our Gospel today, was a slightly older cousin of Jesus? Remember from the book of Luke 1:41 that when Mary greeted John’s mother, Elizabeth, John leapt in her womb. He was excited to be near Jesus!
Imagine how many festivals they celebrated together as they grew up? Imagine how much time they spent together. They were taught how much God loved them, and how they were in turn to love others. It is not surprising that John wanted to get people ready for the coming of the Messiah, for Jesus. What do you think it means to be ready for Jesus?

John the Baptist was a different kind of man. He lived in the dessert, wore clothes made of camel’s hair tied with a belt around his waist. He had an unusual diet too. He ate locusts and wild honey. Today many of us might call a locus a grasshopper. I am not sure I would want to eat honey and grasshoppers. How about you?  

John the baptist traveled throughout the wilderness of Judea and would shout loudly, “Repent, the kingdom of heaven is near.” Many people came to hear him. They wanted to be ready for Jesus too. They confessed their sins and were baptized. After he baptized them in the Jordan River, he told them, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But there is one coming who is more powerful than I. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” He challenged them to live their life better to get ready for Jesus. 

As we get ready for Christmas, you and I need to make sure we are ready for the Second Coming of Jesus. Jesus promised to come again and that life would be so peaceful, just the way Isaiah tells it in our first reading. We need to look into our hearts and ask God to make us clean, too. We can learn to live our lives in a way that people notice and want to imitate us.

Tuesday, December 6, is the feast of St. Nicholas. He was a bishop many centuries ago, in what is now Turkey. There are many legends about how he loved and cared for the poor when they really needed a friend. Many countries celebrate his feast day with parades and exchanging small gifts. St. Nick is the inspiration for the character we call Santa Claus. He is a good example of what it means to be ready for Jesus, by taking care of those around us as we wait for Jesus to return. During this second week of Advent, find ways to bring peace to those we love, and to help those in need as you get ready.
Prayer for Families: Heavenly Father, we want to be ready for Jesus at Christmas, and when he comes again. Prepare our hearts for his coming. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

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