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Sunday, December 7, 2014

Second Sunday of Advent – Prepare the way of the Lord – Mark 1:1-8

Advent Week Two Blessed Sacrament Chapel Carmel Mission photo AdventTwoCandle1_zps7acebcbe.jpg

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…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.”  (Mark 1:2-3, 7-8)

John the Baptist - Titian photo JohntheBaptist-Titian_zpse7d13717.jpg

 

In the Gospel reading for the second week of Advent, which is the same each year, we hear the story of the preaching of John the Baptist. It is John’s job to prepare the Jews for the coming of the Messiah; it is his job to ready their hearts for conversion, a conversion that must begin with repentance.

In theory, we should be working on our conversion every day of our lives, but we can easily become so busy that we let God drift to the edge of our life. I know that I am guilty of this, allowing myself to become too preoccupied with “getting everything done.” This is why we need penitential seasons like Advent and Lent. They give us a time to reevaluate our lives and recommit ourselves to living a Gospel lifestyle.

Baptism of Christ - Francesco Alban photo Baptism-of-Christ-xx-Francesco-Alban_zps0a723141.jpg


 “John the Baptist’s appeal for conversion rings out in our communities; it is a pressing invitation to open our hearts to receive the Son of God who comes among us to make manifest the divine judgment.  At the end of our days on earth, at the moment of death, we will be evaluated on the basis of our likeness, or lack of it, to the Child who is about to be born in the poor grotto of Bethlehem.  Because He is the criterion of the measure that God has given to humanity.” (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI)


Tonight light the second candle of your Advent Wreath
Advent Blessings from
Lynn'sTimeless Treasures


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Photographs
Advent Wreath Blessed Sacrament Chapel Carmel Mission - L. A. Momboisse
Art
John the Baptist - Titian
Baptism of Christ - Francesco Alban

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