Second Sunday Advent. Year B - Sunday, December 6, 2020 - (EPISODE: 264)

Second Sunday Advent. Year B - Sunday, December 6, 2020
(EPISODE: 264)

Readings for 2nd Sunday of Advent - B
FIRST READING: Isa 40:1-5, 9-11
Ps 85:9ab+10, 11-12, 13-14. "Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation"
SECOND READING: 2 Pet 3:8-14
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 3:4+6). Alleluia, alleluia! Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all people shall see the salvation of God. Alleluia!
GOSPEL: Mark 1:1-8

Image Credit: Image:  Photo by Ray Fragapane on Unsplash
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Second Sunday Advent. Year B - Sunday, December 6, 2020, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-advent-2b-episode-264-second-sunday-of-advent-year-b  (EPISODE: 264)
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*Prologue: Just to be even a very small part of God's grand project, is surely satisfaction enough.

A fitting quote (from Scripture commentator William Barclay), is quite apt for today. . .." In my youth, because I could not be a singer, I did not even try to write a song; and I planted no little trees along the roadside Because I knew their growth would take so long and I would never see them fully grown. But now from the wisdom that the years have brought me, I know that it may be a blessed thing; to plant a tree for someone else to water and enjoy, Or make a song that someone else will sing when I cannot." (William Barclay).

The goal will never be reached unless the labourers unite to make it possible, under the great architect's plan. Each one adds their little bit to a project much bigger than any one of us.

God's plan was being unfolded long before we came on the scene and it will continue to come to fruition long after we have finished our earthly journey.

In the gospel, we hear that those who were baptised also confessed their sins. . .. Admitting to our sins and faults is difficult. But when we do this we straighten the path between us and God. Often, the most difficult person to admit sin, is actually ourselves.   For example, when the prodigal son took off with half his father's property, he probably thought very well of himself.    He thought he was a fine and clever young man who will make it big. But, later, in extreme poverty, as he even longed to eat the scraps of pigs' food and realised his folly, he would first have had to admit to himself how pathetically he had acted.   Even before he returned to his father, he had to look at himself honestly and humbly, and it must have been very deflating and difficult. But he could not have imagined the astounding love and mercy he would receive when he made a straight path back to his father.

We must let the barriers down…  and fill in the valleys of pride and self-satisfaction.  It is not the person who desires to meet God on equal terms who will discover forgiveness, grace and compassion - but rather, the person who falls to their knees and whispers: "Lord, I need you! I am a terrible mess without your help. Be merciful to me, for I am a sinner!"

The Prophet Isaiah in the first reading speaks of comfort for God's people. God assures the people that they have 'done their time' for their sins. The debt is cancelled. However, one gets a distinct feeling that God is just being kind and generous. We couldn't have paid off the debt; but God, in His love and mercy has cancelled it and written "paid in full" anyway. Another act of astounding generosity. 

John the Baptist was out in the desert. This reminds us of the time when the People of Israel wandered in the desert and lived in the wilderness for forty years, In that time, they were utterly reliant on God's providence. They had nothing else but the presence and leadership of God's guiding hand. The people had to trust totally in God's wisdom and care. For the most part, they were humble and grateful people.  (although at times, for those who trudged the relentless desert paths, - pride, distrust and ingratitude got the better of many of them)

In the process of trying to give up sin and live with virtue, we often find it difficult. Even after years of struggle, we can often find ourselves still facing the same sins and defects in our lives. But let us not lose hope. The Lord assures and comforts us…… He comes to save us, not to condemn us. The secret is to trust completely in Jesus Christ. To surrender to God.  To stop wrangling with God and resisting him with our wilfulness. We humbly admit our need for Our Lord's grace and mercy.

Everything God gives us is a grace -- Gifts and blessings are given, completely and unreservedly in love for all people….By contrast, we are tempted to keep score or place conditions on love,  or by "trying to live as if we were an island complete of itself," this is what creates valleys and mountains – making rocky the pathway of communication and the friendship between God and ourselves.  In the same way, wilfulness, pride and self-focus are obstacles to our peace and to accepting Christ's unconditional love.

May we appreciate more deeply, the reality of Christ's selfless and generous love and make it an ever deeper reality in our lives too.  

O Come, Lord Jesus!!  

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Homily- Fr Peter Dillon. -

Following the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947, scholars got to know of the existence of a sect called the Essenes who had left Jerusalem and the Temple and basically civilisation behind to go into the desert and await their delivery and to get things straight in their lives. They went back to the source of where their religion had been born since it was in the desert that God appeared to Moses. It was in the desert that a small nomadic tribe with no resources other than what God provided – manna and quails – not only survived but flourished and passed on its revelation and experience to the world.

The term "desert experience" has come to mean going back to basics, back to the source, back to one's utter dependency on one's Creator, going back to claim one's true identity as a son and daughter of God. The desert experience means that one must pull away to gain perspective, and letting go of what we think is so life-giving, but which in reality is life-denying. It means entering a spiritually dry period and accepting vulnerability and total dependence on God, because the desert is a harsh and an unforgiving place, where life is lived day-by-day on the edge and you come face to face with reality, with what really counts.

It's no surprise then that in today's Gospel John is found in the desert rather than the city. Later on in Christian history, whole groups of people went into the desert and founded havens of renewal and spirituality. These people came to be known as "the Desert Fathers" and people would flock to them seeking their counsel and consolation.

Like John, these Desert Fathers appeared eccentric, but there was a deep sense of purpose in what they did. They often went without sleep, because, Advent-like, they were watching for the Lord. They did not speak often because they were listening for the Lord. They fasted frequently because they were fed by God's word. It was God who really mattered and their asceticism was only a means to that end.

Eventually their teachings, their sayings and their stories were collected and meditated on. Not as a means of entertainment but more as an instruction manual on how to distil the essentials of life, and not crowd or cloud ourselves with the incidentals of our existence, that sometimes present themselves as life's necessities.

The point of the gospel, the point of the stories of the Desert Fathers is that if you want renewal and refreshment if you want to shake off the barnacles of sin and selfishness that have attached themselves your life; if you want to rise above humdrum consumer living and become a real person of depth and spirit, you must go back to the desert.

Where do we find a desert experience? Where do we find the time? What are we really looking for and how will we know if we find it? These are Advent questions that we can sit with before we begin the journey, or else we may find ourselves full of good intentions, but little energy to start.

For some, it can be a retreat or conversation with a spiritual guide or a day set aside for recollection, for others it may be spiritual reading or a regularly scheduled prayer time. Whatever the experience we will need some discipline not to place self-imposed hurdles in our path. We may not have to travel far but we do need a resolve. To go to the "desert" means giving time and making space and watching listening and sometimes being quiet to that God will have a chance to speak. And if we listen carefully we might hear the words that tell us God has come to rid us of fear, and enable us to live in holiness and justice all the days of our lives. A light that shows the way in times of darkness and guides our feet into the way of peace.

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References:
homily by Fr Peter Dillon

Prologue by Fr Paul W. Kelly

Barclay, W. (1975). The Gospel of Mark. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: St. Andrew Press

Fr Paul W. Kelly

Leonard, R. (2006). Preaching to the converted. New York: Paulist Press.

Monastery of Christ in the Desert. Abbot's Homily. Advent 2, Year B. 2008.

PrepareTheWord.com © 2008, TrueQuest Communications, LLC.


Image Credit: Image:  Photo by Ray Fragapane on Unsplash


Second Sunday Advent. Year B  (Sunday, December 6, 2020)  (EPISODE: 264 )

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In the Name of the Father (+) and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Lord be with you.
Welcome everyone, we gather -  Reflection upon God's word, and encounter Christ's presence.
We continue on our Advent journey. We now light the second Advent candle. The "Bethlehem Candle" - symbolizing the journey of Faith. Reminding us of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem.

The Presider lights the second candle

Presider: Lord Jesus. You promise to lift the valleys and straighten the pathway for God. Lord have mercy.

Presider: You feed your flock. Gently gathering us in your arms. Christ Have mercy.

Presider: O Wisdom, Come to teach us the way of truth. Lord Have mercy.

(no Gloria in Advent)

COLLECT:

Almighty and merciful God, may no earthly undertaking hinder those
who set out in haste to meet your Son, but may our learning of heavenly wisdom
gain us admittance to his company.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit. God, forever and ever.

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Prayer after Communion

Replenished by the food of spiritual nourishment, we humbly beseech you, O Lord, that, through our partaking in this mystery, you may teach us to judge wisely the things of earth and hold firm to the things of heaven.
Through Christ our Lord.

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Memorial Acclamation
2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
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PREFACE: Advent I
EP II
Communion side.  pwk:  RH
(theme variation: 2 )
(pre+post variation: 2)
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{thank you for your company as we have given thanks and praise to our God.}

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

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Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

"O Come. Lord. (Advent)" - In Memory of Paolo Mario (Paul) Giacomantonio (1968-2020).
By Paul W. Kelly.  Based on the Ancient church "O Antiphons" of Advent. 
Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics, By Stefan Kelk, 2020.

 [ Production - KER - 2020]

May God bless and keep you.

             Roman Missal, 3rd edition, 2010, (ICEL)
            
             Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. 
            
             "The Psalms" by The Grail - 1963, 2009.
            
             Prayers of the Faithful - Robert Borg "Together we pray" - (1993) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++