Homily Second Sunday of Advent. Year A - Sunday, December 8, 2019
First Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm: 71:1-2. 7-8. 12-13. 17. Justice shall flourish in his time and fullness of peace forever
Second Reading: Romans 15:4-9
Alleluia, alleluia! Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all people shall see the salvation of God. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12
Image: By ChameleonsEye Shutterstock Licensed stock photo ID: 134552789. TIBERIAS - MAY 18: Baptism ceremony at the Jordan River in northern Israel on May 18 2009.
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Second Sunday of Advent. Year A - Sunday, December 8, 2019, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/advent-2a-faith-hope-and-love-ep-191/s-gFKzU (EPISODE: 191)
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Prologue:
John the Baptist went about proclaiming that the Day of the Lord was near and that NOW was the time to repent and change our ways or else! All of a sudden he sees in the distance the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism of repentance. He calls out the equivalent of: "Well well !!.. Look who we have here. If it isn't the snakes escaping the Disaster! Who told you what was coming?" The Pharisees and the Sadducees were well known for focusing on external things and how they wanted to be seen to be doing the right thing, whether or not they really were. But this did not fool John the Baptist. Your lives have to change! External rituals are not enough unless your heart is changed, your heart is torn in repentance and sorrow and a change of mindset. God does not judge by what the eye sees or the ear hears but from the heart...... with righteousness and equality.
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"Years ago, a man was shocked to read his own obituary in the morning paper. His death was mistakenly reported. But what shocked him most was how the obituary described him: as someone who had devoted his life to making weapons of war. That morning he resolved to turn his energies in a new direction: working for world peace and human betterment. That man was Alfred Nobel, founder of the Nobel Peace Prize.#
Alfred Nobel: Known for inventing dynamite, Nobel also an iron and steel company which he transformed into a major manufacturer of cannon, torpedoes and other armaments.
In 1888, Alfred's brother Ludvig died while visiting Cannes and a French newspaper erroneously published Alfred's obituary. It condemned him for his invention of dynamite. The obituary stated, "Le Marchand de la Mort est Mort!" - ("The Merchant of Death is Dead!"), and went on to say, "Dr Alfred Nobel, who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before, died yesterday." Of his inventions and patents, he wrote that "there is nothing in the world which cannot be misunderstood or abused." In actual point of fact, Nobel truly despised war, but knew that his creations would forever link him to what he called "the horror of horrors." The shock of reading his own obituary and its condemnation of his life is said to have brought about his decision to leave a better legacy by instituting and bequeathing the Nobel Peace prize and associated awards for human and scientific excellence. **
John the Baptist's warning to us to turn from our sins, and Nobel's decision to turn his energies in a new direction, challenge us to make an inventory of our lives and reassess our own life goals."
John the Baptist is a precursor to Christ. A word that literally means, one who runs ahead of another. SO, John is coming before the Lord, calling, out, get ready, clear the path. The Lord is coming. Make way, he is coming. Get ready. Watch out.
I hadn't noticed before, but with the coming of John the Baptist, here was a battle between humble priests and oppressive priests. As the Priests and Sadducees came out to see what was happening in the Jordan River, John called them a "brood of vipers." This is really saying, you are sons of snakes, not sons of humans. This is very important. People were born into noble or humble positions due to their family association. There were rich city priests and then humble and poor priests such as Zechariah, John the Baptist's father. The gap between them was enormous and wrong. John was saying, birthright, alone, means nothing to God. One is a child of God by their actions, their fruits… and being called a son of Abraham won't count much if they don't show it by lives turned to God's justice, because, (as John points out so vividly), If those called to be children of the Kingdom should fail to produce the fruits of their calling, God could raise up new ancestors from Abraham from the rocks that surround them.
The result of the full establishment of God's Kingdom will be peace. But true peace is only achieved by ensuring true justice is given to those who are bowed down by the state of things as they are. The powerful signs of repentance and conversion undertaken by John the Baptist have one major qualifier in them – The change he is calling for in people is not achieved merely by undertaking external rituals or outward signs. The change being proclaimed must be made worthy by the fruits that are produced by this conversion. Timely advice indeed.
Conversion, repentance and lives of justice, compassion, practical assistance to the needy and above all LOVE, are the only paths to God's Kingdom. The Lord is indeed coming. He will not delay. And he must find us awake and alert and busy about the Father's work.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
Gutiérrez, G. and Dees, C. (1997). Sharing the Word through the liturgical year. 1st ed. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.
#Link, M. (1992). Vision - PRAYING SCRIPTURE IN A CONTEMPORARY WAY. Year A. Allen, Tex.: Tabor Pub. P.20. ISBN: 0883474328
Pilch, J. (1995). The Cultural World of Jesus. SUNDAY BY SUNDAY, CYCLE A. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press.
**"Alfred Nobel". 2019. En.Wikipedia.Org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Nobel
Image: By ChameleonsEye Shutterstock Licensed stock photo ID: 134552789. TIBERIAS - MAY 18: Baptism ceremony at the Jordan River in northern Israel on May 18 2009.
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"Faith, Hope and Love, A time of Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul W. Kelly
Texts used in this programme are for the purposes of worship and prayer for listeners wherever you are.
Prayers and chants are taken from the English Translation of the Roman Missal, edition three, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy.
Scriptures are from the New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, by the national council of Churches of Christ, USA. Adaptations to conform with Catholic liturgical norms, © 2009, by the same.
Prayers of the Faithful are adapted from Robert Borg's 1993 book "Together we pray". Published in Sydney Australia By E.J. Dwyer. (out of print).
"Faith, Hope and Love" theme Hymn: Words, based on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, set to original music © 1996 by Paul W. Kelly.
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May God bless and keep you.
Second Sunday of Advent. Year A. (Sunday, December 8, 2019)
(EPISODE: 191)
In the Name of the Father (+) and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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{{peace and compassion to you }}
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
Lord Jesus. You call us to prepare the way and make straight pathways for God. Lord have mercy.
You invite us to paths of righteousness, faithfulness and justice. Christ Have mercy.
O Wisdom, Come to teach us the way of truth.. Lord Have mercy.
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, one 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
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
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Advent 1
Euch Prayer II
Communion side. pwk: LH
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{Bless you all and May God's grace guide you each and every day.}
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
