2nd Sunday of Advent (Cycle C, Year II)
Community Word: Children of the Father live in joyful hope, peace and love for the coming of Jesus, our Savior.
Theme: We prepare for the coming of Jesus, our Savior, when we transform our ways through repentance and forgiveness of sins.
Promise: “The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” (Lk 3:5b-6)
Reflection:
The season of Advent is an opportune time to recall those occasions when we neglected to put Jesus at the center of our lives, when we disrespected Him in our thoughts, by our actions or inactions. We are asked to remember and recognize those times when we did not love others the way Jesus teaches us to love, failing to be His hands and feet to others and turning our backs to our Lord away from His grace and love. We are invited towards conversion of heart, to confess our sins, and to resolve in avoiding temptations, with sincere and fervent penance to restore our lost relationship with God.
The message for the 2nd Sunday of Advent reminds us to repent and ask forgiveness for our sins as the best way to prepare for the Lord’s second coming. Repentance is going back to the heart of God, admitting our weakness and our failure in fulfilling the commandment to love. We must return to His mercy and grace, knowing that He is the only One who brings healing to our sick souls and release us from the bondage of sin.
We encounter God’s power to forgive and His mighty arm of mercy in the sacrament of reconciliation through the priest who acts as the minister of His forgiving love. When the priest grants absolution, the penitent is set free of his offenses. He is using the authority entrusted by Christ to His Church by which sins are forgiven. Confession is the indispensable sacrament and font of God’s grace in making our preparation for this season fruitful, meaningful and complete.
Sadly, nowadays going to confession has lost its value and attraction to many people. It is noticeable that present-day society is losing the “sense of sin.” We learn that many countries have legalized divorce and some are making laws which circumvent the preservation of the unborn fetus. More and more countries are permitting same sex marriages. These horrible offenses against God, nature and humanity are no longer considered morally wrong and sinful simply because these are accepted by society and are legalized. But as Christians, we know that not everything legal is morally right. Yet, some lawmakers think that personal freedom is absolute and they can change moral laws as they wish.
In the Acts of the Apostles, it is written, “Now you must repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,” (Acts 3:19). This may sound like a simple invitation, but it is really a command from the Lord for all of us to experience His forgiveness in the sacrament of reconciliation and to break the barrier between us and God which sin has created. He stirs our hearts constantly, humbles and encourages us to allow Him to rule over our lives, making our heart His home. As the shining star of Bethlehem, we are led to Jesus, our loving Savior.
As we remain in God’s grace, we become steadfast even in the face of insurmountable challenges of life, for the Lord has promised us, “The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” (Lk 3:5b-6). May Advent become meaningful for us as we continue our faith
journey with Jesus, our Emmanuel, always with us until He comes again.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, grant us the grace of repentance through the sacrament of reconciliation so that we may be free from the slavery of sin. Help us to grow in humility and faith, the essential ingredients for our spiritual preparation for Your coming – in history, in mystery and in glory. Make us aware of the many things that keep us from You and be fully determined turn away from them. Keep us holy during the season of Advent that we may celebrate Your birthday with joy, not only this Christmas but every day of our lives. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
- How do you prepare spiritually for Christmas during the Advent Season? When was the last time you made a meaningful confession?
- Where you have a difficult time repenting for certain offenses and asking forgiveness, how do you intend to overcome these struggles?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
Dec 5, 2021 (Sun) – Bar 5:1-9/ Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6/ Phil 1:4-6, 8-11/ Lk 3:1-6
Dec 6, 2021 (Mon) – Is 35:1-10/ Ps 85:9, 10-14/ Lk 5:17-26
Dec 7, 2021 (Tue) – Is 40:1-11/ Ps 96:1-3, 10-13/ Mt 18:12-14
Dec 8, 2021 (Wed) – Gen 3:9-15, 20/ Ps 98:1, 2-3, 4/ Eph 1:3-6, 11-12/ Lk 1:26-38
Dec 9, 2021 (Thu) – Is 41:13-20/ Ps 148:1, 9, 10-13/ Mt 11:11-15
Dec 10, 2021 (Fri) – Is 48:17-19/ Ps 1:1-4, 6/ Mt 11:16-19
Dec 11, 2021 (Sat) – Sir 48:1-4, 9-11/ Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19/ Mt 17:9a, 10-13
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
