December 10, 2017: Second Sunday of Advent
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| See 14 connections with today? Legend below |
Listen
From Handel's Messiah (1st reading)
- Comfort ye and Every valley
- And the glory of the Lord
- O Thou that tellest good tidings to Zion
- He shall feed his flock: another, with recitativ and duet
For 1st reading and/or gospel
- Comfort, comfort, O my people/ Olearius tr. Winkworth: lyrics+
- There's a voice in the wilderness crying/ Milligan: Andersen setting, lyrics+
- Awake to the day/ Bolduc
- Prepare the way of the Lord/ Berthier (Taizé) (round), lyrics+
- On Jordan's bank/ Coffin; lyrics variants here and here
- Like a shepherd/ Dufford
- Let the valleys be raised/ Schutte
- Advent glad song/ Toolan
- Every valley/ Dufford
- A voice cries out/ Joncas
- Path of your return/ Kendzia
- Exult, you just ones/ O'Connor
- When John baptized in Jordan's river/ Dudley-Smith: lyrics+
- John/ Winter (Medical Mission Sisters): leadsheet and note
For Psalm 85
- Psalm 85: Let us see your kindness/ Celoni: sheet music and demo (2 variants)
- Let us see your kindness/ Haugen
For next Sunday
- Luke 1: My soul rejoices/ Celoni: sheet music
Advent is a time to make space for the coming of Jesus in our lives. As we look into ourselves and recognize our sins, especially those of omission, now is a good time to pray more intensely and fill the voids we see. For example, we're called to be more attentive to others' needs, and so, like John the Baptist, open paths of hope in arid hearts. Prepare for the Lord's coming you would for a loved one: with care and joy. Wait with care and expectation so we may be filled with grace when he arrives.
The voice crying out in the desert is also an indication of the climate of conversion and penitence that puts us in the right state to meet the Lord. The Savior we await can transform our lives with the force of the Spirit, with the strength of love. Mary was totally immersed in this reality, allowing herself to be “baptized” by the Spirit who filled her with power. May she, who prepared for Christ's arrival with her whole existence, help us follow his example and guide us in our steps to meet the Lord.
- Is 40:1-5, 9-11 Comfort my people; proclaim that her service is at an end and her guilt expiated. "Prepare the way of the Lord! His glory shall be revealed." Cry, "Here is your God, coming and ruling with power. He feeds and leads his flock like a shepherd."
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| The Lord is patient with you... (Animate) |
- Ps 85:9-14 "Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation." Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. The Lord will give his benefits. Justice shall prepare his way.
- 2 Pt 3:8-14 With the Lord one day is like a thousand years. The Lord doesn't delay but is patient with you, wishing you to repent; his day will come like a thief. Conduct yourselves in holiness and devotion, waiting for and hastening its coming, We await new heavens and new earth; be eager to be found spotless and at peace.
- Mk 1:1-8 Isaiah wrote, "I'm sending my messenger to prepare your way, one crying, 'Prepare the way of the Lord.'" John the Baptist proclaimed a baptism of repentance. People went to him, acknowledged their sins, and were baptized. He proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming; I'm not worthy to loosen his sandals. I baptize with water; he'll baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
"Justice and peace kissing" gallery
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- Msgr. Albert Bahhuth homily video: Prepare for Christ's comings: reflect, repent, reconcile, be a voice for Jesus, with humility.
- Creighton: Israel, Zion, Jerusalem, is in captivity, not feeling consolation or cared for. Isaiah cries out promises and hopeful images of what God will do. Is Advent the time for our coming close to God, or is God already closer to us than we are to ourselves? It's our time to get closer to where God already has come, ourselves. Let Jesus advance toward you with the inviting gesture of recovery. Jesus is here! May we reside again where he comforts and recovers us.
- One Bread, One Body: "Tender, comforting love": The Lord wants us to have a special encounter with him. He'll make our relationship with him so deep, personal, and intimate that he'll comfort us even in our worst sufferings. The Lord wants a tender relationship with us; he lives in us and we in him. We receive this relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Come, Christmas Spirit of comforting, tenderness, and deep love!
- Passionist: You and I have been given what we need to serve. No one is too “lowly”. Find ways to help pave God’s path, gather the lost, spread love, and bring light to the world. Forgive, hug, help, defend, advocate, and act. What a difference we'd make if we all did!
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| St. John the Baptist/ Reni |
- DailyScripture.net: "The baptism of repentance and purification in the Spirit": John the Baptist's passion was to point others to Jesus and his kingdom. He was filled with the Spirit from the womb and led by the Spirit into the wilderness prior to his ministry; his clothing like the prophet Elijah's. Breaking the prophetic silence, he spoke God's word to Israel, awakening repentance. He was the voice of the Consoler to come. Am I eager to hear God's word and to be changed by it?
As John's baptism was for repentance, ours in Christ yields new birth and entry into God's kingdom as his children. God's word can transform us into lights pointing others to Christ. Like John, we're called to testify to the light and truth of Christ. Do I point others to Christ through how I live?
- St. Melchiades, 3-year pope
- St. John Roberts, OSB, convert, monk, priest, missionary, martyr; see also Downside Abbey.
- SS. Edmund Gennings and Eustace White, converts, priests, martyrs
- St. Polydore Plasden/Oliver Palmer, priest, martyr
- St. Swithin Wells, martyr
- Thomas Merton, wild man turned Trappist monk, spiritual autobiographer (The Seven Storey Mountain: active life has no value unless contemplation overflows into action....); see Thomas Merton Center, and Pope Francis on him when addressing Congress.
Dress legend
- 'Hand' tie pin: Jerusalem has received double from the Lord's hand for her sins (1st reading)
- 'Sheep' tie bar: Like a shepherd he'll feed his flock (1st reading)
- 'Highway' tie: Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! (1st reading); the messenger will prepare your way (gospel)
- 'Alps' pin: Every mountain shall be made low (1st reading)
- 'Car with mouth' pin: The mouth of the Lord has spoken (1st reading)
- 'Lamb' tie bar: In his arms he gathers the lambs (1st reading)
- 'Clocks' suspenders: With the Lord one day is like 1,000 years (2nd reading)
- 'Peace sign' tie bar: The Lord proclaims peace (psalm); be eager to be found spotless before him, at peace (2nd reading)
- 'Fire' pin: The elements will be dissolved by fire (2nd reading)
- Belt: John the Baptist's leather belt (gospel)
- 'Dove' tie pin: The one to come after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit (gospel)
- 'Honey' tie (not shown; trumped by 'highway' tie): John the Baptist fed on locusts and wild honey;... (gospel)
- Blue in tie: ...People came to him to be baptized (gospel)
- Sandals (not shown): "I'm not worthy to loosen his sandals" (gospel)
- Purple shirt: Advent season
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