Posted: 12/2/2009 6:35:26 PM EDT
|
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Second Sunday of Advent Reading 1 Bar 5:1-9 1 Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on for ever the beauty of the glory from God. 2 Put on the robe of the righteousness from God; put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting. 3 For God will show your splendor everywhere under heaven. 4 For your name will for ever be called by God, "Peace of righteousness and glory of godliness." 5 Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height and look toward the east, and see your children gathered from west and east, at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them. 6 For they went forth from you on foot, led away by their enemies; but God will bring them back to you, carried in glory, as on a royal throne. 7 For God has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made low and the valleys filled up, to make level ground, so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God. 8 The woods and every fragrant tree have shaded Israel at God's command. 9 For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him. Reading II Phil 1:4-6, 8-11 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 thankful for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Gospel Luke 3:1-6 1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiber'i-us Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturae'a and Trachoni'tis, and Lysa'ni-as tetrarch of Abile'ne, 2 in the high-priesthood of Annas and Ca'iaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechari'ah in the wilderness; 3 and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." Study Resources and CCC References here. Overview of the Gospel: * This Sunday’s gospel for the Second Sunday in Advent takes place at the Jordan River where John the Baptist is preparing the people for the coming of the Messiah. Based on the historical data given us by Luke (verses 1-2), the time is around A.D. 27-29. * John’s appearance and message (see also Matthew 3 and following) brings to mind that of Elijah the prophet in the Old Testament (2 Kings 1:8). In fact, John is considered the last of the Old Testament prophets, predicted in Malachi (3:23-24) and later confirmed by Jesus (Matthew 17:10-13). * In applying the prophecy of Isaiah to himself (verses 4-6; Isaiah 40:3-5; John 1:23), John recalls to his listeners the promises of the Messianic Kingdom found in Isaiah chapters 40 to 45, and thus prepares them for the Messiah, Jesus, who is about to come into their midst. Questions: * Luke is very careful to note the exact historical conditions surrounding the proclamation by John the Baptist of Jesus’ coming (verses 1-2). Why is this important? How is this foreshadowed in the First Reading? How does the second reading show how God’s activity continues in us? How does it show that God is active in history—then and now? * What was John proclaiming (verse 3)? What type of baptism is he preaching and how does it differ from sacramental baptism, established by Christ (see Luke 3:11; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:37-38, 19:3-5)? What does Christian baptism do? * What does it mean to “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths” (verse 4)? What is the “way” and “path” of the Lord as he comes into your life—the valleys and the hills (verse 5)? How are they crooked and un-level? How can you prepare the Lord’s ways and paths in your life this Advent in preparation for Christmas? * What does John mean when he says “all flesh shall see the salvation of God” (verse 6)? How has this been fulfilled in Jesus Christ (see Ephesians 2:11-20)? |
|
* What was John proclaiming (verse 3)? What type of baptism is he preaching and how does it differ from sacramental baptism, established by Christ (see Luke 3:11; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:37-38, 19:3-5)? What does Christian baptism do?
John was preaching penance. The baptism of John did not have the power to forgive sins, for John was only preaching repentance and bringing them towards the forgiveness of sins, that is, he was guiding them to Sacramental Baptism, from which there is remission of sins. * What does it mean to “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths” (verse 4)? What is the “way” and “path” of the Lord as he comes into your life—the valleys and the hills (verse 5)? How are they crooked and un-level? Theophylact says, "He is saying, therefore, "Prepare yourselves for the evangelic life, the life that is lived according to the Gospel, and make the commandments of the law straight, that is, make them spiritual." For the Spirit is straight and right." |
|
Luke is very careful to note the exact historical conditions surrounding the proclamation by John the Baptist of Jesus’ coming (verses 1-2). Why is this important?
One reason is that the political and religious "leaders" of the time are mentioned - some very important (or self-important), high-ranking men - yet we are told that "the word of God came to John the son of Zechari'ah in the wilderness" - not to any of these "important" men. These leaders have been oppressing the people and the first readers of this gospel would have picked up on this right away. God's word did not come to them - God is telling them something! God is getting ready to act. How is this foreshadowed in the First Reading? The same language of preparing for God's action is used in Baruch as those used by John the Baptist. |