REFLECTIONS #1055: “Preparing our Hearts for Christ” – 2nd Sunday of Advent 2020
By: Marga Mary
Tags: Jesus, Gospel, Holy Mass, Advent, Catholic

REFLECTIONS #1055: “Preparing our Hearts for Christ” – 2nd Sunday of Advent 2020

Gospel



Mk 1:1-8



Make straight the paths of the Lord.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark



The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.







As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:



Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;



he will prepare your way.



A voice of one crying out in the desert:



“Prepare the way of the Lord,



make straight his paths.”



John the Baptist appeared in the desert



proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.



People of the whole Judean countryside



and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem



were going out to him



and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River



as they acknowledged their sins.



John was clothed in camel’s hair,



with a leather belt around his waist.

He fed on locusts and wild honey.



And this is what he proclaimed:



“One mightier than I is coming after me.



I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.



I have baptized you with water;



he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”







At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:







The Gospel of the Lord.







All reply:







Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.







Reflections:

A blessed Sunday to all of us! The summary of John the Baptist’s message is about repentance and forgiveness of sins. He was born to prepare the way of the Lord by preaching to people about the baptism of repentance. It is the same for us this advent. How do we prepare? Is it the Christmas decorations? Is it the delicious foods? Is it the trendy clothes and shoes or the Christmas presents? None of these. It is our hearts made clean by God’s forgiveness. Above all, let us prepare ourselves by confessing our sins in the sacrament of reconciliation. It is comparable to the long-awaited bathe of our soul. There in that sacrament, we will be new people who are born again.

No matter how delicious the food is, it does not matter much if your hearts do not change. Others say, "I do not feel like it’s Christmas". Why? What is Christmas to you? Christmas is free of charge. Most businesses make money out of Christmas. It is big money for them. But from the beginning, it was not so. It is not subject to anyone or anything but to Christ who is to come. Without Him there would be no Christmas. The spirit of Christmas is in Christ Himself. He gives His love, mercy, and forgiveness to us for free. The church is always open to welcome us.

We are the only ones who are too busy with a lot of stuff and material things. However, there is no true happiness and spirit of Christmas outside unless we prepare our hearts and pay attention to our relationship with God. May our relationship with God be our focus this advent season. This way, no matter what happens, Christmas will be full of joy and peace, because Christ alone is enough and He never leaves us.

It is us who misunderstands Him and turns our back on Him. Through the sacraments of confession and Holy Mass, our relationship with God is revived, sustained and made to flourish. He welcomes us. He waits for us every day whenever we are ready. Amen. +

May we reflect on this. Amen. +

God bless you!



Reflections by Frances Mary Margaret D.J.



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