Homily Cycle B – Second Sunday of Advent 12/06/2020
Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120620.cfm
Advent is a “subdued” liturgical season and it certainly will be this year as we continue living through the COVID 19 Pandemic. Advent and COVID remind us that our time on earth is limited. Advent is time to ask quietly, and humbly, why are we here?
Decorations for the season will not be as festive but that can remind us that our souls are searching, seeking for HOPEFUL signs. Today’s 1st Reading is a HOPEFUL sign, Isaiah says, “… give comfort to my people ….” The COVID vaccines look very promising, but more importantly God will comfort us if we allow His comfort to envelop us. Isaiah tells us to “… prepare the way of the Lord.” And the Lord cannot comfort us if we don’t prepare the way.
This Advent Litany may help us prepare for the celebration of the Incarnation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
For putting second things first … Lord have mercy!
For not rejoicing in God’s love … Lord have mercy!
For getting lost in what doesn’t matter … Lord have mercy!
For cluttering my life, and the lives of those dear to me … Lord, have mercy!
For collecting things at the expense of people … Lord, have mercy!
For simple gifts … I thank you Lord!
For Your presence in my life … I thank you Lord!
For Your love … I thank you Lord!
For knowing my name … I thank you Lord!
For reminding me what really matters … I thank you Lord!
Isaiah proclaimed that God “Like a shepherd … feeds his flock, … gathers the lambs.” Think about this for a few minutes: “If God doesn’t need us, why are we here? Simply put, we are here because God wants to exercise his own goodness in us by giving us his grace and his glory.” [Lift Up Your Hearts: A 10-Day Personal Retreat with St. Francis de Sales, by John Burns]
In our Responsorial Psalm we pleaded with God “… to see His kindness … and be [granted] His salvation.” Advent is a season of spiritual awakening, a call to change refocus of our lives from the mundane to the spiritual.
Last week Pope Francis urged the 13 new cardinals, including Wilton Gregory of Washington, D.C., to be “vigilant, hopeful and helpful.” [America Magazine, 11/29/2020]
Great Advice for us during this Advent:
Be vigilant – spend time in prayer,
Be hopeful – spend time desiring God’s love & expecting to receive it,
Be helpful - do a kind act for someone.
In our second reading we heard “… with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like one day.” That insight from scripture reminds me the story about Jimmy.
He was
laying on a hill in the middle of a meadow on a warm sunny day; he began
thinking about God. Jimmy wondered aloud,
"God? Are you really there?"
To his astonishment a voice, "Yes, Jimmy? What can I do for you?"
Jimmy asked, "God? What is a million years like to you?"
God responded, "A million years to me is like a minute."
"Oh," said Jimmy. "Well, then, what's a million dollars like to
you?" "A million dollars to me, Jimmy, is like a penny."
"Wow!" remarked Jimmy, “Can I have one of your pennies?"
God replied, "Sure thing, Jimmy! Just a minute." [Sermons.Com]
Advent is a season of preparation, a thousand
years, a million years, a day; we don’t know how much time we have, so let’s
make the most of it to “prepare the way of the Lord.”
For a few minutes, in silence, think a about your life, are you preparing to meet the Lord, are you preparing the way of the Lord?
May God Be Praised!
Advent Prayer
Lord, my God, I praise you with my voice, and with my actions. I give You my heart today, grant me the courage to give it to You every day. My life is a gift from You, to You I offer my thoughts and deeds. Lord, my God, Grant me the Courage to Listen to You voice and follow You.
COVID PANDEMIC PRAYER
You are my refuge and my hope, I turn to You during this COVID 19 Pandemic and plead for Your intercession. In Your mercy and Your compassion “… grant eternal rest to the dead, comfort to mourners, healing to the sick ….” strength to the first responders, compassion and endurance to the medical personnel, and wisdom to government leaders. End this coronavirus scourge. Send Your light to guide me as I wander in the darkness of this pandemic and give me the solace of Your eternal love today. Amen. [Psalm 143 and Collect from Mass Time in Pandemic Adopted by Dcn. George Kelly]
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