SUNDAY: December 9, 2007
Second Sunday of Advent
1st reading: Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
2nd reading: Rom 15:4-9
Gospel reading: Matt 3:1-12
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Application:
Peace is the theme of the Second Sunday of Advent. The first reading describes Christ, the
Messiah who came from the line of Jesse, King David's father. It also describes how to obtain
peace — a peace that sustains us even in the midst of sufferings and trials. It's the very nature of
Jesus himself: "The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him"; have you felt the Holy Spirit "resting"
on you lately?
We experience true peace when we're in a restful relationship with God, i.e., when we're not struggling against him and his ways and his plans for us. Peace does not depend on finding an end to the struggles we have with people or with financial shortages or addictions or health
problems, etc.. We can work hard to accomplish peace in any trial, win the war, and still not be at peace.
Peace comes to us in the wisdom and understanding that we get from the Holy Spirit. Peace comes from following the Spirit's counsel and relying upon God's strength. Peace comes from gaining knowledge of the truth that God wants us to know, in total submission to his authority, obediently acting upon the truth.
In the Gospel reading, John the Baptist reminds us to "prepare the way of the Lord and make
straight his paths." To receive the Spirit of God and his peace, we must prepare ourselves to
meet Jesus in the Mass and in all the other ways that he wants to come to us. How?
By identifying and repenting of our sins, thus straightening our crooked paths. We need to get rid of the obstacles that block our view of Jesus. We need to stop following our feelings and
fascinations that lead us into twisted circles that get us nowhere fast in our search for peace.
Whatever separates us from God's peace we must get rid of, either through the Sacrament of
Reconciliation or, when we've committed only small, venial sins, through the Penitential Rite at
the beginning of Mass.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
With so many things happening during the Advent season, how do you find peace within the
hustle and bustle of things?
i agree that many things have happened lately, and it really does seem difficult to obtain peace, if i do not try. Peace, like what is mentioned above, should be obtained from the holy spirit. but when distractions such as computer anime and TV comes into the picture, the direct relationship with the helper is disturbed. thus, i must put in some sacrifices to make sure that time is allocated to really speak to God. i'm reading the bible currently, now at Luke. and i've learnt a LOT of things: how Jesus grew up and how wise he is. He is my true idol!! haha. only by reading the Bible and getting to know god beeter can i find peace, i feel.
What has stolen your peace?
TV, computer anime mostly. there's one point of time when i realised i've been so caught up in these ephemeral stuff that i just dropped everything. i took time to recollect myself, and retrospected. Why am i so caught up with nothingness? why am i doing something meaningless? WHAT AM I DOING? that was when i really felt the Helper, gathering pieces and pieces, slowly but surely. now i realised what Advent is all about: to prepare yourself; to make some sacrifice; to seach and seek yourself from within as Christ is coming. That is what Advent truly means, and i hope i am able to prepare myself for HIS coming, to really feel his presence on His Birthday. pls help me too, O dearest Helper. Help me to prepare myself, and shiled me from distractions and sins. THis I duly Ask in Father's name. Amen
Second Sunday of Advent
1st reading: Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
2nd reading: Rom 15:4-9
Gospel reading: Matt 3:1-12
———————————————————————————————————————————
Application:
Peace is the theme of the Second Sunday of Advent. The first reading describes Christ, the
Messiah who came from the line of Jesse, King David's father. It also describes how to obtain
peace — a peace that sustains us even in the midst of sufferings and trials. It's the very nature of
Jesus himself: "The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him"; have you felt the Holy Spirit "resting"
on you lately?
We experience true peace when we're in a restful relationship with God, i.e., when we're not struggling against him and his ways and his plans for us. Peace does not depend on finding an end to the struggles we have with people or with financial shortages or addictions or health
problems, etc.. We can work hard to accomplish peace in any trial, win the war, and still not be at peace.
Peace comes to us in the wisdom and understanding that we get from the Holy Spirit. Peace comes from following the Spirit's counsel and relying upon God's strength. Peace comes from gaining knowledge of the truth that God wants us to know, in total submission to his authority, obediently acting upon the truth.
In the Gospel reading, John the Baptist reminds us to "prepare the way of the Lord and make
straight his paths." To receive the Spirit of God and his peace, we must prepare ourselves to
meet Jesus in the Mass and in all the other ways that he wants to come to us. How?
By identifying and repenting of our sins, thus straightening our crooked paths. We need to get rid of the obstacles that block our view of Jesus. We need to stop following our feelings and
fascinations that lead us into twisted circles that get us nowhere fast in our search for peace.
Whatever separates us from God's peace we must get rid of, either through the Sacrament of
Reconciliation or, when we've committed only small, venial sins, through the Penitential Rite at
the beginning of Mass.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
With so many things happening during the Advent season, how do you find peace within the
hustle and bustle of things?
i agree that many things have happened lately, and it really does seem difficult to obtain peace, if i do not try. Peace, like what is mentioned above, should be obtained from the holy spirit. but when distractions such as computer anime and TV comes into the picture, the direct relationship with the helper is disturbed. thus, i must put in some sacrifices to make sure that time is allocated to really speak to God. i'm reading the bible currently, now at Luke. and i've learnt a LOT of things: how Jesus grew up and how wise he is. He is my true idol!! haha. only by reading the Bible and getting to know god beeter can i find peace, i feel.
What has stolen your peace?
TV, computer anime mostly. there's one point of time when i realised i've been so caught up in these ephemeral stuff that i just dropped everything. i took time to recollect myself, and retrospected. Why am i so caught up with nothingness? why am i doing something meaningless? WHAT AM I DOING? that was when i really felt the Helper, gathering pieces and pieces, slowly but surely. now i realised what Advent is all about: to prepare yourself; to make some sacrifice; to seach and seek yourself from within as Christ is coming. That is what Advent truly means, and i hope i am able to prepare myself for HIS coming, to really feel his presence on His Birthday. pls help me too, O dearest Helper. Help me to prepare myself, and shiled me from distractions and sins. THis I duly Ask in Father's name. Amen
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