SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT, DECEMBER 10, 2023

MASS READINGS:

Gospel

MK 1:1-8

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 desertproclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.People of the whole Judean countrysideand all the inhabitants of Jerusalemwere going out to himand 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.”

REFLECTION

"I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Advent is a time of cleansing my soul from all that can damage me.

We all know that our homes are "lived in". There are many scattered chores and projects thruout the house. But when company is coming be it a friend, a King or most auspicious a priest, we run around cleaning, sweeping, dusting so we can maybe impress but most important show respect and homage.

But where did we put all our crafts, papers, projects, etc? Either in drawers or boxes to resurrect when "the coast is clear".

Advent is such a time to houseclean all our bad habits and sins away from our home, entirely, never hiding them in drawers where we have easy access to them once company leaves.

People can see fasting if we point out what we can't have, sacrificing in deeds, feeding the poor, or praying for others, if we refrain from gossip or uncharitable acts. All these are great for the joyous preparation and expectation of the arrival of the King.

But where have we put our bad habits, unloving thoughts, laziness, gluttony, pride of preferring our own excellence to others, vanity in our thoughts, gestures and deeds, easily offended, grandiose vanity in our conversations and looking down on people? Could they be put away in storage in my soul where I want the King to reside? My soul's drawers are full of bad habits and sins. Where do I start cleaning? Sincere confession with a will to change can start clearing out all this junk that has resided in my soul.

My soul's home needs to be cleansed of all the disorder in my drawers, not only in the outside with corporal works of mercy but inside where obedience, love, patience should reside and are there for our King to see, and hopefully grant us more graces so that He not just visits occasionally but lives permanently in a clean soul.

As Advent fast approaches Christmas, may we eagerly anticipate our baptism with the Holy Spirit, as He comes to visit and set up a home in us. May we be free of clutter for our God King.

God bless you.