Advent Sunday 3 B: Rejoice

Advent is a time of joy – joy in the waiting and this Sunday we wear the joyful rose-coloured vestment. The messenger in the first reading is the ‘joyful messenger’, and his joy is that God is near and God is coming. This would be the message of Jesus –that he was the joyful messenger of his Father’s love. He would be the shepherd – the one who cares, knows and actively looks after the sheep. John the Baptist is the voice of joy and energy, preaching the new message.



 

Gospel text :   John 1:6-8, 19-28 

2nd Week, Advent, Monday Dec 7

2nd Week of Advent, Monday, Dec 7

Isaiah 35:1-10 / Luke 5:17-26

 Our God is coming: He will save us.

 In God of the Oppressed James Cone describes what Sunday worship meant for black slaves in pre-Civil War days: “How could black slaves know they were human beings when they were treated like cattle? How could they know that they were somebody when everything in their environment said that they were nobody?” Cone answers: “Only because they knew that Christ was present with them and that presence included the divine promise to come again to take them to the ‘New Jerusalem.’”

1st Week of Advent, Saturday, Dec 5

 Isaiah 30:19-21, 25-26 / Matthew 9:35 - 10:1, 6-8

 When you cry out, he will answer you. The harvest is great, "Send workers to gather it in. "

Kate Drexel came from a wealthy Philadelphia family. While riding about the city, she saw the tragic plight of black children living in hideous slum conditions. In her reading she learned about the plight black children in the South and of Native American children in the West. Moved to pity, Kate founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament to work among these children. Before Mother Katherine Drexel died at age 97, she spent nearly $20 million of her own personal fortune to care for and educate blacks and Indians. Today, her order continues her work.

1st Week of Advent, Friday, Dec 4

Isaiah 29:17-24 / Matthew 9:27-31 

Isaiah talks about messianic times: Then the eyes of the blind will see.

Bob Evans had been blind since birth. When he was 50 years old, an operation gave him eyesight for the first time in his life. Suddenly his world changed beyond belief. He said in a Chicago Sun-Times interview: “It’s the most amazing thing in the world. ... I can’t wait to get up each day to see what I can see. . . .“And at night I look at the stars. . . . Everything is a constant high. You could never know how wonderful everything is.” This story gives us an insight into Isaiah’s prophecy in today’s reading, about how life will be changed for people when the Messiah comes.

Advent Sunday 2 B - Liturgical Prayers

Introduction and Litany of Praise

Option A
In today's liturgy we hear again the lonely voice
of John the Baptist urging us to prepare a way
for the Lord. Let us create a space in our minds
and hearts so that the Lord can come
to us in this Eucharist. [pause]

John began his mission with a call to repentance.
Jesus repeats his call to us today. [pause]

1st Week of Advent, Wednesday, Dec 2

Isaiah 25:6-10 / Matthew 15:29-37

The Lord will feast his people: He will wipe away all tears.

 

Pulitzer prize winning author Thornton Wilder wrote a novel called The Eighth Day. It’s about a good and decent family whose lives are filled with pain, sorrow, and hardship—caused by evil people. Wilder ends his novel without alleviating or resolving the family’s tragic situation.

Advent 2 B - Prepare the Way

A school principal called the house of one of his teachers to find out why he was not in school. He was greeted by a small child who whisper: “Hello?”

Advent 2nd Sunday B: Prepare the Way - Shorter Homily

1st Week of Advent, Tuesday, Nov 30

 1st Week of Advent, Tuesday, Nov 30

Isaiah 11:1-10 / Luke 10:21-24

The Spirit rests upon him; He will defend the rights of the helpless.

Stories for Sermons: B Cycle: Advent to Easter