Christian Reflection and Prayer

Second Sunday Sunday of Advent

[Light the first candle on the Advent wreath.]

The prophet Isaiah wrote, "See, I am sending
my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare
your way; the voice of one crying out in the
wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make
his paths straight.'" (Mark 1:2-3)

And John, the messenger of God, proclaimed to
all the people who came to him in the wilderness
that they must repent of their sins and be
baptized. Many people heard his message,
repented, and were baptized in the river Jordan.

It has become our custom to prepare for the birth
of the Messiah by decorating our cities and homes,
hanging the lights inside and out, singing "Frosty
the Snowman" and "Rudolph the Red Nosed
Reindeer," and measuring the quality of our
Christmas morning by the number of gifts we receive.

[Light the second candle.]

As we light this second candle in preparation for the
coming of the Messiah, perhaps we need to listen
again to John the Baptizer's message, preparing the
way of the Lord:

…make straight the paths

  …repent of your sins

     …be baptized

       …and live holy lives devoted to God.


COME, LORD JESUS. AMEN.