SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT Don’t Be Childish “If you had only paid attention to what I have said,” complains the Lord through the prophet, for God wants our own good. Jesus complains that there are people who behave in a childish way when John the Baptist preaches repentance in preparation for the coming of the […]
Category Archives: Daily Readings
December 9, Thursday SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT It is heartening to hear these days a strong and repeated message of encouragement. This is what we believe in if we trust in the nearness of God in his Son Jesus Christ. When people […]
December 8, Wednesday SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT Mary leads the way for all the people who journey toward the Lord. Today the Church applies to Mary, the virgin conceived without sin, the words of the prophet: “I exult for joy in the Lord, my soul rejoices in my God.” Why this joy? Because Mary […]
December 7, Tuesday SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT The author of Second Isaiah has a beautiful message of joy and hope. God will end the exile of his people and bring them back to him. Their sins are forgiven. He will live among them as their shepherd. God became visible as the shepherd of […]
December 6, Monday SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT At the time of the exile, in what is called “the little Apocalypse” (Is 34-35), a disciple of Isaiah describes the return of the Jews to Jerusalem and the Holy Land as a return to Paradise: no sin, no suffering, no fatigue even, with all sickness cured […]
December 5, Sunday SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Vatican II has restored the meaning of Advent from a season of penance and conversion into its original purpose: a time of hope. We remember the coming of Christ, and we know he has to come more deeply in our Church and in our world. To dispose […]
December 4, Saturday FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT God is compassionate. He cannot let his people suffer. This compassion of God has become visible in the person of Christ. The Old Testament text, perhaps an elaboration on Isaiah’s thoughts by a later author, promises restoration to God’s people after their conversion. God will take […]
FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT The Blind Will See In this season of hope, Advent, the word of God gives us a vision of hope. The mighty who rely on their own political power and alliances will be crushed, but the poor, the deaf, the blind, that is, those who still believe in God’s […]
December 2, Thursday FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT The first reading comes from an insert in Isaiah that was written in a later period. It speaks of God’s judgment and the victory of God over “cities” of sin. But Jerusalem, God’s community, God’s city, will stand. Those faithful to God can rely on him: […]
December 1, Wednesday FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT For Isaiah, the sign of the messianic times is that through the Messiah God will give to his people an abundance of food and drink. People long for life, and for peace. Prisoners want to be free, the blind wants to see, the hungry wants bread. But […]