Second Sunday of Advent: Year- B

1^st Reading: Is. 40: 1-5. 9-11: Prepare a Way for the Lord

2^nd Reading: 2 Pet. 3: 8-14: We are waiting for the New Heavens & New Earth.

Gospel: Mk. 1: 1-8: Make His Paths Straight.

Jesus Christ and John the Baptist:

The Good News & the Messenger of God:

Mark begins his writing with “The beginning of the Good News (Gospel) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Genesis 1: 1 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth...” John 1: 1 “In the beginning was the Word...”The birth of the Son of God is from the very beginning of the creation story. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (Rev 22: 13).

Mark wastes no time in sharing the Good News about the coming of God’s Son into human history. He jumps right to the subject of God’s messenger whom God sent to prepare the way for His Son. 

In today’s reading we find three messengers telling three different communities to prepare the way for the Lord who is about to come.

The first, prophet Isaiah was sent to the people of Israel still in exile.

The second, John the Baptist to the people of Palestine.

The third, the apostle Peter to a group of Christian communities living some forty years after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

1.     The message conveyed by the prophet Isaiah.

The prophet was not speaking of a material but of a spiritual road to be built in the hearts of the Jews, which is at the time of looked like a desert indeed, most of them having abandoned the law of Yahweh. The advice of the prophet to his people was:

a.     Level the mountain of your pride.

b.    Fill the valleys, that is, start observing the Law of Yahweh which you have abandoned.

But it took another five hundred years for this prophecy to be fully realized, as it will be made clear in the explanation of the Gospel which follows.

2.     The message conveyed by John the Baptist.

The prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled when John the Baptist started his preaching as a messenger of Jesus. In fact, the messenger of John the Baptist repeats that of Isaiah.

3.     We must enable Jesus to save us; only the humble of heart will be saved.

Not everyone is going to welcome Jesus because of pride, self-sufficiency and disobedience. The humble ones such as sinners, gentiles, out castes and simple ones welcome Jesus.

4.     A message of Peter for his Christians and for us all.

His message coincides with that of Isaiah and of John the Baptist.

a.     Peter tells his Christians that the Lord is coming.

b.    Peter explains to them the reason for the Lord’s delay.

God wants everyone saved; he gives people ample time for repentance. God is never in a hurry: for him a thousand years are like a day and he can accomplish in a single day the work that would take people a thousand years to carry out. God is patient because he is both powerful and compassionate.

c.      But Christians on their part, says Peter, should put every moment in their lives to the best use, as they wait for Christ to come.

That is, keep on waiting for the Lord who will certainly come; but let your waiting be an active one, doing his will joyfully at all times like the five wise virgins waiting for the bridegroom with lamps filled with oil of faith, hope, love, obedience and humility.

Thought: John knew that life was more than food, clothing and housing. He knew that he must not allow anything to distract him or the people from God…

·        Not living in extravagant luxury.

·        Not being dressed in the latest and most expensive fashion.

·        Not eating the most tasty dainties.

 Therefore he denied himself and practised self-denial. What a lesson for all believers, preachers and laypeople alike! (Rom 14:17)

The mission of God’s messenger is to prepare the way of the Lord, to baptise and to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins.

The Old Testament & the New Testament point toward “The Gospel” about Jesus Christ.

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Advent: Week 1: Saturday: Year- B

First Reading: Isaiah 30: 19-21. 23-26:He will be gracious to you when he hears your cry.

Gospel: Matthew 9: 35-10: 1. 6-8: When he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them.

The Mission of Jesus as the Messiah, His Call & Commission to His Disciples

1.     The mission of Jesus Christ was to minister. Four things are covered about his ministry in verse 35.

a.     Method: Went forth: He went through all the towns and villages.

b.    Place: Everywhere: all the cities, villages and countryside.

c.      Work: Teaching, Preaching and Healing ministry.

d.    Message: The Good News of the Kingdom. He/she has to proclaim only the message of Jesus and not the message of his/her own.

2.     The Twelve Disciples were called to Him (Verse 1): The twelve were called earlier to be “fishers of me” to give life to lifeless (Mt 4 18-22; 9: 9; Jn 1:35-51). Christ was now calling the twelve to go forth in the fulfilment of their first call. In a sense, we may say they were called twice (Mk 3: 14; Jn 12: 26). They received their commitment call for formal training for three years to be with him, learning how to become “fishers of men.” They received their commissioning call for practical training to be sent to cast out demons with authority...; actually go out to “fish for men.” 

There are three steps in the call of the disciples to the ministry.

a.     The discipleship call: The divine call and initiative takes place first and they followed him. Cf. Jn 1: 35.

b.    The commitment call: Although there were so many people, only twelve committed people were chosen for his work with enthusiasm.

c.      The commissioning call: Jesus commissioned them to go forth with the message of salvation.

3.     Jesus’ commission to His Disciples: it was the very first expedition they had been sent out on all alone. Jesus carefully instructed them for his mission work.

a.     First, go to Israel, to the lost of one’s own house.

b.    Second, preach the kingdom of heaven is near.

c.      Third, minister, sharing freely.

Thought: A person is sent forth by Jesus and the ministry is not a profession; it is commission. Christ calls and commissions. The kingdom of heaven necessitates repentance. The apostles preached repentance (Mk 6:12). Ministering to the needs of people shows God loves and cares for people and the minister is a minister of love and care.

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Advent: Week 1: Friday: Year- B

First Reading: Isaiah 29: 17-24- That day the eyes of the blind will see.

Gospel: Matthew 9: 27-31: Two blind men who believe in Jesus are cured.

Jesus Heals Several People: Meeting Man’s Desperate and Hopeless Needs

This passage includes the example of two blind men who had desperate and hopeless needs. God wants from people is the very same thing a parent wants from a child-faith and trust, love and dependence. God wants a person to believe and trust Him to love and depend upon Him. This is clearly seen throughout his passage.

1.     The unceasing cry for sight:

There was the unceasing cry for sight. This cry came from two blind men who were apparently sitting besides the road begging. They began to follow after Jesus, crying out as fast as they could shout, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” They took the very steps necessary to have their needs met.

a.     The blind men followed Jesus.

1.     They acknowledged his Messiahship.

2.     They cried for mercy

3.     They sought after him

b.    Jesus’ response: A readiness to help because of his compassion and love.

1.     His question. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes Lord, they replied.” They recognised Jesus as their Messiah, the Saviour of the world. This is seen in saying “Son of David” the Messianic title used for Jesus by these simple and desperate blind men.

2.     His touch- cured them

3.     His power based on faith

c.      Jesus’ instruction: Focus on me, not on the miracle or on self. “Be Humble”. Jesus wanted these men to set a dynamic example in humility. Apparently they had a heart that would tend toward boasting in their miracle and in the change wrought in their lives.

Thought: The men persisted and kept after Jesus. They followed him right up to his house. The point is they would not give up until he helped them. Persistence, a true cry for help, is not rudeness to Jesus. The two men helped each other and fought together to get to Jesus.

“And without faith, it is impossible to please God...” (Heb 11: 6).

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Jesus Christ. (Rom 10: 17).

For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Mt 7: 8).

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Advent: Week 1: Thursday: Year – B

First Reading: Isaiah 26: 1-6: Let the upright nation come in, she, the faithful one.

Gospel: Matthew: 7: 21, 24-27: The person who does the will of my Father will enter the kingdom of heaven.

The Warning about False Pretences:

Who shall Enter the Kingdom of Heaven?

Will everyone who professes Christ enter the kingdom of heaven? The Lord says, “No.” The false professor is a person who uses the Christian vocabularies, recites creeds and prayers, attends services, and participates in functions. Yet he or she does not know nor accept the Lord’s Word and obey the Word of God. Therefore Jesus says he/she shall not enter the kingdom of Heaven.

1.     The Law of Entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven:

a.     A person must do more than profess to enter heaven. There are two kinds of people.

First, there are those who profess and do very little else.

Second, there are those who profess and do a tremendous work for their religion, society and family.

Does a person is rejected who calls “Lord, Lord”?

There are three primary reasons:

i.                   Profession alone fails to do more than profess. Profession alone is the big “I.”

ii.                 Profession alone does not do God’s Will. (2Tim 3: 5).

iii.              Profession alone acknowledges and honours self, not Christ.

2.     A person must do God’s Will in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. Heaven should be final goal of everyone. The person who does God’s Will is the person who truly believes, obeys and loves God’s Son. (Jn 14: 21; 15: 14).

The person, who confesses, obeys and honours God shall enter heaven eternally. There is only one foundation for every life, Jesus Christ (1 Cor 3: 11). So every person as a wise person has a life, family and society to build upon Christ with listening and obedience to the Word of God. Foolish fails it.

Thought: Christ is claiming that he himself is to be the future judge of the world (Jn 5: 22, 27).

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WEDNESDAY-1^st Week of Advent: Year- B

I Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10: The Lord invites us to his banquet and wipes away the tears from every cheek.

Gospel: Matthew 15:29-37: Jesus cures many and multiplies the loaves.

The Messiah’s Compassion for Man’s Physical Need:

How to Minister, Mt 15:29-37

Jesus did two things in this passage.

i. He demonstrated His Messiahship in order to drive the truth more and more deeply into the disciples’ hearts.

ii. He taught His disciples that they were to minister to the needy no matter who they were whether they were outcasts or gentles. Jesus saves all therefore no prejudice against Gentiles.

Jesus showed his disciples step by step how they were to minister to the lost, to the outcast, and to the needy of the society.

1. Jesus left Tyre by way of Sidon (v.29)

a. Went through Decapolis

b. To the sea of Galilee

2. Step 1: Making oneself available to the needy (v.30-31)

a. Being among them

b. Allowing them to bring their needs

c. Meeting their needs: Healing them

d. Result: They praised “the God of Israel”

3. Step 2: Having compassion for their very need (v.32)

a. By observing what they do and have

b. By being concerned over their fainting

c. By being determined to help

4. Step 3: Being willing to use what one has to meet the need at hand (v.33-34)

a. By not offering objections

b. By taking inventory

5. Step 4: Ministering to the needs at hand (v.35-36)

a. Preparing them

b. giving thanks to God

c. Ministering to them

6. Step 5: Witnessing the Lord’s power and provision (v.37-39)

a. His provision satisfies all

b. His provision meets the need and more

Thought: Something always needs to be remembered: the people who are most needful are neglected by men everywhere. When resources are mentioned, many object. Few are willing to give what they have, especially to those who are thought to be outcasts.

These people were so hungry for God’s Word that they spent three days with Jesus. These were hungering after righteousness; therefore Jesus meets their physical need at hand (Mt 5:6;6:33). How many of us esteem the Word of God more highly than food? There is a great reward in bringing the needy to Jesus Christ.

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Advent: Week 1: Tuesday: Year - B

First Reading: Isaiah 11: 1-10: On him the spirit of the Lord rests.

Gospel: Matthew: 10: 21- 24: Jesus is filled with joy by the Holy Spirit.

The Seventy Return: Great Privileges

The Christian believer or labourer has three great privileges. Jesus was filled such a joy over these privileges that He broke forth in praise to God. The Lord’s heart longs to share these privileges with every person.

1.     Jesus rejoiced (v.21)

2.     Privilege 1: there is the privilege of spiritual insight into truth. The little ones or children represent the disciples of Jesus who were simple and humble in heart and mind to follow Jesus as their Messiah. The Christian labourer is able to grasp the spiritual truth of things because they always depend on God and trust in His power where as God hides “these things” (refers to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ) from the wise and learned because they are blind to the Lord and to the truth because they are self-sufficient, proud and wise of this world (1 Cor 1:21, 25-29; 2:14) never come to the Lord for help or blessings.

3.     Privilege 2: there is the privilege of knowing God and Christ in a very personal way. Four things are being said by Christ:

a.     Christ holds the supreme place in the universe.

b.    God and Christ lone have perfect knowledge.

c.      God is Spirit (Jn 4: 24).

d.    The persons chosen to receive this revelation are the “little children” who truly seek God and trust the Son’s testimony

4.     Privilege 3: there is the privilege of seeing and learning God’s full revelation. Jesus said his disciples were highly privileged to know him, to see and hear him and the truth which he revealed to them.

In the first reading the prophet Isaiah foretells about the rule of Immanuel who shall be filled with a spirit of wisdom and understanding (insight), a spirit of counsel and of strength (power), a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord and his delight shall be the fear (Piety) of the Lord. He shall rule the poor and people with justice and faithfulness. There would be a true peace, joy, happiness and harmony in the nature, society and at home during the messianic times once we trust and faith in God. The only key to spiritual truth is faith and trust in God.

Thought: God reveals “these things” to little children (Mk 10:14). The babes and little children are those who look up to God as their Father because they are humble before God; open, receptive, dependent, trusting, responsive, submissive, teachable and obedient to God and loving and forgiving toward others. The little children think, this world is not permanent but God is permanent. It pleases God enormously that God is able to reveal “these things” to the “little children” of the earth. (Jn 8:31-32, 15:14-15; 1Cor 2:9-10; 1Pet 2:2-3).

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Advent: Week 1: Monday: Year - B

First Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5: The Lord draws all nations together into the eternal peace of God’s kingdom.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 8: 5-11: Many will come from east and west to take their places in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant: Receiving and Rejecting Men

The Centurion, the Gentile being the manager, officer, rich and wealthy man having a great faith in Jesus and came to him to plead for his slave or servant to be healed immediately by Jesus.

We learn from the Gospel of Matthew 8: 5-11 the following things:

1. The Centurion came to Jesus with total humility keeping aside his power & position.

2. The Centurion came to Jesus with his unworthiness accepting his sins and failures.

3. The Centurion came to Jesus because he loved & cared his slave, sensitive to the real need of his slave or servant. How many of us love our servants or people?

4. The Centurion had a total faith and hope in Jesus. The faith healed his servant.

5. Jesus said "I WILL" and healed the sick in far away by his Messianic power and appreciated the faith of the Gentile, the Centurion.

So JESUS never rejects or disappoints a person those who come to him with a real need and true faith in the power of Christ JESUS. Let us pray for the sick, sufferings, poor and needy and love our fellow brothers and sisters with our actions and support who are in real need.

Thought: What a lesson for us! Jesus’ great power proves His Messiahship to meet the Centurion’s request as His unlimited power. Jesus encourages us to intercede for poor and needy.

The great need is for intercessory prayer and love for all, no matter who they are and what others may think.

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