Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated . . . Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care. (Is 40:1-5, 9-11)
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God. (Mk 1:1-8)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121023.cfm
The message of Advent is not one of threat, rather of comfort: that God comes to shepherd us with care. In this second year of the Sunday lectionary cycle, except for the remainder of Advent and the Season of Easter, during the Liturgies of Ordinary Time and Lent, we will be hearing the Gospel of Mark. My mom’s favorite preparation for Christmas was to attend a performance of Handel’s Messiah. She loved to sing along with the chorus!
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Sunday, Week II, Advent
