December 5, "One Bread, One Body"
Wallace Mayo
Second Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 Psalm 85
2 Peter 3:8-14 Mark 1:1-8
20-20 Vision
"I send My messenger before You to prepare Your way; a herald's voice
in the desert, crying, `Make ready the way of the Lord, clear Him a
straight path.'"." --Mark 1:2-3
In twenty days, we may or may not be celebrating Christmas. We will
have the holiday on December 25, but will we be in the true spirit of
Christmas? In the next twenty days, we will either be prepared to
celebrate Christmas or miss its true meaning. Therefore, we need
Advent to prepare for Christmas. We need each day of Advent, or we
will miss Christmas.
We need to prepare the way of the Lord (Is 40:3) by repentance and
Confession. Without celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we
will probably not truly celebrate Christmas.
We need John the Baptizer, Mary, and Joseph to minister to us. We
can't get to Christmas alone. We need prophets, mothers, and fathers
to challenge, discipline, encourage, and love us.
We need to evangelize to truly celebrate Christmas. If we don't share
the faith, do we have the faith? And if we don't have the faith, we
won't know the Christ of Christmas.
We need Christ to celebrate Christ-mas. After all, Christmas is His
birthday. How can we celebrate a birthday without focusing on the
One born?
We need Mass to celebrate Christ-mas. Mass is the principal place to
receive and give Christ's Christmas love. Without celebrating Mass, the
very word "Christ-mas" loses its meaning.
Jesus wants us all to have a true Christmas, but we must let Him do many
things in our lives in the next twenty days. Jesus is the Way, the truth,
and the Life (Jn 14:6). No one comes to Christmas but through Him.
Prayer: Father, do _in_ me what you _must_ this Advent to do _through_
me what You _will_ this Christmas.
Promise: "Here is your God! Here comes with power the Lord God, Who rules
by His strong arm." --Is 40:9-10
Praise: Praise You, Jesus, risen and soon to come.
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From "One Bread, One Body, Advent/Christmas", written by Father Al
Lauer of Presentation Ministries, reproduced with permission.
Nihil Obstat: Rev. Robert L. Hagedorn, June 24, 1993
Imprimatur: +Rev. R. Daniel Conlon, Chancellor & Vicar General
Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 28, 1993.