Sunday Says Podcast – December 8, 2013 Mass Readings and Reflections

Second Sunday of Advent – Year A (Jerusalem Bible Translation)

Sunday December 8, 2013 (NAB Translation)

Lectionary: 4

We are now in the second Sunday of Advent, and this week we hear some more of the warnings of the coming of the Lord, but this time, the readings focus more on hope.

Reading 1
IS 11:1-10

After Isaiah shared a very alarming warning to the people of Judah about their unfaithfulness to the Lord, he changes his tone to more inspirational instead of repudiation. In this time, it’s been around 400 years since King David was on the throne and the kingdom was at its peak. Now, the situation had become very concerning, but Isaiah preaches the hope of new King.

This King will be a son of David, who is son of Jesse, and he will be the one to restore the Kingdom. When Jesus came in the Incarnation, he didn’t do it the way everyone expected, but we know that He will give us the final victory when He returns in glory.

“O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free

Thine own from Satan’s tyranny

From depths of Hell Thy people save

And give them victory o’er the grave

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.”

Responsorial Psalm
PS 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17

R. (cf. 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Reading 2
ROM 15:4-9

The message St Paul preaches in this letter to the Romans is the importance of patience. At this time Christianity was still very new to everyone. Some were Jewish converts and overs left paganism before they entered into the Church. Many of them were encountering difficult struggles and persecution with their decision to follow Jesus, and they were beginning to grow weary.

As we too sometimes grow tired of waiting, these readings remind us to keep hope and take heart, for we know that Jesus Christ, our God, has conquered the grave, and He will keep His promises. As we pray and wait for His return, we must stay focused on our mission.

Gospel
MT 3:1-12

St Matthew’s Gospel for this week shares a very vivid reminder from the lips of John the Baptist of the coming Messiah. This Gospel shares some very harsh words to remind us that our salvation is not an easy guarantee if our lives do not show that we are living as children of God. While many of the Pharisees lived as if their chosen status was assumed, John calls them a “brood of Vipers” and reminds them that God could raise children of Abraham from the stones, and God’s salvaiton requires a choice on our part from the beginning and through all our life.