THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT - PROCLAIMING THE TRUTH OF THE LORD JESUS' COMING.........

On this Second Sunday of Advent, the final herald of Jesus' Coming into the World, as the long expected Messiah of God's People, John the Baptist enters the Advent story in the Gospel proclamation. In Luke 3:1-6; the Word of God comes to John the Baptist in the wilderness as he is preaching repentance and proclaiming a baptism for the forgiveness of sins. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, "A voice of one crying out in the desert./Prepare the way of the Lord./Make straight His paths". The prophetic, precursing, ministry of John the Baptist proclaiming the Lord's Coming speaks the Truth of God's Plan for the salvation of humankind. As Advent People of God we seek to know and embrace the Truth of Jesus the Christ as the one who comes to be the fulfillment of the Heavenly Father's desire to be reconciled with us. John the Baptist's ministry of preaching repentance and proclaiming a baptism for the forgiveness of sins and our redemption, continues in today's Church, as God calls us to ministry and repentance. God's Call to each one of us who hear and answer the Call, is to a direct and personal awareness of the repentance and ministry we are meant to embrace. Thus as you pray and reflect on your response to the Word of God during this 2nd Week of Advent, ask and answer the question, what event or opportunity in the Church is God inviting you to embrace ? Our repentance, baptism, redemption, prayer, and worship, is not complete without our ongoing involvement in the ministry of the Community of Believers. The start of the New Church year is an excellent time to discern and determine exactly what ministry you will participate in during Liturgical Year 2010, that allows you to contribute to fulfilling God's Call and living the Truth of Jesus as the Messiah who Comes into your lives............Yours in the Hope and Truth of Jesus the Lord, Fr. Troy