THE PROPHET ISAIAH IS PROCLAIMED BY MARK THE EVANGELIST IN HIS GOSPEL...........

 Mark the Evangelist, the first of Jesus' Apostles to write a canonical Gospel, does not begin with an Infancy Narrative or angelic Declarations to Mary and Joseph, but with John the Baptist in the desert heralding the Coming of the Lamb of God, and preaching Repentance to those he baptizes in water.  We hear that Gospel Proclamation on this Second ASunday of Advent.  The Prophet Isaiah in our Sunday Scriptures today is like John the Baptist, a deliverer and messenger of God's prophetic Word to the People.  Isaiah boldly proclaimed amidst the words of Chapter 40:1-5, and 9-11; how there is,....."A Voice cries out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord !  Make straight in the wasteland, a highway for our God".....Mark the Evangelist in his Gospel account, begins by not only echoing, but actually proclaiming , "As it is written by Isaiah the Prophet : 'Behold I am sending my messenger ahead of you; He will prepare your way'.  "A voice of one crying out in the desert; Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths".  Our common Catholic-Christian Lectionary, intentional links the First Reading and the Gospel Proclamation together on Sundays and Holydays.  But the words of Isaiah and Mark, as of a quotation, nearly exact.  Their can be no doubt about their mutual message - Repent ! Prepare ! Make Ready ! For the Lord's Coming, what we believe and experience as the Three-Fold, historical Christmas Coming; the Second Glorious Future Escathon Coming; and The Lord's Everyday Coming here and now; into our lives.  Mark's Gospel calls and admonishes all Believers to truly follow Jesus as The Christ and to preach Christ's Gospel to the whole world.  John the Baptist's prophetic call urges us to keep on our Advent Journey by responding to Preparing the Way of the Lord by our Repentance and  Faithful Witness to our Baptism in the Holy Spirit of Christ...........Advent Blessings,   Fr.  Troy