Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Our Scripture readings of the first Sunday of Advent called us to “be attentive and watchful,” to live “loving and blameless” lives, to live “joyful lives” and to “Pray constantly for strength” as we take care of our daily chores, and responsibilities. On this second Sunday of Advent, our Scripture readings call us to be faithful to our spiritual traditions, to let our love mature and become fruitful, and to strive for the ongoing change and transformation of our life in Christ.

In our first reading, we hear Baruch (Baruch 5:1-9) encouraging Jews living outside Palestine to remain faithful to their sacred heritage and tradition and nurture the hope of Jerusalem being restored to its former greatness. Baruch assured the dispersed Jews that God would transform them and restore them to their true dignity as God’s people “by the light of his glory and with his mercy and justice for company.”

Psalm 126 (today’s responsorial Psalm) reflects on the joy of a transformed, rehabilitated, and restored people. Cyrus the Persian king liberated them from Babylon (538 BC). God has worked a miracle for his people. God anointed a pagan king to liberate them and bring them home. Who would want to touch a pagan and get defiled?!!!  God touched a pagan king and anointed him to liberate his people. Amazing, all-embracing love of God for his people made it happen! This is reason to rejoice and be grateful. “We are glad” because God was with his people when they were being swallowed up by the monster Babylon. What else can anyone do except sing joyful songs – it was like a dream, “our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing. Says the Psalmist!!

In the second reading, we hear St. Paul encouraging the Philippians to let their love mature, “ripen”. He prayed for them, “that your love may increase ever more……. that you may be pure and blameless…. filled with the fruits of righteousness…...” (Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11). He also shared his confidence that God who began a good work in them would bring it to completion. This is the kind of confidence that the Psalmist sings about in Psalm 138:8, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” What an amazing confidence!!!

To read more of this Sunday’s reflection, please click on the link below…