Daily Readings - Sun Dec 10 2023

¹"Be consoled, be consoled, O my people!" says your God²Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, and call out to her! For her malice has reached its end. Her iniquity has been forgiven. She has received double for all her sins from the hand of the Lord³The voice of one crying out in the desert: "Prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight the paths of our God, in a solitary place⁴Every valley will be exalted, and every mountain and hill will be brought low. And the crooked will be straightened, and the uneven will become level ways⁵And the glory of the Lord will be revealed. And all flesh together will see that the mouth of the Lord has spoken.⁹You who evangelize Zion, climb a high mountain! You who evangelize Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength! Lift it up! Do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah: "Behold, your God!¹⁰Behold, the Lord God will arrive in strength, and his arm will rule. Behold, his reward is with him, and his work is before him¹¹He will pasture his flock like a shepherd. He will gather together the lambs with his arm, and he will lift them up to his bosom, and he himself will carry the very young

2 Peter

Chapter 3

⁸Yet truly, let this one thing not escape notice, most beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day⁹The Lord is not delaying his promise, as some imagine, but he does act patiently for your sake, not wanting anyone to perish, but wanting all to be turned back to penance¹⁰Then the day of the Lord shall arrive like a thief. On that day, the heavens shall pass away with great violence, and truly the elements shall be dissolved with heat; then the earth, and the works that are within it, shall be completely burned up¹¹Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what kind of people ought you to be? In behavior and in piety, be holy¹²waiting for, and hurrying toward, the advent of the day of the Lord, by which the burning heavens shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt from the heat of the fire¹³Yet truly, in accord with his promises, we are looking forward to the new heavens and the new earth, in which justice lives¹⁴Therefore, most beloved, while awaiting these things, be diligent, so that you may be found to be immaculate and unassailable before him, in peace

Mark

Chapter 1

¹The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God²As it has been written by the prophet Isaiah: "Behold, I send my Angel before your face, who shall prepare your way before you³The voice of one crying out in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight his paths.⁴John was in the desert, baptizing and preaching a baptism of repentance, as a remission of sins⁵And there went out to him all the region of Judea and all those of Jerusalem, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins⁶And John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist. And he ate locusts and wild honey⁷And he preached, saying: "One stronger than me comes after me. I am not worthy to reach down and loosen the laces of his shoes⁸I have baptized you with water. Yet truly, he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of preparation, patience, and the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises. The first reading from Isaiah speaks of comfort and hope for Jerusalem, urging the people to prepare for the coming of the Lord. The prophet describes a God who is both powerful and tender, promising to gather his flock like a shepherd and carry the weak in his bosom. This passage reminds us that even in times of uncertainty, God’s plan is unfolding, and we are called to trust in his timing and providence. The second reading from 2 Peter emphasizes the patience of God as he waits for all people to turn to him. The apostle reminds us that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night, and with it, the old heavens and earth will pass away. Yet, rather than fear, this should inspire us to live holy and blameless lives, eagerly awaiting the new heavens and the new earth where justice dwells. This passage challenges us to examine our own lives and to strive for holiness as we await the fulfillment of God’s promises. In the Gospel, Mark introduces John the Baptist, who calls the people to repentance and baptism in preparation for the coming of Jesus. John’s message is one of humility and recognition of his own limitations, pointing to the one who is greater than himself. This passage invites us to reflect on our own need for repentance and our readiness to welcome Christ into our lives. Just as the people of Judea went out to the desert to be baptized, we too are called to create space in our hearts for the Lord to come and dwell among us. These readings remind us that our faith is not static but dynamic. We are called to prepare, to wait, and to live with hope and expectation. In our daily lives, this means being open to conversion, trusting in God’s timing, and striving to live in a way that reflects the justice and love of the kingdom we await. Let us embrace the call to holiness, knowing that the Lord is always near, and his promises are always fulfilled in his own perfect time.