Dear Parishioners
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT - YEAR A
We warmly welcome Fr Pius Collins, O. Praem, to say our Mass. He was ordained to the Priesthood in February 2016 by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon O.P. at Our Lady Immaculate, Chelmsford. He is Chaplain to Anglia University (Chelmsford campus) and continuing his studies in Canon Law at Leuven University, Belgium. He will be a great help to our diocese at the Diocesan Tribunal and Chancery. I have a great appreciation because he was born and raised in Nottingham where, as many of you know, our daughter lives and teaches.
In today's liturgy, we hear again the lonely voice of John the Baptist exhorting us to prepare a way for the Lord. May each one of us create space in our minds and hearts so that the Lord can come to us through his spoken word and nourish us in the Eucharist. I strongly recommend you all to make a note in your diary to attend the Reconciliation Service at the Church of Our Lady Immaculate, London Road on Tuesday 13 December at 7.30pm. There will be a number of priests for Confession. As St Paul says in his letter to the Corinthians (2 Cor. 5:19-20) "God has entrusted to us the news of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ: it is as though God were appealing to us, and the appeal we make in Christ's name is: be reconciled to God." If you are unable to attend that night, they have the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturday morning from 11am to 12noon.
In the first reading (Is. 11:1-10) the Lord God is a righteous judge and he judges the wretched with integrity. This reading from Isaiah is a hymn in which dead wood becomes a symbol for the sins of the people and the fresh shoot comes to be a sign of new hope. One of the great gifts which the world receives in the coming of the Messiah is the establishment of justice and equity. This is something after which every human heart longs and it will find its fulfilment with the coming of Christ in a most unexpected way.
In the second reading (Romans 15:4-9) God does not forget his promise and has sent Christ as the universal saviour.
In the Gospel reading (Matthew 3:1-12) we are called to repentance for the kingdom of Heaven is very near.
A meditation: St Teresa of Avila when writing 'the way of Perfection' says "since by sharing in our nature he has become one of us here below he reminds the Father that, because he belongs to him, the Father in turn can give him to us. And so he says 'our bread' (give us our daily bread). He doesn't make any difference between himself and us, but we make one by not giving ourselves up each day for his Majesty".
In the lighting of the second Advent Candle, let us prepare ourselves through prayer and penance. Let us open a way for the Lord to come in to our lives.
I ask you all to pray for our diocesan seminarians for the grace of perseverance and an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life and the lay apostolate. I am always available for any pastoral needs and support. I remain your servant in Christ with a promise of my prayers.
God bless,
Deacon Kevin
The sick and housebound
Those who have recently died
Years Mind:
Sunday: Christopher McIntosh
Tuesday: Fr Brian Drea
Wednesday: Fr Michael Healy
Thursday: Fr Bernard Pownall
Friday: Fr John Lane
First Reading Isaiah 35:1-6, 10
Let us rejoice in the Lord always
Second Reading James 5:7-10
We express our faith by waiting patiently for the Lord
Gospel Matthew 11:2-11
Jesus offers himself as one who heals and forgives.