SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT (A)
(Bible Sunday)
8th December 2019


Dear Parishioner,

The first reading describes how God will reform the lives of His Chosen People by sending the Messiah. Because of the bad example of the unfaithful successors of King David, the Chosen People were wavering in their loyalty to Yahweh. Hence, in the first reading, the Lord God, through His prophet, Isaiah, tries to dispel their fears and to stir up hope among His people with His promise of a new Davidic King who will establish peace and a glorious Kingdom of justice on earth.

In the second reading, Paul is praying for the reformation of the Jewish Christians of Rome and instructing them to draw endurance and encouragement from the Old Testament books. They are to live in harmony with Gentile Christians, accepting them as equal, brothers and sisters, while they wait together for the second coming of Jesus.

In today's Gospel, John the Baptizer urges the Pharisees and Sadducees to give evidence that they mean to reform their lives so as to recognize and be ready to meet and accept the promised Messiah. On the one hand, salvation is God's doing, and we cannot earn His blessings. We are saved by His grace. On the other hand, we must cooperate with God's grace because God cannot force his bounty upon us. John challenges them to repentance, conversion and renewal. Let us start this process by spiritually preparing for the annual celebration of Christmas, the Lord's first coming, as we reform and renew our lives by repentance and works of charity.

SEND, O LORD: HOLY APOSTLES INTO YOUR CHURCH

Fr Sabu Pariyadan RCJ


Notices:
ADVENT RECONCILIATION SERVICE FOR CHELMSFORD PARISHES
Thurs 12 Dec 7.30pm
at Blessed Sacrament church in Melbourne.
Please do take the opportunity to benefit from this important sacrament in Advent.

Please remember to pray for:

Daily for the sick clergy of our Diocese

The sick and housebound

Those who have recently died: Rita Fletcher

Years Mind:
Sunday: Fr Bernard Pownall
Monday: Fr John Lane, Canon Anthony McKeney
Thursday: Fr Geoffrey Pye, Fr Eamonn McGrath
Friday: Fr George Carolan, Fr William Evers, Fr Francis Kerrigan
Saturday: Fr Gerard Kerr


Next Sunday: THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (A)

First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-6a,10
God himself is coming to save you.

Second Reading: James 5:7-10
Do not lose heart for the Lord's coming will be soon.

Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11
Are you the one who is to come, or have we got to wait for someone else?