Second Sunday of Advent

This second Sunday promised to be like any other Sunday, but I don't think there are many "ordinary" days in this family.  Our second son is now in Confirmation class.  Sunday was supposed to be a special entrance rite for him and the other Confirmandae (sp?) entering the first of their two year journey.  However, a last minute scheduling conflict caused the rite to be rescheduled but not all of us were informed.  Since we were not told not to invite the sponsor we did.  I hope their 1 1/2 drive each way from Tulsa was worth going to Mass at our Church.  My son's sponsor's wife is a college professor and this is one of the busiest times of the year for her.  She has to grade papers and turn in grades and then turn in all her syllabi and plans for next semester.  They couldn't even stay for lunch.  It was nice to see them, anyway.  God bless you, Paddy and Mark!

The second Sunday of Advent readings:  Isaiah 11: 1-10; Psalm 72: 1,2, 7,8,12,13, 17; Romans 15:4-9

The Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:
A voice of one crying out in the desert,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
John wore clothing made of camel’s hair
and had a leather belt around his waist.
His food was locusts and wild honey.
At that time Jerusalem, all Judea,
and the whole region around the Jordan
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees
coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.
And do not presume to say to yourselves,
‘We have Abraham as our father.’
For I tell you,
God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees.
Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit
will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
I am baptizing you with water, for repentance,
but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.
I am not worthy to carry his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand.
He will clear his threshing floor
and gather his wheat into his barn,
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Let us wait, rejoicing!