December 10, 2023 - One Bread, One Body
December 10, Second Sunday of Advent
Cycle B Readings:
1) Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
Psalm 85:9-14
2) 2 Peter 3:8-14
Mark 1:1-8
Christmas comfort
“Comfort, give comfort to My people, says your God. Speak tenderly.” —Isaiah 40:1-2
The Lord promises to comfort and speak tenderly to us (Is 40:1-2). In today’s second reading, the Church proclaims in the name of the Lord that “the heavens will vanish with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire” (2 Pt 3:10). How comforting! In the Gospel reading, we meet St. John the Baptizer, one of the least comforting characters in the Bible and in history (see Mk 1:2ff). The Lord’s ways are not our ways, and His idea of comfort is not our idea of comfort (see Is 55:8).
The Lord does not want to give us the superficial comfort of temporary relief. Rather, the Lord promises to baptize us in the Holy Spirit (Mk 1:8), the Paraclete, the Comforter (see e.g. Jn 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). This divine Comforter will free us from generations of slavery, sin, guilt, and punishment (Is 40:2).
Comfort will begin with the Holy Spirit convicting the world and us of sin, justice, and condemnation (Jn 16:8). Then we must let the Spirit lead us from conviction to repentance, confession, and forgiveness. After this, we will personally experience that “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor 3:17).
In the comfort of the Spirit, we will truly enter into the freedom of the Lord. We will displace the culture of death with a civilization of love and life. Come, Holy Spirit of Christmas and comfort!
Prayer: Father, send someone into my life to call me to repentance. May I go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation as soon as possible.
Promise: “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him.” —Is 11:2
Praise: “I solemnly assure you, an hour is coming, has indeed come, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who have heeded it shall live” (Jn 5:25). Thank You, risen Jesus!
Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Imprimatur ("Permission to Publish") for One Bread, One Body covering the period from December 1, 2023, through January 31, 2024. †Most Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio May 17, 2023."
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.