SELECTED LAITY REFLECTIONS FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C.
1st Reading: Baruch 5: 1-9
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 126:1-2ab.2cd-3.4-5.6 (R. cf. 3)
2nd Reading: Philippians 1:4-6.5- 11
Gospel Acclamation: Luke 3:4.6
Gospel Reading: Luke 3: 1-6
CYNTHIA ERONMWON
My Reflection
I believe all the readings of today point to repentance, urging us to repent of our sins and turn away from a sinful life, which if we do we will receive righteousness,joy and peace in the Holy Ghost.
May God continue to strengthen us, and grant us the grace to live a good and righteous life. Amen
NATHANIEL ONWUASOEGWU
My reflection is on the responsorial Psalm: What great deeds the Lord has worked for us! Indeed, we were glad.
Occasionally this is my story.
I wake up with the sounds of joy.
Do we ever try to recount our blessings?
Each time I look back where I'm coming from and where I'm presently I feel so much joy.
Especially taking me through the sacraments.
The kind of preaching I have heard and things I have seen I just begin to thank God.
I may not have gotten to where I want to be but I'm certainly not where I was years ago.
The Lord's glory and mercies have seem me through and still with me.
That I landed in the Catholic church is even a greater joy.
The church has never disappointed me.
It has led me to a greater knowledge and understanding in Christ Jesus.
A knowledge that has culminated into righteousness and glory and praise of God.
My greatest joy is God washing away my sins through the merits of Christ crucified.
I will for ever be greatful and look forward to seeing my creator someday.
Ave!
EMMANUEL JOHN UKO
The Second reading, from Philippians 1:4-6.5- 11, is my focus for today. The urge to pray for one another must be strong in us. The journey to heaven is personal but it is as well communal. No one succeeds alone in the journey.
I remember the story of the geese that fly as a community to support one another on the long journey, when they are migrating due to changing weather conditions. They take turns to lead during the long flight, and the thrust of their wings helps one another to keep soaring and maintaining their strength and momentum.
So it is with our Christian life. We support one another through prayers, both for those we know and for those we do not know. That two-sentence general prayer for the sick goes a long way. That short prayer for those in prison means a lot for someone out there. You may not know, God knows.
Let us continue to nurture the desire to offer prayers and supplication for one another daily.
Be blessed.
AIKPOKHIO ANNE
My Reflection.
Hope Alive
Jesus, our hope of glory, is giving us the assurance that every high mountains and hills will be made low, and every valleys filled to a levelled ground. God will carry us on a royal throne
In spite of all these assurance of glorious bliss in the first reading:
How are we preparing to be part of this glorious fulfillment...His second coming in glory.
Do I still seek the good of my fellow brethren?
Am I still extorting others through fraudulent act?
Have I completely surrender my life to God to whom all things are possible.
Through this season of advent, may God give us the grace to uphold our Christian call to the fullest and live a virtuous life. Amen
COMFORT MARY EDEWOR
My Reflection from the Gospel.
"Prepare the way of the Lord,make his paths straight........."
This prophecy of Isaiah always makes me want to cast my mind back to those years when I was privileged to witness the exercise that preceded the visit of a high ranking officer to a military unit on inspection. The grass on the road would not have one blade longer than the other. Not only will the buildings be painted, but even the trees along the road will also enjoy a coat or two of paint.
I am forced to ask myself, if people can go this far to impress a mere mortal who is only capable of giving mundane reward, how am I preparing to make my temple a befitting place to receive the author of life. Have I taken time to identify the valleys and the mountains in my life. When I make excuses that I went for confession last month, and I am fine with that, how many more sins have I committed since then.? God's promise of restoration is for those who make that conscious effort to turn away from evil and opt for righteous living. May the grace of God be sufficient for us all to be among those whose return will be heralded by joy and dancing in Jesus name.
JUDE ONUH
Advent is the period of preparation to welcome our Lord Jesus Christ in two ways.
1) Through his Nativity which we celebrate on Christmas day every 25th December.
2) To remind and prepare ourselves about his second coming at the Last day.
The readings of this Sunday is reminding us how to keep ourselves worthy to benefit from both coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Before we continue, let us look at it this way.
For any king or president to visit another kingdom/country or city within his kingdom.
There is always a reason for that, either for peace and reconciliation or for business agreement. and there will always be preparations to welcome him.
In the context Our Lord Jesus Christ's coming, his mission is to reconcile us to the Father through forgiveness of our sins in the first instance and to judge the world in the second and last coming.
God notified the people of Israelites through the prophets about his the coming of Jesus.
As seen in the first reading from prophet Baruch, God spoke to us to remove our sorrowful moods which is sin, and put on beauty of Glory of God. By putting on the garment of righteousness from God, as part of preparations for the coming of the Saviour.
IF WE PUT ON THE ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, WE WILL EXPERIENCE THE INNER PEACE THAT COMES FROM GOD, FOR MERCY AND SALVATION, WHEN THEY SAVIOUR COMES.
In second reading St Paul was encouraging the Philippines to continue in their partnership with God through good works. for the sake of the kingdom of God, always pray for each other. Seek for knowledge to discern true teachings to believe, now that people puts anything out in social Media.
Always practice what the Church approves to be true and free from error. So that we will be pure, righteous and blameless when Christ comes.
To be partner in his Grace for the Glory and praise of God.
In the Gospel of today John the Baptist is also calling us to prepare ourselves, in welcoming our Saviour.
by examining our mind, correct where fall short.
Participate in church activities this period, through Novena, pilgrimages, retreats, recollection etc, go to confession and visit the blessed sacrament regularly.
This is part of the preparations needed to be worthy when Jesus comes either on Christmas day or on his second and last coming which maybe on the day of our last breath.
Thank you and enjoy your weekend. 🙏🙏🙏.
