SOCL, Advent2A

Sunday December 07, 2025

See

We frame wilderness prophets in gilded certainties, their raw challenge softened by centuries of interpretation. The man who called religious leaders snakes becomes a quaint figure in stained glass, his uncomfortable demands reduced to decorative wisdom. We admire disruption only after it has been safely buried.

John insists that ancestry means nothing: transformation alone matters. Yet we still clutch our inherited credentials, believing the right background will exempt us from genuine change. We convert challenge into comfort, expecting growth without the pain of becoming unrecognizable to ourselves.

The ax rests at the root now, not eventually. The invitation arrives precisely when we feel most unprepared, most attached to who we have always been. Preparation means dismantling what we thought protected us. The path straightens only when we stop believing our crooked ways were actually shortcuts.

Listen

Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72; Romans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12

Reflect

(Matthew 3: 1-12)

Consider the credentials you carry—achievements, affiliations, the identity markers that feel essential. When have these become shields against deeper transformation? What would remain if they were suddenly irrelevant? The invitation to change often arrives disguised as loss.

Jesus consistently valued interior conversion over external status. John echoes this: stones can become children of promise. Perhaps belonging comes not from what we inherit but from our willingness to be reshaped entirely, to let go of what we thought defined us.

Today, notice where you resist change by pointing to your track record. Ask yourself: what fruit am I actually producing? Transformation requires releasing the comfortable story we tell about ourselves and accepting the discomfort of genuine becoming.

Pray

God of refining fire, you see beyond our carefully constructed identities. Strip away our false protections. Grant us courage to face honest transformation. Strengthen those whose credentials have failed them. Kindle in our communities the willingness to change, that we might bear fruit worthy of your kingdom.

The Word today, Advent2A

December 08 - December 13, 2025

Monday 08 December

Immaculate Conception of the BVM

Genesis 3:9-15, 20 The early stories in Genesis explore common human experiences , including sin, shame and the “outsourcing” of blame! All very human, of course. The serpent symbolizes something more sinister—the power of sin, against which we need the grace of God.

Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-2 The great hymn from Ephesians explores God’s grace in Christ, thus inviting us to engagement gratitude. Luke 1:26-38 Mary’s yes is in contrast to the “no” of Adam and Eve...and all the rest of us of course! It is great to hear again that “nothing is impossible for God.”

Tuesday 09 December

St Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin

Isaiah 40:1-11 Powerful images in this reading should awaken a deep longing in our hearts. Let us come again to the great shepherd of our souls, holding us and leading us in all circumstances.

Matthew 18:12-14 The parable of the lost sheep makes a direct link with Isaiah. Of course, the ninety-nine who don’t stray at all also don’t really exist! We are, all of us, lost sheep and in need of guidance.

Wednesday 10 December

Our Lady of Loreto

Isaiah 40:25-31 At times we think God is so remote and we are so insignificant. This reading “corrects” that impression. Our great transcendent God is ever near, nearer to us than we are to ourselves (attributed to St Augustine).

Matthew 11:28-30 Just how near our God is to us is disclosed in Jesus. He is able to help us because he is like us, as the letter to the Hebrews teaches.

Thursday 11 December

St Damasus 1, bishop of Rome

Isaiah 41:13-20 The opening line of this poem gives the key to the rest: Do not be afraid. The reading goes on to explore such deep trust using several metaphors: harvesting, drought and barrenness.

Matthew 11:11-15 So, who really was John the Baptist? In Jesus’ estimation, John was the greatest of the old dispensation. In orthodox tradition he is called the forerunner, the prodromos. Yet even he falls into the second rank compared with the least in the kingdom of heaven!

Friday 12 December

Our Lady of Guadalupe; St Finian, bishop

Isaiah 48:17-19 Our reading has a double edge. On the one hand, it explains why the great Exile took place. On the other, it holds out a new offer of salvation. Perhaps I need to hear these warning words: If only you had been alert to my commands.

Matthew 11:16-19 The waywardness of children is familiar and they can be hard to please. So can we all, of course, as we “protect” ourselves from the challenge of the encounter with Christ.

Saturday 13 December

St Lucy, virgin and martyr

Ecclesiasticus 48:1-4, 9-12 John the Baptist was portrayed as an Elijah-type figure. Today we hear a much later appreciation of the great Elijah himself. In the Bible, Elijah is a touch character and so the very last line of this reading may surprise.

Matthew 17:10-13 Elijah comes up again in the Gospel. John the Baptist is portrayed as an Elijah-type figure and in Matthew’s Gospel this identification is resoundingly affirmed. According to biblical tradition, it means the end times have come and the messiah is about to be ushered in.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025cy, December 7). Second Sunday of Advent. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120725.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings

One another, Advent2A

December 07, 2025

Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72; Romans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12

God of hope, you raised up John the baptizer as a herald who calls us to conversion. As we joyfully await the glorious coming of Christ, we pray to you for the needs of the church and the world:

For the Church: that God will give us the energy and desire to pursue conversion, advocate for justice and peace, and be heralds of God’s presence in our world: let us pray to the Lord.

For courage: that we may bear witness in both word and deed to Jesus, the savior, who brings life and hope to human hearts: let us pray to the Lord.

For all lost in the blindness of possessions or power: that God will awaken them to the beauty of relationships, the gift of each new day, and the love that brings life: let us pray to the Lord.

For openness of heart: that God will renew the gift of the Spirit within us and help us to be active and dynamic disciples: let us pray to the Lord.

For all Christians during this Advent season: that we turn from the wastelands of violence and deceit, and dedicate ourselves to promoting faithful, honest, and loving relationships: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who are searching: that God’s love and presence may be revealed to all who desire something more in life, particularly catechumens, youth, and those who have experienced trauma: let us pray to the Lord.

For all burdened by poverty: that God will raise our awareness of those who are in need around us and free us to respond generously with both our time and resources: let us pray to the Lord.

For students beginning their exams: that the Spirit will guide their preparations and help them to clearly manifest all that they have learned this semester: let us pray to the Lord.

For all suffering from the cold: that God will guide those who have no homes or who have no heat in their homes to places of warmth and safety during these harsh days: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who must be out in the cold: that God will preserve the health safety of public safety personnel as they assist others, sustain all who work outdoors, and help all who are traveling to arrive safely: let us pray to the Lord.

For all making healthcare decisions: that the Spirit will give insight to all making decisions about healthcare plans and guide legislatures in finding new ways to support the health needs of our society: let us pray to the Lord.

For the kidnapped children from Nigeria: that God will protect them, open a door for their safe return, and help their parents and families during these days of separation: let us pray to the Lord.

For Peace: that God will guide the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, sustain the Ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, and preserve the peace in Venezuela: let us pray to the Lord.

Hear our humble prayer that we may serve you in holiness and faith and give voice to your presence among us until the day of the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025cy, December 7). Second Sunday of Advent. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120725.cfm

-Cormier, J. (1995). Lord, Hear Our Prayer: Prayer of the Faithful for Sundays, Holy Days, and Ritual Masses.