Some Thoughts for the Second Sunday of Advent
- Old Testament: Baruch 5:1-9 -or-
- Malachi 3:1-4
- Canticle: The Benedictus (Luke 1:68-79)
- Epistle: Philippians 1:3-11
- Holy Gospel: St. Luke 3:1-6
Texts in Summary:
Sunday marks the beginning of Advent’s two-week interlude of John the Baptist. I appreciate the way the lectionary cycle uses John as a pivot from the eschatological focus towards preparation for the Nativity story. After beginning the year with the end of history, we jump backward to John’s ministry preparing the way of the Lord (which, chronologically, takes place after the Nativity) before moving even further back to various events leading up to Christ’s birth:
- In Year A, we read St. Matthew’s account of the angels appearing to St. Joseph
- In Year B, we take a break from Sts. Mark and John to read St. Luke’s account of the Annunciation
- In Year C, we attend to the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Elizabeth (and get an extra peek at John the Baptist leaping in his mother’s womb)
A Pilgrim in Augsburg 