LIVING FAITH SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT (Year C)

THE GOSPEL TODAY Luke 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee,and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of lturaea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet lsaiah:A voice of one crying out in the desert: "Prepare the way of the Lord,make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth,and all flesh shall see the salvation of God."

TAKING THE GOSPEL HONE

" Prepare the way of the Lord." Every advent we hear about keeping

focused and preparing the way of the Lord. As we journey toward

Christmas, let us continue to reflect and act on the ways we can prepare for

the coming of the Lord. Advent is a time of preparation. Let us be vigilent during the Season, ever looking for ways to bring Jesus to our families,

friends and to the needs of our world today.

PONDER AND DISCUSS • Where do you see and hear Jesus as He comes to you today?

• For whom are you the hands and feet of Jesus today?

© 2018 Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John's www.rcsj.org

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THE CHURCH TEACHES

VEAR C

THE VEAR OF LUKE

THE GOSPEL OF MERCY

In his writing, Saint Luke had a special concern for the poor and the marginalized, and all those who are outcast or live on the edge of society.

In fact, Saint Luke writes about God's mercy so much that his Gospel is often called "The Gospel of Mercy". He stresses God's mercy in the cures that Jesus effects, in Christ's directive to "Be merciful just as your Father is merciful" (cf Luke 6:36), and in the parables of mercy found throughout his writing:

• The Two Debtors and theirCreditor (Luke 7:36-50),

• The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-

37),• The Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin

(Luke 15:1-10),• The Merciful Father-also known as

the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-23),• The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke

16:19-31),• The Unjust Judge and the Widow­

our Gospel reading this pastSunday (Luke 18:1-8), and

• The Pharisee and the Publican(Luke 18:9-14).

© 2018 Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John's

THE SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT

PEACE

Every time we pray the Our Father at Mass,

the priest continues with a prayer that

concludes with the words: "protect us from

all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the

coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ." Our

Christian belief promises that Jesus Christ

will come again in glory at the end of time.

Our lives should be marked by peace and

hope, not fear, as we wait for the Lord's

return.

Jesus came to bring peace, a peace that can

only come from Him. Jesus also calls us to be

people of peace in our world-in our families,

in the places we live, in our schools and

workplaces, in our communities and in our

world.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

DECEMBER 12

Patron of First Nations and native North Americans.

PONDER AND DISCUSS

• Where in your life doneed the peace thatonly God can bring?

• How does your familyneed to experiencepeace?

• How does our worldneed to experience

peace?

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