REJOICE AND DANCE FOR HOPE!

BARUCH IS OUR PROPHET OF HOPE TODAY. 

"1 Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God.

 2 Put on the robe of the righteousness that comes from God; put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting;

3 for God will show your splendor everywhere under heaven.

4 For God will give you evermore the name, "Righteous Peace, Godly Glory." 

5 Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height; look toward the east, and see your children gathered from west and east at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them. 

6 For they went out from you on foot, led away by their enemies; but God will bring them back to you, carried in glory, as on a royal throne.

7 For God has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made low and the valleys filled up, to make level ground, so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God. 

8 The woods and every fragrant tree have shaded Israel at God's command. 

9 For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him." (Baruch 5: 1 - 9).

Sunday of the 2nd Week of Advent.

We pick the first Reading from Baruch 5: 1 - 9. Advent is a Season of Waiting, Hope and Expectations. If you are waiting on the Lord for any favors, there is so much in the message of Baruch today to give you comfort. I am waiting on the Lord for a singular sign. Below are passages that raised my hope from the message of the Prophet Baruch:

1. "Put on the robe of the righteousness that comes from God; put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting;" (Verse 2).

Your robe of righteousness shall come from God. Just like Abraham's and Mary the Virgin. It will come from faith in God's promise not from any works.

2. "For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him." (Verse 9).

Please pay special attention to this:

All the initiative and work will come from the mercy and righteousness of God. 

What will be your contribution in all this? NOTHING. JUST BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL DO WHAT HE HAS PROMISED TO DO. Like Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Daniel and the Immaculate Virgin Mary. They all believed. Sometimes hoping against hope. 

God is the Actor. You are the Spectator. 

Look at these promises of God:

A. Exodus 14: 13 - 14. 

B. Isaiah 30: 15. 

C. 2 Chronicles 20: 15. 

St Paul tells the Philippians in 2nd Reading today:

"I am confident of this,

that the one who began a good work in you

will continue to complete it 

until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil 1:4-6, 8-11). 

This word of God is for you and for me. I rejoice in it. Rejoice too with the Church of the Living God. 

 The preeminent feast of Mary is December 8th, the great Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

Honor Mary under her Immaculate Conception title every day this December. 

THIS YEAR, THE SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION WILL BE CELEBRATED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 9TH 2024. IT IS A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION. 

For the Immaculate Conception Devotions and Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/12/novena-to-immaculate-conception.html

31 DAY NOVENA TO THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/12/31-day-novena-to-immaculate-conception.html?m=1