JESUS MUST GROW BIGGER AND MORE IN US.

REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOODNEWS. 

THE GOSPEL:

"John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea

and saying, 

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"

It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:

A voice of one crying out in the desert,

Prepare the way of the Lord,

make straight his paths.

John wore clothing made of camel's hair

and had a leather belt around his waist.

His food was locusts and wild honey.

At that time Jerusalem, all Judea,

and the whole region around the Jordan

were going out to him

and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River

as they acknowledged their sins.

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees

coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers!

Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.

And do not presume to say to yourselves,

'We have Abraham as our father.'

For I tell you,

God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees.

Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit

will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

I am baptizing you with water, for repentance,

but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.

I am not worthy to carry his sandals.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

His winnowing fan is in his hand.

He will clear his threshing floor

and gather his wheat into his barn,

but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." (Matthew 3:1-12).

December 7th of the 2nd Sunday of Advent. 

“Look today to John the Baptist,

an enduring model of fidelity to God and His Law.

John prepared the way for Christ,

by the testimony of his word and his life. Imitate him with docile and trusting generosity.” (St Pope John Paul II).

Who is John the Baptist?

Isaiah describes him as “A voice of one crying out in the desert,

‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths."  (Isaiah 40: 30)

John the Baptist has a simple profile. 

 Although born into the priestly nobility, he forsook the privileges that were his by birth to serve Jesus.

"John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey."  (Matthew 3: 4) 

In order not to compromise his mission, he took extraordinary steps to safeguard his independence.

He was direct and bold in his preaching, fearing no one.

"Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance."  (Matthew 3: 8) 

He urged the great and the powerful who came to him at the River Jordan. 

His humility was profound.

"I am not worthy to carry his sandals."  (Matthew 3: 11) He said of Jesus.  Jesus returned the compliments by calling John the greatest of the prophets.

Lord Jesus grant us the singleness of purpose, courage and humility of John the Baptist.

The Church honors the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary every day in December. 

MONDAY DECEMBER 8TH IS THE GREAT SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. 

Do not miss the special blessings. 

Mary was conceived without original sin. This grace and privilege are fitting in view of the birth and death of her Son Jesus Christ, who is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. 

"O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You."

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

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/11/novena-of-immaculate-conception.html?m=1