Second Sunday of Advent

December 7, 2025

How do we prepare our hearts for Christ?

Matthew 3:1-12

In those days 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.”

REFLECTIONS ON THE GOSPEL

First Impressions - 2nd Sunday of Advent by Jude Siciliano, OP
Isaiah 11: 1-10;  Psalm 72;  Romans 15: 4-9;  Matthew 3: 1-12

Our passage from Isaiah today is one of the most beloved readings of Advent. It is rich in hope and promise, portraying the coming of a new king from David’s line: “On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse.” Isaiah’s image of a stump might well describe the condition of our world today. The news this morning reported that 30,000 women and children have been killed in Gaza, and 1.2 million Gazans have become refugees. The “stump” could also describe some part of our own lives – the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, declining health, a broken relationship. A stump is something cut down, lifeless, and seemingly beyond renewal. Israel must have appeared like such a stump to the prophet. Her monarchy had failed, and her people were in exile. Yet Isaiah speaks of a new shoot springing forth, symbolizing God’s power to bring life out of ruin. Could God really do that for Israel? It did not seem possible. Can God bring forth a new shoot from the “stump” of our lives? That is the Advent hope. We wait for God to bring new life into a weary world – and into our own hearts – even in situations that seem hopeless. God has made a promise, and God is a Promise Keeper. The prophet reminds us that the new ruler will not judge by appearances – the usual measure of the world – but with righteousness, defending the poor and striking down oppression. Ours is not a passive waiting, but a longing for the day when all will live in God’s truth and love. In Advent, the Church becomes both a sign and an instrument of that hope. Advent is a season of waiting – but not idle waiting. Isaiah’s vision of the shoot springing from the stump of Jesse reminds us that God is always at work, even when life feels barren. Isaiah sees new life pushing through hard, dry ground. He promises that from Israel’s failed kingship, God will raise a new kind of king – one filled with the Spirit, ruling with justice, compassion, and peace. In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist cries out in the wilderness, calling people to prepare the way of the Lord: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He demands an immediate response. We must change to make room for God’s justice. John is like a gardener turning the soil so that the new shoot Isaiah saw can grow. The shoot of Jesse grows quietly, but it transforms everything. God’s reign begins in small acts of repentance, mercy, and reconciliation – in the places where we allow the Spirit, who dwells within us, to soften the hardened ground of our hearts. “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love.” Advent is a season of hope – not the shallow kind that merely wishes things would get better, but a deep and quiet trust that God is working even when we cannot see how. We live in a world, both large and personal, that often feels like a field of stumps – war, animosity, moral confusion, and personal loss. These can leave us disheartened. Picture an Advent banner in the sanctuary reading: “God has not finished with us yet.” From what looks barren, God can raise new life. Can you hear the familiar voice calling to us this Second Sunday of Advent? It is John the Baptist: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight God’s paths.” His cry is urgent and hopeful, reminding us that God’s coming is not far off or abstract. It is near – very near. But for God’s new life to take root, something must change within us. Advent is not merely a time for decorations and shopping. As good as those things may be, they can also distract us from what truly matters. We must clear away the clutter of our hearts, focus, and make room for Christ to enter. Notice where we find John today – in the wilderness. In Scripture, the wilderness is the place where God speaks to a wandering people: freed from slavery, yet unsure where they are going. It is there that they learn to depend on God day by day. The wilderness strips away false securities and distractions, teaching the heart to listen.

Justice Bulletin Board by Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS, Director Office of Human Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, Raleigh, NC

Therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. — Matthew 3: 10
There is no doubt that the prophets could be harsh in their proclamations. In his words above, the prophet John the Baptist leaves no room for gray areas. So, while it is understood that salvation always comes from God, God does expect and await human cooperation. As we see in today’s readings, Matthew underscores the human role in bringing about a world ruled by divine values. One of the documents of the Second Vatican Council is the “Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People.” This document calls for the laity to exercise their cooperation as agents of God’s saving grace and help create a new human community of justice based on right relationships with God, with other humans, and with the material world. The document states: Lay people, sharing in the priestly, prophetical and kingly office of Christ, play their part in the mission of the whole people of God in the church and in the world. In the concrete, their apostolate is exercised when they work to evangelize people and make them holy; it is exercised, too, when they endeavor to have the Gospel spirit permeate and improve the temporal order, going about it in a way that bears clear witness to Christ and helps forward the salvation of humanity (2). Echoing the words of John of the Baptist in a kinder fashion, the document states. . .members who fail to do their best to promote the growth of the body must be considered unhelpful both to the church and to themselves (2). As you light the second Advent candle, reflect a moment on what the world would look like if we all participated in bringing about God’s vision of a just world. In the broad strokes of an artist’s brush, people would work together to meet the needs of all, the physical world would function as a peaceful unity, and all kinds of artificially created boundaries would dissolve. On the lines below, write down one brush stroke that you could do as a visible act to help in the creation of a just world. Producing a work of art takes many brush strokes. Producing a good crop of fruit takes a community working together. Producing a better world takes living our faith to a whole new level. Prepare this Advent to give the gift of yourself.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE SESSION
Adapted from Sacred Space: The Prayer Book 2025

Presence of God: Jesus, As I come to you today, fill my heart, my whole being, with the wonder of your sacred presence. Help me to become more aware of your presence in my life, and more receptive to that presence. I desire to love you as you love me. May nothing ever separate me from you. ( 1-2 minutes of silence)

Freedom: Jesus, Grant me the grace to have freedom of spirit. Keep me from being bound by desires and actions that are not good for me or others. Cleanse my heart and soul that I may live joyously in your love. ( 1-2 minutes of silence)

Consciousness: Where am I with God? With others in my life? What am I grateful for? Is there something I am sorry for, words or actions that have hurt others, and which I now regret? I take a moment to ask forgiveness of God and of those whom I have hurt. God, I give you thanks for your constant love and care for me. Keep me always aware of your presence in my life. (2-3 minutes of silence)

OPENING PRAYER

Lord, the world is such a mess, as it was when you first entered it. Help us to see beyond the chaos and despair of a broken world, a fractured political climate in our country, a sometimes divided church and our frequently divided hearts. Help us to find your presence, ever faithful, steering the barque of humanity into a safe harbor. Help us to pick up an oar and row with you towards the shores of eternal life.

COMPANIONS FOR THE JOURNEY

Spoiler alert: John the Baptist was not heralding the coming of Jesus into the world; he was heralding the coming of Jesus into His public ministry. Advent is less about anticipating the birth of Jesus and more about anticipating the birth of the Kingdom on earth through Jesus.

Adapted from “First Impressions”, a service of the southern Dominican Province, 2013: Why would anyone want to go through the trouble of going out into the desert to hear a preacher tell them to “Shape up” The desert is uncomfortable in itself, but John the Baptist adds a “squirm factor” to the venture. Instead of welcoming his admirers and inviting them to sit and make themselves comfortable, his first words are, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand!” Aren’t the days leading up to Christmas supposed to be a time for lights, cheery music, buying for loved ones and parties? What we forget is that Advent is not necessarily about awaiting the birth of the baby Jesus; in fact, when John is preaching, Jesus is about 30 years old, and the early Church picked this reading to remind people to pare down their lives and make way for the coming reign of God. But John’s voice rings out to us now as then. John calls us to examine our lives, rethink our priorities, reorient our dreams and longings. With that visitation about to happen “one is coming after me” we will want to put our house in order. The material things we worry about buying or receiving will not focus our eyes and ears to see and hear the promised One when he enters our lives anew this time. John isn’t preaching in a big city, or at the seat of power in Jerusalem. He’s out on the fringe. Those in the center, Jerusalem (and the people under its sway in Judea) are leaving homes, jobs and their communities to come out to hear him. They are leaving their comfort zones to move out to the edges to hear the Word of God. Advent is our chance to make space in our lives; to leave our center of comfort and scheduled routines and search out a listening place to hear what God has to say to us. In a recent document, “Evangelii Gaudium” (the “Joy of the Gospel,” Pope Francis wrote, “I do not want a church concerned with being at the center and then ends by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures.” Advent encourages us to simplify, calm down and listen. What we will hear is the “old story” of the prophets’ promise of restoration. John is another prophet who has gone out to the wilderness to encourage us to stand on tip toes of expectation, anticipating a deep-down renewal by the One, John says, who will wash us with the Holy Spirit and fire. It’s not just about what God began to do a long time ago out in the Judean desert. John’s messages is for now; it is in the present tense. He is preparing the way for our God. If we are stuck in a present condition of apathy or routine, then we experience our need for a savior. That’s what John is promising us, one who can fire us up and renew our spirits by baptizing us anew with the Holy Spirit. Advent is not about purifying and making ourselves worthy. It’s about a trust that Christ is coming to make a dwelling place in us. What encourages us and helps us is our recalling Isaiah’s promise and its coming to fulfillment in Christ. During a season of revelry and toasting let’s mention the unmentionable -- fasting and prayer; waiting and keeping an interior silence so we can be nourished by the Advent scriptures. The cheer and fasting will come at Christmas. For a while, at least, put the TV on mute when the pitches for Christmas shopping pop up. Look away from the screen and voice a silent prayer of longing and trust, “Come Jesus, come.” Advent calls us to repentance --- that’s step one. Then, we examine our lives to see if we are producing the good fruits of the kingdom Jesus came to proclaim. Paul spells out just some of the good fruit required of Jesus’ new community: “harmony with one another” and glorifying God “with one accord.” That’s Paul’s wish for the Christian community in Rome. He hopes such a community will bear witness to Christ among the Gentiles. We hope that the witness of our Church community will draw others, as John the Baptist did, away from their centers of comfort to join us as we hear the Word of God and are nourished at the table of life.

LIVING THE GOOD NEWS

What action can you take in the next week as a response to today’s reading and discussion? Keep a private journal of your prayer/actions responses this week. Feel free to use the personal reflection questions or the meditations which follow:

Reflection Questions:

What is the meaning the term “repent” if it is not only to seek forgiveness for your sins? (hint: the root meaning of the word is “re-think”) How can you re-pent in Advent?

What is the difference between the actual coming of Christ two thousand years ago and the coming of the cosmic Christ?

Is there a disconnect between our run-up to Christmas and the message of Advent?
How do we bridge that gap?
In what ways does John the Baptist speak to our situation today?

What do we think is a baptism of spirit and fire?
Has it ever occurred in our history?

Have you known anyone who has come to a place in their life where they experienced a need to make a significant change in the way they were living their life?
Was there an event that signaled/marked that person’s decision?

How is public expression of repentance different from a private acknowledgment of personal sinfulness? What do you think would happen in your church community if every year even a few people would take on the role of sincerely publicly acknowledging their repentance for the past and publicly commit to changing the way they lived their life?

Have you ever felt the love of another so deeply that you wanted to change your life?

What part of our lives needs a renewing and warming gift of divine fire?

Am I praying to the Holy Spirit to come into my life this Advent?

Do I believe God wants to make a home in me?

Can you remember a time when you felt a deep desire to have God come into your life?
Would a public act of penance have been authentic?

What do you think it would feel like to be that caught up in God’s love for you that you want to change the way you lived your life?

Has there ever been in a time in your life when you felt that you were unworthy of God’s love and trust for you?

At this time in history, most people looked upon the Pharisees and Sadducees with great respect. Why would they be coming to John?
What do you think John saw in them that caused him to treat them with such disdain?

How does this text ask you to think about your preparation for Christmas?

In what ways do you want to reform your life? What in your life needs to be improved to prepare for the coming of Christ?

Have there been any “desert places” in the landscape of your memory?
How were you affected by them?
What did you learn?

CLOSING PRAYER

Repent! Is John’s message. I must sort my priorities and change my life; I must change my life. Am I ready to do this? Lord, help me to change what I need to change to prepare for your coming. Jesus, I have many faults. I can’t see my way to getting rid of them all. But at least let me become more tolerant of the faults of others!

FOR THE WEEK AHEAD

Weekly Memorization: Taken from the gospel for today’s session….Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.

Meditations

A Meditation in the Dominican Style/Asking Questions:
While advent leads up to the Christmas season, it is not about waiting for Christ to be born; it is about making a place for Jesus in our own hearts here and now. It is about being open to the coming of the cosmic Christ, and preparing ourselves to account for the way we are living our lives. What do I have to do in order to be open to this message from God?

Let go of my personal notions of religious propriety by which I judge others
Let go of past hurts and bad memories
Let go of bad habits or actions of mine
Keep my eyes open to unusual people and places through which God chooses to break into my life
Find a place apart from daily life to quiet down and listen

A Meditation in the Ignatian Style/Prayer of Consideration:
Read Psalm 51, then make the following “examen of conscience”:
Thank God for all the Lord has done in and for you and all humankind.
Ask God to enlighten your mind to see your sins and help you to live without them.
Ask yourself what you have said or left unsaid; what you have done or left undone.
Examine your day perhaps with a little system, by time periods, or places, or some other method.
Identify anything you do not approve of according to your own conscience, and turn to God, asking forgiveness.
Look forward and decide how you will act tomorrow, provided God gives you that gift.
End with the Our Father
-Adapted from Tetlow: Choosing Christ in the World.

Poetic Reflection: How does the poet Mary Oliver capture our need to get ready for the coming of Christ? What is the role of compassion, of hope and joy in all of this preparation?

Making the House Ready for the Lord

Dear Lord, I have swept and I have washed but
still nothing is as shining as it should be
for you. Under the sink, for example, is an
uproar of mice—it is the season of their
many children. What shall I do? And under the eaves
and through the walls the squirrels
have gnawed their ragged entrances—but it is the season
when they need shelter, so what shall I do? And
the raccoon limps into the kitchen and opens the cupboard
while the dog snores, the cat hugs the pillow;
what shall I do? Beautiful is the new snow falling
in the yard and the fox who is staring boldly
up the path, to the door. And still I believe you will
come, Lord: you will, when I speak to the fox,
the sparrow, the lost dog, the shivering sea-goose, know
that really I am speaking to you whenever I say,
as I do all morning and afternoon: Come in, Come in.

Poetic Reflection: This is another way of looking at our time on earth and the need to reassessing our priorities.

Blessèd sister, holy mother, spirit of the fountain, spirit
of the garden,
Suffer us not to mock ourselves with falsehood
Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to sit still
Even among these rocks,
Our peace in His will
And even among these rocks
Sister, mother
And spirit of the river, spirit of the sea,
Suffer me not to be separated
And let my cry come unto Thee.
-T.S. Eliot. (1927)