2B ADVENT SUNDAY HOMILY, MARK 1:1-8, DECEMBER 10, 2023
1. STORY
There was a king who loved to visit the villages of his country, give
gifts, and help the people solve their problems. Though he tried several times to visit a
certain village in the mountains, he was not able to do so due to the
landslides which blocked the road. One
day the people complained that the king never came to visit their village. A wise old man said that it was not the king’s
fault; rather it was their fault for not preparing the road for the visit. The villagers worked together clearing the
road of the rocks and dirt which made it impossible for the king to come. The next year the king was able to come. All welcomed him and he brought them much joy,
gave gifts, and helped solved their problems. This was all possible for they prepared the
way for the coming of the king.
2. GOSPEL, MARK 1:1-8
A. Prepare THE WAY OF THE LORD
John the Baptist appeared in the desert telling the people that one greater than he was coming soon and that they must prepare for the coming by asking for forgiveness of their sins.
B. THE PEOPLE ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR SINS
When the people heard this message, they admitted that they had sinned. They were baptized in the Jordan river as a
sign that they wanted their sins forgiven so as to welcome Jesus.
3. APPLICATION TO LIFE
A. THE COMING OF JESUS
During the season of Advent, we are reminded that Jesus will be coming to us in a special way at Christmas. Many will prepare for this great feast by sending Christmas cards, buy gifts, decorating their homes, going out for a meal, or taking a vacation. Though these things are good, John the Baptist advises us that we must prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming.
B. PREPARING OUR HEARTS FOR JESUS
Here are three suggestions for preparing our hearts to welcome Jesus.
i)
Make a good confession during Advent. Confession
is telling Jesus that you are sorry for the sins you have committed and asking
for his help to be more like him in obeying God and being good to our
neighbors.
ii) Have a Christmas crib in your home as a reminder that Jesus is the
center of Christmas. The crib will also
help those in your family know more about the meaning of the great feast.
iii) Invite another person, a non-Catholic or a Catholic who does not go
to church, to go along with you to Mass on Christmas. An invitation on your part might be the help
they need to go back to church or to study to become Catholics.
4. CONCLUSION
The king wanted to visit the people to bring them happiness and help
solve their problems. He was able to
come only when the people cleared the road of rocks and dirt. John the Baptist told the people that Jesus
was coming and that they had to remove the sins in their lives as to have a
place for Jesus in their hearts. They
were washed in the Jordan river as a sign that they wanted forgiveness for
their sins. Jesus comes to us at
Christmas in a special way. We prepare
for his coming by making a good confession, putting up a crib in our home, and
inviting someone to go to Christmas with us.
