Introduction to the Liturgy of the Day

Introduction to the Liturgy of the Word

Reflections

• It is the passage we hear in the first reading that Mark chooses in part to open his Gospel, which he calls “the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). This is telling. His goal in writing this account, the first of the Gospels to be written, is to establish that the man Jesus was, first, the Messiah (Christ in Greek), but more importantly, the Son of God. Therefore, it makes sense that he starts by quoting Isaiah and Malachi, identifying John the Baptist as the messenger who prepared the way for the Messiah. Immediately after this passage, Mark describes Jesus’ baptism, during which God’s voice is heard saying, “You are my beloved Son” (Mark 1:11). However, as Mark goes on to reveal, both assertions are rejected by most people and doubted by even his disciples. As his disciples now, we too can have our doubts.


• Perhaps our task this Advent is to prepare our hearts for the Lord by removing those obstacles that can lead us to doubt. Perhaps the mountain that blocks our faith is a narcissism that wants to believe that we can do it alone. Perhaps the valley that needs to be filled in is a despair that makes us feel abandoned by God. Perhaps the rugged land is an overwhelming guilt that makes us feel unworthy of forgiveness. Perhaps making a straight path is as simple as opening our hearts to the possibility that God has an answer to all our doubts. Perhaps God’s power, comfort, and forgiveness, proclaimed by both Isaiah and John, are just searching for a clear path into us.

• John the Baptist baptized with water, precious to someone like John who had emerged from the desert. But ever since Jesus, the Holy Spirit has also come in baptism, bringing life and sustenance to our spiritual thirst. May we realize what a life-giving gift we have received in baptism. May we find in the Holy Spirit the power we need to overcome the obstacles that thwart our joy.
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Question of the Week

What is the most difficult obstacle I face in preparing a way for Christ to come into my heart anew this Christmas? How can I remove this obstacle?

-from Pastoral Patterns

LISTEN HERE to the Audio Recordings of the Readings of Sunday, December 10, 2023

SELECT HERE for the Readings of Sunday, December 10, 2023

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