Second Sunday of Advent - 5 December

Second Sunday of Advent - 5 December

The second candle of Advent represents Faith and is called “Bethlehem’s Candle” for it symbolises the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. Micah had foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, which is also the birthplace of King David. The candle is also purple to symbolise our preparation for the coming king.

Reflection

A short reflection on the gospel reading this Sunday by the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J Sheen.

"Since he [John] preached mortification, he practiced it also. If he was to prepare for Christ, he must also evoke a penitent consciousness of sin. John was a severe ascetic, moved by a deep conviction of sin in the world. The heart of his message to soldiers, public officials, farmers, and anyone else who would listen was “Repent.” The first note of warning in the New Testament tells all men to change. The Sadducees must lay aside their worldliness, the Pharisees their hypocrisy and self-righteousness; all who come to Christ must repent. With the country under a Roman yoke, it would have been a more certain route to popularity for John to promise that the One Who was to come, the One Whom he announced, would be a political liberator. That would have been the way of men; but instead of a call to arms, John gave a call to reparation for sin … In all countries, when the head of a government wishes to visit another government, he sends messengers “before his face”.  So, John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way of Christ, to announce the conditions of His reign and government. John, despite the prophecies that were made about him, disclaimed that he was the Messiah, and said that he was only: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness.” (John 1:23)" (Life of Christ)