Where do we look for hope? Has God abandoned us or is God bidding us to look beyond what presently imprisons us in darkness? Sunday's Gospel for Dec. 7, 2014 tells us that John the Baptist faced very similar conditions during his day. And at the very outset, Mark declares his gospel to be the "good news."
Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Second Sunday of Advent, Dec. 7, 2014 (2AdvB)
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University
Sunday Mass Readings
Podcast of the Readings
Video of Reflections on Readings
Lecturas y Comentarios
New American Bible
Prayer of the Hours
BQ: What is the Old Testament Root of Baptism?
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Questions on Sunday's Readings for use by discussion groups,
prayer groups, or for individual prayer.
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First Reading
Book of the prophet Isaiah, Chapter 40, Verses 1-5, 9-11
1. Left to human management world history is a wasteland or at best a rough road. What in this reading makes the rough spots in life smoother? Is your road smooth all the time? Rough? Does God walk with you when you are in “rugged country”? How do you know that?
2. “For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” What “Word” has God spoken to us? Could the Word be the “shepherd gathering lambs in his arms? Do you think God has always been walking on the roads of world history, even before he spoke his Word?
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 85:9-10-11-12, 13-14
1. Our psalmist says, "I will hear what God proclaims." For us, this verse can be seen as a reminder to study the Word of the Lord. Explain how your study of the Word is strengthening your faith.
2. The Psalm says that, "Truth shall spring out of the earth." This verse may foretell the coming of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ. What else about the Psalm prepares us for the birth of our Savior?
Second Reading
Second Letter of St. Peter, Chapter 3, Verses 8-14
1. What does the statement from this reading “With the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day.” mean to you?
2. What is your relationship with earth? Do you take the earth for granted, or do you treat it with reverence? Give an example of treating earth with reverence.
Gospel
According to Mark, Chapter 1, Verses 1-8
1. How do you share John the Baptist’s mission to proclaim Christ’s coming in the world? Do you do this with words or by the way you live? How is John’s message of repentance and judgment different from Jesus’?
2. Are there “noises” that block out John the Baptist’s cry, “Prepare the way of the Lord” for you? What are they? What can you do during Advent to block the “noises”?
Sunday Bible Study Group
Please reflect on the Sunday Readings. May we be blessed by God's words as reflected in your thoughts and experience-sharing.
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The Psalm is a prayer
ReplyDeletethat God will restore peace and prosperity to the Israelites.
“Surely the Lord will proclaim peace to his people…
prosperity will fill our land.”
As the prophet Isaiah says in our 1st reading,
we look to the Lord for comfort,
and we are to “cry out at the top of our voice to our God.”
But for us Christians the Psalm is more than a cry –
it is a promise of salvation.
“Near indeed is salvation for those who fear him.”
St. Peter too affirms that the Lord does not delay
in keeping his promise in our 2nd reading.
And what should we expect?
Nothing less than the coming of the Messiah himself.
“Truth will spring from the earth,”
(when the Messiah is born).
The psalmist prepares the way of the Lord,
as does John the Baptist in this week’s Gospel,
As the psalm says, “Justice shall walk before him
and prepare the way of his steps.”
Amen