2nd Sunday of Advent

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD (Mk 1:1-8)

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Gospel is God-spell in old English. It means good news.
Son of God. At the beginning of the Gospel, Jesus is proclaimed Son of God. At the end of the Gospel, Jesus is again proclaimed Son of God by the Centurion as Jesus hung on the Cross.

I am sending my messenger ahead of you.
We are being told that in order to understand the life of Christ, we have to know the Old Testament for Jesus is the fulfillment of the promises made by God in the Old Testament.

John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
This baptism is not the sacrament of Baptism. In those days, the use of baptism was in common use in religious groups. For example, the community at Qumran.
John the Baptist thought that the judgment of God was near. In fact, the call to repentance that he was preaching would save people from this judgment.

John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist.
John's clothing was similar to that worn by Elijah. Accordding to Jewish belief Elijah would come as the Messiah's precursor. John, therefore, is being presented as Elijah and Jesus as the promised Messiah.

One mightier than I is coming after me.
Some of the first disciples of Jesus were disciples of John the Baptist. This passage was addressed to those disciples of John the Baptist who refuse to accept Jesus as the Messiah.

PREPARING THE WAY OF THE LORD: THE PROCESS OF CONVERSION

1. Awareness of sin. "I have sinned."

2. Taking responsibility for sin. "It is my fault."

3. Confession of sin. The Gospel states: " People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins."

4. Giving and receiving forgiveness. "Your sins are forgiven you."

5. Change in the mind that shows itself in change in behavior. "From now on avoid this sin."