“Hark, the __________ angels sing!” What’s the first word that pops
into your head? Herald. We sing it, but do we really understand the word? A herald is an official messenger who brings important news. Isaiah uses the term to empower and challenge his readers (and us) to share this Good News of God’s redeemer, coming in power.

This excerpt from One Sunday at a Time: Preparing Your Heart for Weekly Mass (Cycle B) is reprinted with permission of Ave Maria Press.

This gospel passage featuring John the Baptist is clearly designed to evoke images of the mighty prophet Elijah during his earthly ministry. Where does John the Baptist baptize? The Jordan River. Where did the prophet Elijah ascend into heaven by chariot?
The Jordan River. What does 2 Kings tell us Elijah wears? A haircloth and leather belt. What does St. Mark list as John the Baptist’s wardrobe of choice? A haircloth and leather belt.

The allusions are not accidental and can easily be taken as literal (as many scholars attest to being valid). Animal skin pelts were normal and customarily worn by prophets during Old Testament times. Identifying John the Baptist in the same light as Elijah put the “modern” prophet and cousin of our Lord on par with historic heavyweights of Jewish history.

At the same time, this scene taking place at the Jordan River
would have evoked memories of not only Elijah but also Joshua and
the Israelites boldly marching through on their way to Jericho as well
as the healing of Naaman the Syrian from leprosy. These famous and historic stories of deliverance spoke of God’s faithfulness and provided the perfect backdrop for the heralding of God’s dawning salvation.

This excerpt from One Sunday at a Time: Preparing Your Heart for Weekly Mass (Cycle B) is reprinted with permission of Ave Maria Press.

Locusts are considered kosher, or clean, insects for the Jewish people
to eat. Eating unclean animals was forbidden and clearly spelled out
in Leviticus, but since God had deemed locusts clean and edible, John
the Baptist’s consumption of them demonstrated he was faithful to
God’s covenant law.

This excerpt from One Sunday at a Time: Preparing Your Heart for Weekly Mass (Cycle B) is reprinted with permission of Ave Maria Press.

Anyone who has ever had a team in the championship game is familiar with the desire to trash talk. You’ve watched your team beat opponents, survive the playoffs, and make it to the finals. Even if the opponent is bigger or better on paper, your confidence has you believing that your team has a fighting chance. Your hope leads to a certainty that is outwardly expressive. God’s people weren’t even in the championship game when Isaiah spoke and penned this first reading. They weren’t even winners in the earthly sense. In fact, they were actually in ruin. They were slaves without a land to call home. They were scattered, weakened, and hopeless. They were not a team that would instill fear in an opponent, yet these were the people God sent Isaiah to inspire. God promised his people that they would be victorious, that he was with them, and that he already had a plan inthe works. In a time of great timidity, God told them to be bold in proclamation, joy, and hope.

St. Peter has this same sense of hope and boldness in the second
reading. Even in the midst of persecution, Peter sees brighter days coming. He reminds the Church (and us) not to put God on our own timetable and to trust in his promises. He urges us to change our ways and live holy lives now instead of waiting, a theme continued within the gospel account. John the Baptist proclaims that God is sending a redeemer to save us through a powerful new baptism. Because of this, all those with ears to hear should repent and seek out holiness.

No matter how we have been doing in our faith journey, the
season of Advent provides the opportunity to return to the Lord
in the sacraments, reminding us we should be “eager to be found
without blemish” as St. Peter encourages. During these next weeks
of Advent, our focus will demonstrate whether we seek our holiness
as proactively as the Lord seeks us. With the aid of Christ’s grace, we
will be victorious. The championship trophy will be ours if we are
united with him. Even if we can’t find confidence in ourselves, we
should always have confidence in God. Raise your hearts to heaven
with great gladness. Let your voices cry out to the God who never
abandons us and who lifts us to victory with his mighty arm.

This excerpt from One Sunday at a Time: Preparing Your Heart for Weekly Mass (Cycle B) is reprinted with permission of Ave Maria Press.

1. When you look back at your life or at your current reality, do you
see success or failure? Why?

2. Take a deep look within and ask yourself, “In what areas of my
life do I feel as though I don’t measure up to the best version of
myself?”

3. Ask God, “What do I need to believe about myself—or you—in
order to realize I am capable of being my best in those areas?”

This excerpt from One Sunday at a Time: Preparing Your Heart for Weekly Mass (Cycle B) is reprinted with permission of Ave Maria Press.

It’s easy to sing holiday carols, but is your heart joyful enough about
what God did (and does) through Jesus to actually share it with other
people? Let this week be your answer.

This excerpt from One Sunday at a Time: Preparing Your Heart for Weekly Mass (Cycle B) is reprinted with permission of Ave Maria Press.

A Voice Cries Out

Opening Prayer

Thank you so much, Lord, for the peace that comes with the knowledge
that you have already won the war for us. Please teach us how to continuously turn our eyes back to you for our every need, especially when we’ve fallen due to the lure of sin. Redeem our hearts as you have redeemed our souls. Thank you, Lord, for your love, today and always. Amen.

First Reading: Isaiah 40:1–5, 9–11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 85:9–10, 11–12, 13–14
Second Reading: 2 Peter 3:8–14
Gospel: Mark 1:1–8

This excerpt from One Sunday at a Time: Preparing Your Heart for Weekly Mass (Cycle B) is reprinted with permission of Ave Maria Press.