{"id":537,"date":"2024-01-02T13:28:39","date_gmt":"2024-01-02T18:28:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/?page_id=537"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:11:32","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:11:32","slug":"readings-second-sunday-of-advent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/index.php\/2024\/01\/02\/readings-second-sunday-of-advent\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2014Second Sunday of Advent"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"537\" class=\"elementor elementor-537\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b8d22d7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"67504\" data-id=\"b8d22d7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-99f195b\" data-eae-slider=\"61753\" data-id=\"99f195b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c77524 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7c77524\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Second Sunday of Advent<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e61073d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"71898\" data-id=\"e61073d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_bottom&quot;:&quot;book&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-bottom\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M194,99c186.7,0.7,305-78.3,306-97.2c1,18.9,119.3,97.9,306,97.2c114.3-0.3,194,0.3,194,0.3s0-91.7,0-100c0,0,0,0,0-0 L0,0v99.3C0,99.3,79.7,98.7,194,99z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ae6dc84\" data-eae-slider=\"25595\" data-id=\"ae6dc84\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bdbd0a1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"bdbd0a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d5be71 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6d5be71\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Second Sunday of Advent (Year B)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a945920 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a945920\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reading 1<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c404cd7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c404cd7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"western\"><u><b><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/isaiah\/40?1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IS 40:1-5, 9-11<\/a><\/b><\/u><\/p><p class=\"western\">Comfort, give comfort to my people,<br \/>says your God.<br \/>Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her<br \/>that her service is at an end,<br \/>her guilt is expiated;<br \/>indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD<br \/>double for all her sins.<\/p><p class=\"western\">A voice cries out:<br \/>In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!<br \/>Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!<br \/>Every valley shall be filled in,<br \/>every mountain and hill shall be made low;<br \/>the rugged land shall be made a plain,<br \/>the rough country, a broad valley.<br \/>Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,<br \/>and all people shall see it together;<br \/>for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.<\/p><p>Go up on to a high mountain,<br \/>Zion, herald of glad tidings;<br \/>cry out at the top of your voice,<br \/>Jerusalem, herald of good news!<br \/>Fear not to cry out<br \/>and say to the cities of Judah:<br \/>Here is your God!<br \/>Here comes with power<br \/>the Lord GOD,<br \/>who rules by his strong arm;<br \/>here is his reward with him,<br \/>his recompense before him.<br \/>Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;<br \/>in his arms he gathers the lambs,<br \/>carrying them in his bosom,<br \/>and leading the ewes with care.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-104ae06 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"104ae06\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"western\"><a name=\"_Hlk152592289\"><\/a> <span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><u><b><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/psalms\/85?9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PS 85:9-10-11-12, 13-14<\/a><\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\"><a name=\"_Hlk152592479\"><\/a> <span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">R. (8)\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b><span style=\"color: #363936;\">Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.<\/span><\/b><\/span><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><br \/>I will hear what God proclaims;<br \/>the LORD\u2014for he proclaims peace to his people.<br \/>Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,<br \/>glory dwelling in our land.<br \/>R.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b><span style=\"color: #363936;\">Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.<\/span><\/b><\/span><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><br \/>Kindness and truth shall meet;<br \/>justice and peace shall kiss.<br \/>Truth shall spring out of the earth,<br \/>and justice shall look down from heaven.<br \/>R.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b><span style=\"color: #363936;\">Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.<\/span><\/b><\/span><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><br \/>The LORD himself will give his benefits;<br \/>our land shall yield its increase.<br \/>Justice shall walk before him,<br \/>and prepare the way of his steps.<br \/>R.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b><span style=\"color: #363936;\">Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75862d9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"75862d9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reading 2<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31cf2ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"31cf2ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><u><b><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/2peter\/3?8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2 PT 3:8-14<\/a><\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Do not ignore this one fact, beloved,<br \/>that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years<br \/>and a thousand years like one day.<br \/>The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard \u201cdelay,\u201d<br \/>but he is patient with you,<br \/>not wishing that any should perish<br \/>but that all should come to repentance.<br \/>But the day of the Lord will come like a thief,<br \/>and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar<br \/>and the elements will be dissolved by fire,<br \/>and the earth and everything done on it will be found out.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Since everything is to be dissolved in this way,<br \/>what sort of persons ought you to be,<br \/>conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion,<br \/>waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God,<br \/>because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames<br \/>and the elements melted by fire.<br \/>But according to his promise<br \/>we await new heavens and a new earth<br \/>in which righteousness dwells.<br \/>Therefore, beloved, since you await these things,<br \/>be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-659357f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"659357f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Alleluia<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aca27a2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"aca27a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><u><b><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/luke\/3?4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LUKE 3:4, 6<\/a><\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">R.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b><span style=\"color: #363936;\">Alleluia, alleluia.<\/span><\/b><\/span><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><br \/>Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths:<br \/>All flesh shall see the salvation of God.<br \/>R.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b><span style=\"color: #363936;\">Alleluia, alleluia.<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46d2d86 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"46d2d86\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Gospel<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-829997c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"829997c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><u><b><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/mark\/1?1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MK 1:1-8<\/a><\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:<br \/><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><i><span style=\"color: #363936;\">Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;<br \/>he will prepare your way.<br \/>A voice of one crying out in the desert:<br \/>\u201cPrepare the way of the Lord,<br \/>make straight his paths.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/span><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><br \/>John the Baptist appeared in the desert<br \/>proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.<br \/>People of the whole Judean countryside<br \/>and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem<br \/>were going out to him<br \/>and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River<br \/>as they acknowledged their sins.<br \/>John was clothed in camel\u2019s hair,<br \/>with a leather belt around his waist.<br \/>He fed on locusts and wild honey.<br \/>And this is what he proclaimed:<br \/>\u201cOne mightier than I is coming after me.<br \/>I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.<br \/>I have baptized you with water;<br \/>he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0ca32a6 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"0ca32a6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm elementor-animation-shrink\" href=\"#\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-file-pdf\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M181.9 256.1c-5-16-4.9-46.9-2-46.9 8.4 0 7.6 36.9 2 46.9zm-1.7 47.2c-7.7 20.2-17.3 43.3-28.4 62.7 18.3-7 39-17.2 62.9-21.9-12.7-9.6-24.9-23.4-34.5-40.8zM86.1 428.1c0 .8 13.2-5.4 34.9-40.2-6.7 6.3-29.1 24.5-34.9 40.2zM248 160h136v328c0 13.3-10.7 24-24 24H24c-13.3 0-24-10.7-24-24V24C0 10.7 10.7 0 24 0h200v136c0 13.2 10.8 24 24 24zm-8 171.8c-20-12.2-33.3-29-42.7-53.8 4.5-18.5 11.6-46.6 6.2-64.2-4.7-29.4-42.4-26.5-47.8-6.8-5 18.3-.4 44.1 8.1 77-11.6 27.6-28.7 64.6-40.8 85.8-.1 0-.1.1-.2.1-27.1 13.9-73.6 44.5-54.5 68 5.6 6.9 16 10 21.5 10 17.9 0 35.7-18 61.1-61.8 25.8-8.5 54.1-19.1 79-23.2 21.7 11.8 47.1 19.5 64 19.5 29.2 0 31.2-32 19.7-43.4-13.9-13.6-54.3-9.7-73.6-7.2zM377 105L279 7c-4.5-4.5-10.6-7-17-7h-6v128h128v-6.1c0-6.3-2.5-12.4-7-16.9zm-74.1 255.3c4.1-2.7-2.5-11.9-42.8-9 37.1 15.8 42.8 9 42.8 9z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Download Printable Version<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b06143d elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"b06143d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-12cd857 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"54999\" data-id=\"12cd857\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_top&quot;:&quot;book&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_top_negative&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_bottom&quot;:&quot;book&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-top\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"true\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M806,94.7C619.5,90,500,20.3,500,1.7c-1,18.6-117.5,88.3-306,93C92,97.2,0,97.9,0,97.9v-0l0,0v2.3h1000v-2.3 C1000,97.7,920.3,97.6,806,94.7z M350,65.1L350,65.1L350,65.1L350,65.1z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-bottom\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M194,99c186.7,0.7,305-78.3,306-97.2c1,18.9,119.3,97.9,306,97.2c114.3-0.3,194,0.3,194,0.3s0-91.7,0-100c0,0,0,0,0-0 L0,0v99.3C0,99.3,79.7,98.7,194,99z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-347c974\" data-eae-slider=\"21003\" data-id=\"347c974\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d679d8f elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"d679d8f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3acdf59 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3acdf59\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Exegesis Lite<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ad35a1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7ad35a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><u><b><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/isaiah\/40?1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IS 40:1-5, 9-11<\/a><\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Chapter 40 of the <\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><i>Book of the Prophet Isaiah <\/i><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">referred to by scripture scholars as <\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><i>Second Isaiah <\/i><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">of <\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><i>Deutero-Isaiah. <\/i><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The scenery has shifted from the first 39 chapters as the Israelite People are now in exile. The diaspora, the exile in Babylon has begun. Jerusalem is destroyed and the great temple is a pile of rubble. The leaders of the people are in captivity in Babylon and many of the people are left to scatter, many quite literally in the desert. <\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The homilist should be aware of this context. This is the beginning of the second great salvation paradigm. Seeking answers for their plight they look to their own sinfulness and how they had strayed from God. Now they are turning towards God and yearning for His saving hand.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The motif of God as Shepherd comes into vogue during this time-period. In a similar manner and in this historical setting, i.e., the Exile, both the Prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel also introduce this image. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #363936;\">(Jer. 31:10, Ezek. 34).<\/span><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> Through the Prophets God promises to shepherd His people, to gather and seek our the lost. The purpose of the shepherd is the life of the sheep. <\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! The image of the Way is introduced in <\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><i>Deutero-Isaiah <\/i><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">as well. In our Gospel this weekend John the Baptist announces, \u201cthe Way of the Lord.\u201d Jesus later would proclaim Himself to be (I AM) both the Good Shepherd and the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus is the Way. He is the mediator of God\u2019s love and God\u2019s life.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-198d17f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"198d17f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><u><b><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/psalms\/85?9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PS 85:9-10-11-12, 13-14<\/a><\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring out of the earth, <\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Justice shall walk before him and prepare the way of his steps.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">God\u2019s kindness, truth, and justice all speak of God\u2019s <\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><i>hesed, <\/i><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">God\u2019s steadfast unchanging love. Jesus is the personification of the Agape Love that springs from the earth in the incarnation. Jesus is the Way that walks this earth. <\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The people are yearning for God\u2019s love. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f8eed61 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f8eed61\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><u><b><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/2peter\/3?8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2 PT 3:8-14<\/a><\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The Apostle reminds us today that God is outside of time. We naturally think in very finite and chronological terms. In that vein we should not think of our waiting and watching for God as just a future event such as our death or the end times whichever comes first. God is always on the horizon of our lives. God waits and longs for us the return to him now, to rend our hearts open now, to prepare the way for Him to appear in our hearts now! In the great parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus shows us a God who waits and longs for us to return to Him.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1816001 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1816001\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"western\"><span style=\"color: #363936;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><u><b><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/mark\/1?1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MK 1:1-8<\/a><\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Appropriately we begin the Season of Advent in the Year of Mark (Year B) with the beginning of Mark\u2019s Gospel. Mark is the shortest and most succinct of the synoptic gospels. He has a way of getting to the point. (Good advice for preachers everywhere) <\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Jesus is the way. He is the mediator between God and man. He came to reconcile us to the Father. He is calling us to repentance, to die to sin and rise to life. Repentance at its deepest level is our reconnecting our souls to the source of love and mercy. We must make the choice to remove the obstacles that we place between ourselves and God. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b708b8d elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"b708b8d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm elementor-animation-shrink\" href=\"#\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-file-pdf\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M181.9 256.1c-5-16-4.9-46.9-2-46.9 8.4 0 7.6 36.9 2 46.9zm-1.7 47.2c-7.7 20.2-17.3 43.3-28.4 62.7 18.3-7 39-17.2 62.9-21.9-12.7-9.6-24.9-23.4-34.5-40.8zM86.1 428.1c0 .8 13.2-5.4 34.9-40.2-6.7 6.3-29.1 24.5-34.9 40.2zM248 160h136v328c0 13.3-10.7 24-24 24H24c-13.3 0-24-10.7-24-24V24C0 10.7 10.7 0 24 0h200v136c0 13.2 10.8 24 24 24zm-8 171.8c-20-12.2-33.3-29-42.7-53.8 4.5-18.5 11.6-46.6 6.2-64.2-4.7-29.4-42.4-26.5-47.8-6.8-5 18.3-.4 44.1 8.1 77-11.6 27.6-28.7 64.6-40.8 85.8-.1 0-.1.1-.2.1-27.1 13.9-73.6 44.5-54.5 68 5.6 6.9 16 10 21.5 10 17.9 0 35.7-18 61.1-61.8 25.8-8.5 54.1-19.1 79-23.2 21.7 11.8 47.1 19.5 64 19.5 29.2 0 31.2-32 19.7-43.4-13.9-13.6-54.3-9.7-73.6-7.2zM377 105L279 7c-4.5-4.5-10.6-7-17-7h-6v128h128v-6.1c0-6.3-2.5-12.4-7-16.9zm-74.1 255.3c4.1-2.7-2.5-11.9-42.8-9 37.1 15.8 42.8 9 42.8 9z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Download Printable Version<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-053a978 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"053a978\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-566c14c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"22286\" data-id=\"566c14c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_top&quot;:&quot;book&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_top_negative&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_bottom&quot;:&quot;book&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-top\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"true\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M806,94.7C619.5,90,500,20.3,500,1.7c-1,18.6-117.5,88.3-306,93C92,97.2,0,97.9,0,97.9v-0l0,0v2.3h1000v-2.3 C1000,97.7,920.3,97.6,806,94.7z M350,65.1L350,65.1L350,65.1L350,65.1z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-bottom\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M194,99c186.7,0.7,305-78.3,306-97.2c1,18.9,119.3,97.9,306,97.2c114.3-0.3,194,0.3,194,0.3s0-91.7,0-100c0,0,0,0,0-0 L0,0v99.3C0,99.3,79.7,98.7,194,99z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-023d907\" data-eae-slider=\"79306\" data-id=\"023d907\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4de2902 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"4de2902\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9631fb2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9631fb2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Humor Lite<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5836cda elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5836cda\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Another true story from Fr. Glenn.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">In my years prior to seminary, I taught parish faith formation for several years, mostly high school students. On occasion I would sub in the younger grades. One morning in 3<\/span><sup><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">rd<\/span><\/sup><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> grade class we were reading today\u2019s Gospel, the story of John the Baptist. One of the girls raised her hand and asked, \u201cwhat are locusts.\u201d I replied they are big fat grasshoppers. Her reply was \u201cEUUUU he ate grasshoppers!\u201d as she made a face. After a moment of awkward silence one of the boys next to her in spirit of one-ups-man-ship said: \u201cthat\u2019s nothing, my grandmother drinks them.\u201d Thankfully, none of the kids got that one.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f599949 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"f599949\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm elementor-animation-shrink\" href=\"#\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-file-pdf\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M181.9 256.1c-5-16-4.9-46.9-2-46.9 8.4 0 7.6 36.9 2 46.9zm-1.7 47.2c-7.7 20.2-17.3 43.3-28.4 62.7 18.3-7 39-17.2 62.9-21.9-12.7-9.6-24.9-23.4-34.5-40.8zM86.1 428.1c0 .8 13.2-5.4 34.9-40.2-6.7 6.3-29.1 24.5-34.9 40.2zM248 160h136v328c0 13.3-10.7 24-24 24H24c-13.3 0-24-10.7-24-24V24C0 10.7 10.7 0 24 0h200v136c0 13.2 10.8 24 24 24zm-8 171.8c-20-12.2-33.3-29-42.7-53.8 4.5-18.5 11.6-46.6 6.2-64.2-4.7-29.4-42.4-26.5-47.8-6.8-5 18.3-.4 44.1 8.1 77-11.6 27.6-28.7 64.6-40.8 85.8-.1 0-.1.1-.2.1-27.1 13.9-73.6 44.5-54.5 68 5.6 6.9 16 10 21.5 10 17.9 0 35.7-18 61.1-61.8 25.8-8.5 54.1-19.1 79-23.2 21.7 11.8 47.1 19.5 64 19.5 29.2 0 31.2-32 19.7-43.4-13.9-13.6-54.3-9.7-73.6-7.2zM377 105L279 7c-4.5-4.5-10.6-7-17-7h-6v128h128v-6.1c0-6.3-2.5-12.4-7-16.9zm-74.1 255.3c4.1-2.7-2.5-11.9-42.8-9 37.1 15.8 42.8 9 42.8 9z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Download Printable Version<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06a5b22 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"06a5b22\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b3a2355 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"97835\" data-id=\"b3a2355\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_top&quot;:&quot;book&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_top_negative&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_bottom&quot;:&quot;book&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-top\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"true\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M806,94.7C619.5,90,500,20.3,500,1.7c-1,18.6-117.5,88.3-306,93C92,97.2,0,97.9,0,97.9v-0l0,0v2.3h1000v-2.3 C1000,97.7,920.3,97.6,806,94.7z M350,65.1L350,65.1L350,65.1L350,65.1z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-bottom\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M194,99c186.7,0.7,305-78.3,306-97.2c1,18.9,119.3,97.9,306,97.2c114.3-0.3,194,0.3,194,0.3s0-91.7,0-100c0,0,0,0,0-0 L0,0v99.3C0,99.3,79.7,98.7,194,99z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-74fae44\" data-eae-slider=\"2458\" data-id=\"74fae44\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11ec1ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"11ec1ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2386f8e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2386f8e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reflection Lite<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-82dc051 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"82dc051\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">My Dear Friends in Christ,<\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Our Scripture readings this weekend, for the Second Sunday of Advent, are appropriately about preparing the way for God in our lives. Our first reading is taken from the Prophet Isaiah again this week. The Prophet is writing at a time when the Israelite people are exiled in Babylon. Last week Isaiah was crying out to God to rend the Heavens open and come down to save us. He is calling on God to prepare a way to the Holy City. Now the tide is turned, and he is calling on us, the people, to prepare a way for God! He is calling on us to make the mountains low and fill in the valleys. He is calling on us to open the way for God to enter our lives to open a clear path for His love to embrace and envelop us. <\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">In our Gospel, John the Baptist is calling us like Isaiah to \u201cPrepare the way of the Lord, to make straight His paths.\u201d He is calling us to remove the obstacles of sin by burying them and washing them away in the waters of baptism. He is calling us to die to our old self and rise from the waters, open to receive new life from God. He is preparing us to be receptive to the new life that Jesus will bring with the fire of His love and the power of His Holy Spirit, <\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The question is why does God need a clear path to our hearts? The answer is that love has to be free, or it would not be love. God is love and therefore must allow our freewill at all costs. God will clear the path to Himself, but He will not force Himself upon us. We must clear the way for God in our lives. The famous passage from the Book of Revelation comes to mind, \u201cBehold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/revelation\/3?20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>(Rev. 3:20)<\/strong><\/span><\/a> There is a famous painting by a 12<\/span><sup><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">th<\/span><\/sup><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> century artist that portrays this famous passage with Jesus standing at the door and knocking. On the side of the door that Jesus stands there is no door handle. The door must be opened from the inside. Each of us must open the \u201cdoor\u201d of our hearts and of our lives to God.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The readings for the first two Sundays of Advent portray two converging desires. God so loved the world that He is sending His only Son into our world, He is rending the Heavens open, and His grace is pouring upon the world through the pierced heart of His Son. We, in turn, are preparing to meet Him who is both the deepest longing of our hearts and the fulfillment of that longing. Prepare the way to receive Jesus ever new this Advent Season. And so, we pray, \u201cCome Holy Spirit fill the hearts of us Your faithful and enkindle in us the fire of Your love.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Yours in Christ,<\/span><\/p><p align=\"justify\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-588 size-medium alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"77\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png 300w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-1024x262.png 1024w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-768x196.png 768w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature.png 1401w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p><p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\">\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cf29339 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"cf29339\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm elementor-animation-shrink\" href=\"#\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-file-pdf\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M181.9 256.1c-5-16-4.9-46.9-2-46.9 8.4 0 7.6 36.9 2 46.9zm-1.7 47.2c-7.7 20.2-17.3 43.3-28.4 62.7 18.3-7 39-17.2 62.9-21.9-12.7-9.6-24.9-23.4-34.5-40.8zM86.1 428.1c0 .8 13.2-5.4 34.9-40.2-6.7 6.3-29.1 24.5-34.9 40.2zM248 160h136v328c0 13.3-10.7 24-24 24H24c-13.3 0-24-10.7-24-24V24C0 10.7 10.7 0 24 0h200v136c0 13.2 10.8 24 24 24zm-8 171.8c-20-12.2-33.3-29-42.7-53.8 4.5-18.5 11.6-46.6 6.2-64.2-4.7-29.4-42.4-26.5-47.8-6.8-5 18.3-.4 44.1 8.1 77-11.6 27.6-28.7 64.6-40.8 85.8-.1 0-.1.1-.2.1-27.1 13.9-73.6 44.5-54.5 68 5.6 6.9 16 10 21.5 10 17.9 0 35.7-18 61.1-61.8 25.8-8.5 54.1-19.1 79-23.2 21.7 11.8 47.1 19.5 64 19.5 29.2 0 31.2-32 19.7-43.4-13.9-13.6-54.3-9.7-73.6-7.2zM377 105L279 7c-4.5-4.5-10.6-7-17-7h-6v128h128v-6.1c0-6.3-2.5-12.4-7-16.9zm-74.1 255.3c4.1-2.7-2.5-11.9-42.8-9 37.1 15.8 42.8 9 42.8 9z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Download Printable Version<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c1b383c elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"c1b383c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-78b7111 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"14098\" data-id=\"78b7111\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_top&quot;:&quot;book&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_top_negative&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_bottom&quot;:&quot;book&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-top\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"true\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M806,94.7C619.5,90,500,20.3,500,1.7c-1,18.6-117.5,88.3-306,93C92,97.2,0,97.9,0,97.9v-0l0,0v2.3h1000v-2.3 C1000,97.7,920.3,97.6,806,94.7z M350,65.1L350,65.1L350,65.1L350,65.1z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-bottom\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M194,99c186.7,0.7,305-78.3,306-97.2c1,18.9,119.3,97.9,306,97.2c114.3-0.3,194,0.3,194,0.3s0-91.7,0-100c0,0,0,0,0-0 L0,0v99.3C0,99.3,79.7,98.7,194,99z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-64038c8\" data-eae-slider=\"54500\" data-id=\"64038c8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61a12fd elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"61a12fd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb07692 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bb07692\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Personal Witness Lite<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7806cef elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7806cef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">As I reflect on my life and my own faith journey, I am a little shocked by how far I had stayed from God earlier in my life. It was sort of a gradual drift and therefore went unnoticed by me and others. I don\u2019t know that it was any real serious sin that I had fallen into. I think it was more and more of a focus on the world and the mundane. I was busy and preoccupied with life. Over time I had become very mechanical in my faith. <\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The life that I was living was more of an existence than real life. When I was doing some spiritual reading one day, I was struck by the words of the late Fr. John Powell. He wrote: \u201cFear not that you might die, fear that you may never really live.\u201d Those words sent me searching.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">A short time later during a retreat experience I went to confession and really poured out my heart, I truly emptied myself. At that moment I experienced the warmth and embrace of God\u2019s love as I had never experienced before. It was as if in a moment of Grace God melted my heart. At that moment I also realized how hard my heart had become. It was as if I had placed a hard protective shell around it. Now I know that over time I kept adding layers to that protective cover. I was not allowing God or anyone else for that matter into that space. As a result I was just existing and not really living. <\/span><\/p><p class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">For me to remove the obstacles, to make way for the Lord in my life, was to allow God in. That involved making the decision to go to the retreat, making the choice to avail myself of the sacrament of confession, opening and emptying my heart and letting God in. God did the rest!<\/span><\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-588 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"77\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png 300w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-1024x262.png 1024w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-768x196.png 768w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature.png 1401w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b7301a elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"4b7301a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm elementor-animation-shrink\" href=\"#\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-file-pdf\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M181.9 256.1c-5-16-4.9-46.9-2-46.9 8.4 0 7.6 36.9 2 46.9zm-1.7 47.2c-7.7 20.2-17.3 43.3-28.4 62.7 18.3-7 39-17.2 62.9-21.9-12.7-9.6-24.9-23.4-34.5-40.8zM86.1 428.1c0 .8 13.2-5.4 34.9-40.2-6.7 6.3-29.1 24.5-34.9 40.2zM248 160h136v328c0 13.3-10.7 24-24 24H24c-13.3 0-24-10.7-24-24V24C0 10.7 10.7 0 24 0h200v136c0 13.2 10.8 24 24 24zm-8 171.8c-20-12.2-33.3-29-42.7-53.8 4.5-18.5 11.6-46.6 6.2-64.2-4.7-29.4-42.4-26.5-47.8-6.8-5 18.3-.4 44.1 8.1 77-11.6 27.6-28.7 64.6-40.8 85.8-.1 0-.1.1-.2.1-27.1 13.9-73.6 44.5-54.5 68 5.6 6.9 16 10 21.5 10 17.9 0 35.7-18 61.1-61.8 25.8-8.5 54.1-19.1 79-23.2 21.7 11.8 47.1 19.5 64 19.5 29.2 0 31.2-32 19.7-43.4-13.9-13.6-54.3-9.7-73.6-7.2zM377 105L279 7c-4.5-4.5-10.6-7-17-7h-6v128h128v-6.1c0-6.3-2.5-12.4-7-16.9zm-74.1 255.3c4.1-2.7-2.5-11.9-42.8-9 37.1 15.8 42.8 9 42.8 9z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Download Printable Version<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f0f07d elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"4f0f07d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-22b3a45 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"58335\" data-id=\"22b3a45\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;shape_divider_top&quot;:&quot;book&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_top_negative&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-top\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"true\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" 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data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;show_arrows&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pagination&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:500,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:5000,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_interaction&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;space_between&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;space_between_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;space_between_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial-carousel.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-main-swiper swiper\" role=\"region\" aria-roledescription=\"carousel\" aria-label=\"Slides\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tI first encountered Fr. Glenn\u2019s preaching on Ash Wednesday, 2006.\u00a0 It only took one homily, and my family and I realized that Fr. Glenn has a very special gift.\u00a0 Fr. Glenn is clearly very spiritual, and that comes through in all of his homilies and reflections.\u00a0 His spirituality is not aloof, or inaccessible.\u00a0 His holiness is authentic, grounded, accessible and on fire.\u00a0 And, that fire is shared, such that the listener also becomes on fire, and inspired to go deeper with Scripture, with God and with our neighbor.\u00a0 Fr. Glenn has inspired me to engage at the deepest level and to work to find my spiritual path, always encouraging, mentoring, coaching.\u00a0 I would strongly encourage anyone who can to attend one of his Masses, homilies, or podcasts.\u00a0 Catch the fire of the Holy Spirit working through Fr. Glenn!!!\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/gf-favicon-01.png\" alt=\"John J Hern Jr.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-testimonial__cite\"><span class=\"elementor-testimonial__name\">John J Hern Jr.<\/span><\/cite>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFr. Glenn has many charisms, which he displays by his compassion, theological intelligence, spirituality, and love of God.  His compassion is continually displayed when he visits the sick of the parish. His manner of prayer and conversation is definitively a gift from God.  His spirituality is very evident when he preaches. His homilies are instructive, encouraging and centered on God\u2019s infinite love for each of us. Fr. Glenn is a teacher, a mentor, and a wonderful listener who encourages those around him to follow Jesus more closely. He is Spirit filled, Spirit led and Spirit giving!\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/gf-favicon-01.png\" alt=\"Deacon Scott &amp; Claudia Jamieson\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-testimonial__cite\"><span class=\"elementor-testimonial__name\">Deacon Scott & Claudia Jamieson<\/span><\/cite>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-prev\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Previous\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-chevron-left\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M646 125C629 125 613 133 604 142L308 442C296 454 292 471 292 487 292 504 296 521 308 533L604 854C617 867 629 875 646 875 663 875 679 871 692 858 704 846 713 829 713 812 713 796 708 779 692 767L438 487 692 225C700 217 708 204 708 187 708 171 704 154 692 142 675 129 663 125 646 125Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-next\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Next\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-chevron-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M696 533C708 521 713 504 713 487 713 471 708 454 696 446L400 146C388 133 375 125 354 125 338 125 325 129 313 142 300 154 292 171 292 187 292 204 296 221 308 233L563 492 304 771C292 783 288 800 288 817 288 833 296 850 308 863 321 871 338 875 354 875 371 875 388 867 400 854L696 533Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Second Sunday of Advent The Second Sunday of Advent (Year B) Reading 1 IS 40:1-5, 9-11 Comfort, give comfort to my people,says your God.Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to herthat her service is at an end,her guilt is expiated;indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORDdouble for all her sins. A voice [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":858,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-537","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sunday-readings"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>\u2014Second Sunday of Advent - The Gratitude Foundation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/index.php\/2024\/01\/02\/readings-second-sunday-of-advent\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u2014Second Sunday of Advent - The Gratitude Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Second Sunday of Advent The Second Sunday of Advent (Year B) Reading 1 IS 40:1-5, 9-11 Comfort, give comfort to my people,says your God.Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to herthat her service is at an end,her guilt is expiated;indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORDdouble for all her sins. 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