2nd Sun of Advent - Prepare The Way

Beads of Joy 12-06-09

2nd Sun. of Advent - Prepare The Way
©2009 James Dacey, Jr. SFO

Hello Everyone,

Today's gospel is most joyous as we celebrate the second Sunday of Advent. Today we reflect upon Luke 3:1-6 (The Preaching of John the Baptist). It was John who was the forerunner who prepared the way for Jesus. John was the one who bridged the old testament and the soon to be new testaments together. John was bold and feared no man in his witness to Jesus. In that John became the first martyr and suffered greatly for his witness.

John knew of Jesus in his mother's womb. It was in Luke 1:41, "When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,.." We must leap for joy upon hearing His greeting. For us, it is by our conversion of hearts and mind to live in such a way that is pleasing to God. By doing so we will turn away from our sins, drawing us ever so much closer to our Lord. The hunger inside us must be great for Jesus. He must be the single most important focus in our lives, nothing must come between Him and us.

Do we live a life hungry for the Word of God and do we allow His words to shape our lifestyle, our hopes, and our dreams? Let us be like John, and never allow the desires in this world to keep us away from Him. Jesus himself directs us to God and away from the desires of the world, it's in Luke 20:25, "So he said to them,"Then repay Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." We belong to God. He died so that we might live. Our lives should be a devout sacrifice offered fully to our Lord.

Let us take on the challenge to the best of our ability to live a life as John did. So that we to should be like John, and do the bidding of the Lord. It is my thoughts that we should totally be consumed in all that directs us to Heaven. Here are a few verses to help better understand why I feel so strongly about that. John 8:12 "Jesus spoke to them again saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.", and another special verse that inspires me is Luke 9:23-25, "If any wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?"

Praying everyday draws your heart ever so much closer to Jesus.


Your brother in Christ Jesus & His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr SFO