Advent Monday 2nd Week

Sunday   Monday   Tuesday   Wednesday   Thursday   Friday    Saturday Symbols for this week Second Week of Advent  The Second Sunday of Advent We re-light the candle of hope and now also light the Second Purple candle of love. We know that God is love. We remember with thankful hearts the gift of Jesus, who came as a babe in a manger, lived and loved among us, was killed on a cross, and arose! Love endures forever.  Advent 2 Sunday As this second week of Advent we must think of Mary and her anticipation as she awaited the birth of Our Lord and Savior. In a similar manner we should be anticipating and preparing the way of the Lord. We hear John the Baptist calling us to prepare our hearts to greet the Lord. We read from the beginning of the gospel of Mark: Mark: 1:1-8 Here begins the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In Isaiah the prophet , it is written: "I send my messenger before you to prepare your way: a herald's voice in the desert, crying, "Make ready the way of the Lord, clear his a straight path." Thus it was that John the Baptizer appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance which led to the forgiveness of sins. All the Judean countryside and the people of Jerusalem went out to him in great numbers. They were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. John was clothed in camel's hair, and wore a leather belt around his waist. His food was grasshoppers and wild honey. The theme of his preaching was: "one more powerful than I is to come after me. I am not fit to stoop and untie his sandal straps. I have baptized you in water; he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit." Ps. 85 I will hear what God proclaims; the Lord -- for he proclaims peace to his people. Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.  Carol: "O Come, All Ye Faithful." Advent 2 Monday Mary, the Mother of Jesus Dear Faithful God, you gave Mary, Jesus' mother a special gift: salvation from the first moments of her life. Help us to be like her and do whatever You ask of us in our lives. ary listened to what God asked and then did what He requested of her. Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly  favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. Mary was willing to do whatever God wanted of her. She is a good example for us to follow. Who are some of the other good examples in our lives? May we always Thank God for being there to help us along our way in this life. Psa 96:1 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.