Second Sunday of Advent

Dear Friends,

Today's Gospel tells us the message that St. John the Baptist proclaimed - "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" (Lk 3: 3 NAB). Advent is a great season to reflect on the ways that we've embraced God's love and the ways that we've failed to do so. For all the times we've rejected God's love, there is the beautiful sacrament of confession!

Advent is a season of preparation - preparing our hearts for the coming of Jesus at Christmas. Confession is a sacrament that allows us to invite God into all the dark corners of our hearts and to be filled with His grace. By having a disposition of humility, we repent and seek forgiveness for our sin, heeding the words of St. John the Baptist. As the forerunner of Christ, St. John the Baptist is the perfect model of preparation. A notable theologian, Romano Guardini, writes that not only was proclaiming the advent of the Kingdom of God St. John's mission, it was his greatness. The Lord called John the greatest of those born of women - let us ask St. John the Baptist to intercede for us this Advent!

-Amy Burghardt, Development Manager