Welcome to our Rosieie

the Holy Family.

Let's begin in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

And let's call to mind all those that we've promised to pray for.

The Gospel of today, the Second Sunday of Advent, presents us with the figure of John the Baptist.

But why him? He's not in the nativity scene.

So how does he get into this story before Christmas?

Well, John was sent by God to P. into this story before Christmas.

Well, John was sent by God to prepare the people to receive Jesus.

Mark chapter one. It is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah,

look I'm going to send my messenger before you,

and he will prepare your way.

A voice cries in the wilderness, prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.

And so it was that John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

All Judea and all the people of Jerusalem made their way to him, and as they were baptized by him in the River Jordan

they confessed their sins. So John's message was simple, repent, which means to admit our sins, to be truly sorry for offending Jesus who shed his blood for us,

and make the firm resolution to stop sinning in big and small matters.

And then go to confession.

They were confessing their sins at the Jordan River.

But repentance also requires that we change the way we live.

For if we don't change, then we really weren't serious about repentance in the first place, were we? Our Father who art in heaven, hallow would be your name,

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

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