Advent 2-Sunday

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Second Sunday of Advent is also the Feast of Nicholas this year. This Bishop of the early church is the origin of our Santa Claus, of course. Nicholas was, in his way, a prophet (as well as saint) of the church. Nicholas in his actions of compassion to the poor showed the way of God's love and justice in a world that looked the other way. 

The collect/prayer for the 2^nd Sunday calls us to listen to the prophets among us. Prophets are not necessarily men or women who foretell the future. Instead they point the way to God and justice and peace. As the prayer says they ‘preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation.’ 

 This week we’ll look at John the Baptist and how his words and actions prepared the people of Israel for Jesus. 

Download this week’s images to continue your Advent collage or chain.  

Catch up with the meditations by downloading last week's page, and check out previous posts for the accompanying meditations.