On this the Second Sunday of Advent, we are invited to reflect upon the role of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus and the salvation that He would bring to us. Mark's description of the appearance of John the Baptist highlights John's continuity with the Jewish prophetic tradition. We learn how to clear obstacles from our heart on the road to peace.
The first Sunday of Advent, also known as Advent Sunday, is the first day of the Advent season and the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christian churches. It symbolizes hope, and is time to prepare for the birth of Christ at Christmas and his Second Coming. The first candle, often purple, is lit to represent hope. The candles represent the contrast between light and darkness, and each candle symbolizes 1,000 years, representing the 4,000 years that humanity waited for the Saviour.
Christ the King Sunday is the last Sunday of the liturgical year. It celebrates Christ's messianic kingship and sovereign rule over all creation. On this day we declare to the world and remind ourselves that Jesus Christ is the Lord of the Church and of the entire universe.
Seeking true peace through the Christian faith. In Romans 12, Paul describes the worship of our God as becoming living sacrifices to our God, giving up seeking what we want from life and learning to know and serve what God wants. That begins with using our spiritual gifts to serve each other in the church and to remember those who went before us.