Second Sunday of Advent: Mk 1:1-8
Everywhere we turn there’s a Christmas countdown. “Fourteen Days
until Christmas Eve,” are words that can instill excitement — or fear. The
closer Christmas gets the more it might make us panic. Are we ready? More
specifically, as St. John the Baptist reminds us this Sunday, are we prepared?
But really, what are we preparing for this Advent? Are we
preparing for a marathon shopping trip? Making a spreadsheet to schedule all
that Christmas baking? Figuring out how to wrap the presents without
interruption?
Or are we preparing for the arrival of our King? Have you told
your children that a King is coming to visit? Actually, it’s more than a visit,
He’s a permanent guest. If your preparations for Christmas are crowding in on
you and you are losing focus on what it is that you are getting ready for, take
a moment to sit with your family, read the Gospel and look at where the church
takes us on this Second Week of Advent.
Advent is short this year (only 21 days). Now, almost at the
halfway mark, we are told in the Gospel of Mark about the rather crazy-looking
John the Baptist. Here is a guy who seems to be going to the extremes: clothed
in camel hair, eating locusts and wild honey, baptizing people in the Jordan
River. His presence is foretold in the First Reading from Isaiah, which says:
“A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the Lord!” Not only is
John the Baptist from the wilderness, he appears to be a bit of a wild
character. But his wildness has a purpose and that is his urgent message. He is
on a mission to urge people to be ready to receive the most important Person
that will ever walk the earth -- the Son of God.
If you haven’t already, now is a good time to set up your
Nativity scene. Make an event out of it. Build up the anticipation by hiding
baby Jesus in a special spot until His “actual birthday.” A great way to build
up some anticipation is to tell the story of Juan Diego and Our Lady of
Guadalupe, whose feast is Dec. 12. The Feast of Juan Diego is Dec. 9, but the
two feasts are so connected it makes sense to have one celebration.
Plan your family’s favorite Mexican dishes for this night. If you
have a sombrero in the house maybe one of the children can don the hat and tell
the story of the peasant Mexican, who Mary to be a special emissary of her
message of love and mercy to the Mexican people. Juan’s role was very much like
that of St. John the Baptist, which makes this story perfect for Advent. He was
a messenger — a humble, poor, unlikely one — who had to be brave before the bishop
and those in power so he could bear witness to Christ and His Mother. This act
of obedience resulted in the miracle of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe
imprinted on Juan’s tilma (still visible today) and the conversion of a whole
nation.
Another detail in the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe that makes
it especially appropriate for Advent is that in her appearance to Juan Diego,
she is pregnant. The manner of her dress, the black sash around her middle and
the four-petal flower over her womb indicate pregnancy. Why did Mary appear
this way? An expectant Mary reminded the Aztec people of the time, who were
still steeped in practicing human sacrifice, that within her womb is the one,
true sacrifice that God sent for all people.
To celebrate this beautiful feast day, there are many Mexican
treats your family can enjoy. Go to Catholiccuisine.blogspot.com for some great
ideas. Our family highly recommends the Mexican chocolate cake and the Mexican wedding
cookies.
Taking the time to feast in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Juan
Diego and other important saints can help us remember why we are counting down.
It’s probably not the same reason the radio stations and Facebook are counting
the days, but Christians have the best reason for all these preparations and
countdowns — the arrival of their Savior. No reason for fear or panic this
Advent. Jesus is the best house guest you will ever have.
Lazzuri is a mother of six and writes from her home in
Nova Scotia.