By Reverend Katherine Elsner
Our readings today don’t mince words. It’s no wonder with these strong people in our heritage from many years ago: Isaiah, Paul and John the Baptist.
In our day and age we are surrounded by would-be prophets; I guess we could even say “false prophets”, those who speak to us in newspapers, on TV and in social media.
However, true prophets tend to say it like it is, such as when Isaiah promised that a time of justice & peace would come. God made a promise to the people of Israel that a stump from Jesse would sprout forth to become a signal to everyone.
And of course, Jesus was born of this lineage.
John the Baptist also calls out to us in the readings today, with his announcement: I am turning your old life in for the life with God. Down through the ages to our very time in 2025, faith-filled women and men have carried forth the values of Jewish and Christian leaders. It does not mean that our road has been smooth. Have we encountered crooked paths of problems in our lives? Have we encountered detours through rough roads, challenging us to go astray? Even though life will always include hills of conflict, maybe valleys of depression, (and mountains of other unnamed stuff), we know now that God has been with us through all of our lives, even when we didn’t know it or believe it.
So, today we welcome the Advent promises
of Isaiah, Paul and John the Baptist, who give us hope.
Advent provides a time to deepen our faith and love in ourselves and in the people around us.
With encouragement from the readings, from the hymns we sing, and from all of the prayers of this mass, let us now pause for reflection during our Reconciliation Rite today.
Today we gather as a parish family to seek reconciliation for ourselves and our world. It will include some reflections, some moments of silence, a U-tube song and lastly, general absolution. We ask God for healing, for strength and for courage, to be the likeness of God in our daily lives.
Reflections
Our response for each reflection: We Praise and Thank you for your mercy, O God.
Leader: God of compassion, who has given us another day to use our gifts and talents for the sake of others, inspire us with renewed commitment and energy for this day and every day. Response: We Praise and Thank you for your mercy, O God.
Leader: Instill in us a lively awareness of our need for reconciliation with others: in our home, at our work, in our community of family, friends and church. Response: We Praise and Thank you for your mercy, O God.
Leader: We ask God to guide us in the ways of love, unity, justice, and peace. Response: We Praise and Thank you for your mercy, O God.
Leader: We ask God to be open to a greater understanding of ourselves. Response: We Praise and Thank you for your mercy, O God.
Leader: Grant us the ability to grow and to change in response to God’s call in our lives. Response: We Praise and Thank you for your mercy, O God.
Leader: Grant us the foresight to use our talents for the good of others. Response: We Praise and Thank you for your mercy, O God.
Leader: We ask for the gift of wisdom for the challenges that we face day by day. Response: We Praise and Thank you for your mercy, O God.
Leader: May we respect and promote the dignity of all people. Response: We Praise and Thank you for your mercy, O God.
Leader: May we remember that you give us strength as we journey with you. Response: We Praise and Thank you for your mercy, O God.
Moments of Silent reflection
Reconciliation Song
Let us stand and pray.
All: Reconciling God, give us the strength and courage we need to be transformed. Help us to refrain from any words, actions and attitudes that are destructive for others and ourselves. Help us to journey with you and walk in your footsteps that we may live so as to create peace in our lives and the lives of others.
Priest: Loving and merciful God, through the life and ministry of our brother Jesus, the Holy Spirit who dwells among us, and through the ministry of the church, I absolve you from your sins in the name of God our Creator, Jesus our Brother, and the Holy Spirit.
And we all say Amen.
Reconciliation Song from U-Tube (People & Songs)
By Buddy Owens, Claire Cloninger, Morris ChapmanLyrics provided in the mass text for later reflection.