Pastoral Message for the Second Sunday of Advent 2025
December 5, 2025 at 3:25 p.m.
Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., has shared this message for the First Week of Advent.
On this Second Sunday of Advent, the Word of God opens before us a horizon filled with hope, mercy, and divine possibility. Through the prophet Isaiah we hear a promise powerful enough to stir even the weariest heart: “A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.” What a breathtaking reminder that God brings life precisely where we see only endings. When the world appears cut down or emptied of promise, God is already at work—quietly, faithfully—bringing forth renewal. Upon this promised One rests the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, and strength. In Him, justice and peace will embrace, and even the wolf and the lamb will dwell together. Advent dares us to believe that God’s dream for humanity is far greater than anything we can achieve on our own.
The responsorial psalm carries that promise forward: “Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.” Advent, then, is not a passive wait. It is an awakening—an active longing for the world God desires. It is the season when we lift our eyes toward a future where the poor are defended, the vulnerable protected, and every heart finds the peace it was made for. This is the peace we ready ourselves to welcome—not only into our private prayer, but into the fabric of our families, our parish, and our wider community.
Saint Paul, writing to the Romans, reminds us that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Hope does not come cheaply; it takes endurance, humility, and the courage to welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us. Advent is therefore never a solitary journey. It is the Church—one body—moving together toward the Light. We prepare not only for our own hearts to be changed, but for our community to be renewed, strengthened, and united in praise of the God who saves.
Today’s Gospel from Saint Matthew sets before us the austere figure of John the Baptist, a lone voice rising from the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” John’s cry breaks through our complacency. He asks us to take a hard look at ourselves—our habits, our priorities, our excuses—and to turn again toward the One who comes. Advent is our invitation to clear the clutter of sin, to uproot what is lifeless, and to welcome the grace that arrives like fire: purifying, illuminating, transforming. Through John, the old world leans toward the new, and we are reminded that the Messiah is near—closer to us than we often dare to imagine.
The very word Advent—adventus, “coming”—reminds us that we live in a world visited by God. Christ has come in history at Bethlehem; He comes in mystery through the sacraments and the quiet movements of grace; and He will come in majesty at the end of time. This season calls us to slow down, to make room, to let the Word take root. In a culture that rushes headlong toward Christmas, Advent gently but firmly teaches us a different rhythm: to wait with purpose, to prepare with joy, and to hope with unshakable faith.
Let Isaiah’s vision of harmony, the psalmist’s promise of peace, Paul’s encouragement toward unity, and John’s call to conversion shape our hearts in these holy days. May we allow Christ to clothe us in justice, steady us in peace, and fill us with a love that grows ever more discerning. And as our lives bear the fruits of repentance and mercy, may we prepare not only for the feast of Christmas, but for the eternal dwelling of the One whose glory fills the earth as water covers the sea.
May this Advent be for you and your families a season of deep renewal, healing reconciliation, and radiant hope. Let us walk this path together, preparing the way of the Lord, until all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., has shared this message for the First Week of Advent.
“Stay awake, for you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” (Matthew 24:42)
As we enter the holy season of Advent, the Church invites us once again to lift our eyes toward the horizon of hope. Advent is far more than a countdown to Christmas; it is a sacred journey of expectation, preparation, and renewal. It is a time when the People of God pause long enough to remember that our lives are guided not by chance, but by promise—God’s promise to remain with us and to come to us anew.
A Season of Watchfulness
On this First Sunday of Advent, Jesus calls us to stay awake. His words are not meant to instill fear but to awaken desire—holy attentiveness to the quiet ways in which Christ is already at work in our lives. In a world crowded with noise, activity, and distraction, Advent gently whispers: Slow down. Breathe. Pay attention. If we allow ourselves to be still, we may discover that God’s light is already breaking through places where we least expected it.
The first week of Advent gives us three invitations.
First, “Awaken Hope”
Hope, the theme of this Jubilee Year, is the first candle we light, the first grace we receive. To awaken hope is to trust that God is faithful, even when circumstances feel uncertain. This week, let us rekindle hope in our families, workplaces, and communities—through encouraging words, gestures of patience, or simply by choosing to believe that God is not finished with us yet.
Next, “Practice Watchfulness”
Advent watchfulness is active, not passive. It is the watchfulness of love, which is attuned to the needs of others, ready to respond with compassion. We stay awake when we listen to those who feel unheard, reach out to those who feel unseen, and stand alongside those who feel forgotten. Every act of kindness becomes a doorway where Christ enters.
Finally, “Prepare Room”
Just as Mary opened her heart to receive the Word made flesh, we too are called to make room for Christ. Preparing room may require letting go of resentment, extending forgiveness, or creating moments of silence for prayer. When we clear even a small space within us, God fills it with grace far beyond what we could imagine.
Advent provides Light in the Darkness
The candles of the Advent wreath remind us that even the smallest flame can pierce the deepest night. As we light the first candle this week, may it become a sign of our readiness to welcome Christ—not only in the joyful celebration of Christmas, but in every moment where love is needed, justice is demanded, and mercy is possible.
Walking Together in Hope
Let us journey through this week with hearts awakened, eyes lifted, and spirits eager. Christ is coming—He always comes. He comes in our prayer, in our neighbor, in our longing for holiness, and in the quiet courage of hope.
May we be found ready, joyful, and radiant with His light.
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Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., has shared this message for the First Week of Advent.
On this Second Sunday of Advent, the Word of God opens before us a horizon filled with hope, mercy, and divine possibility. Through the prophet Isaiah we hear a promise powerful enough to stir even the weariest heart: “A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.” What a breathtaking reminder that God brings life precisely where we see only endings. When the world appears cut down or emptied of promise, God is already at work—quietly, faithfully—bringing forth renewal. Upon this promised One rests the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, and strength. In Him, justice and peace will embrace, and even the wolf and the lamb will dwell together. Advent dares us to believe that God’s dream for humanity is far greater than anything we can achieve on our own.
The responsorial psalm carries that promise forward: “Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.” Advent, then, is not a passive wait. It is an awakening—an active longing for the world God desires. It is the season when we lift our eyes toward a future where the poor are defended, the vulnerable protected, and every heart finds the peace it was made for. This is the peace we ready ourselves to welcome—not only into our private prayer, but into the fabric of our families, our parish, and our wider community.
Saint Paul, writing to the Romans, reminds us that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Hope does not come cheaply; it takes endurance, humility, and the courage to welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us. Advent is therefore never a solitary journey. It is the Church—one body—moving together toward the Light. We prepare not only for our own hearts to be changed, but for our community to be renewed, strengthened, and united in praise of the God who saves.
Today’s Gospel from Saint Matthew sets before us the austere figure of John the Baptist, a lone voice rising from the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” John’s cry breaks through our complacency. He asks us to take a hard look at ourselves—our habits, our priorities, our excuses—and to turn again toward the One who comes. Advent is our invitation to clear the clutter of sin, to uproot what is lifeless, and to welcome the grace that arrives like fire: purifying, illuminating, transforming. Through John, the old world leans toward the new, and we are reminded that the Messiah is near—closer to us than we often dare to imagine.
The very word Advent—adventus, “coming”—reminds us that we live in a world visited by God. Christ has come in history at Bethlehem; He comes in mystery through the sacraments and the quiet movements of grace; and He will come in majesty at the end of time. This season calls us to slow down, to make room, to let the Word take root. In a culture that rushes headlong toward Christmas, Advent gently but firmly teaches us a different rhythm: to wait with purpose, to prepare with joy, and to hope with unshakable faith.
Let Isaiah’s vision of harmony, the psalmist’s promise of peace, Paul’s encouragement toward unity, and John’s call to conversion shape our hearts in these holy days. May we allow Christ to clothe us in justice, steady us in peace, and fill us with a love that grows ever more discerning. And as our lives bear the fruits of repentance and mercy, may we prepare not only for the feast of Christmas, but for the eternal dwelling of the One whose glory fills the earth as water covers the sea.
May this Advent be for you and your families a season of deep renewal, healing reconciliation, and radiant hope. Let us walk this path together, preparing the way of the Lord, until all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., has shared this message for the First Week of Advent.
“Stay awake, for you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” (Matthew 24:42)
As we enter the holy season of Advent, the Church invites us once again to lift our eyes toward the horizon of hope. Advent is far more than a countdown to Christmas; it is a sacred journey of expectation, preparation, and renewal. It is a time when the People of God pause long enough to remember that our lives are guided not by chance, but by promise—God’s promise to remain with us and to come to us anew.
A Season of Watchfulness
On this First Sunday of Advent, Jesus calls us to stay awake. His words are not meant to instill fear but to awaken desire—holy attentiveness to the quiet ways in which Christ is already at work in our lives. In a world crowded with noise, activity, and distraction, Advent gently whispers: Slow down. Breathe. Pay attention. If we allow ourselves to be still, we may discover that God’s light is already breaking through places where we least expected it.
The first week of Advent gives us three invitations.
First, “Awaken Hope”
Hope, the theme of this Jubilee Year, is the first candle we light, the first grace we receive. To awaken hope is to trust that God is faithful, even when circumstances feel uncertain. This week, let us rekindle hope in our families, workplaces, and communities—through encouraging words, gestures of patience, or simply by choosing to believe that God is not finished with us yet.
Next, “Practice Watchfulness”
Advent watchfulness is active, not passive. It is the watchfulness of love, which is attuned to the needs of others, ready to respond with compassion. We stay awake when we listen to those who feel unheard, reach out to those who feel unseen, and stand alongside those who feel forgotten. Every act of kindness becomes a doorway where Christ enters.
Finally, “Prepare Room”
Just as Mary opened her heart to receive the Word made flesh, we too are called to make room for Christ. Preparing room may require letting go of resentment, extending forgiveness, or creating moments of silence for prayer. When we clear even a small space within us, God fills it with grace far beyond what we could imagine.
Advent provides Light in the Darkness
The candles of the Advent wreath remind us that even the smallest flame can pierce the deepest night. As we light the first candle this week, may it become a sign of our readiness to welcome Christ—not only in the joyful celebration of Christmas, but in every moment where love is needed, justice is demanded, and mercy is possible.
Walking Together in Hope
Let us journey through this week with hearts awakened, eyes lifted, and spirits eager. Christ is coming—He always comes. He comes in our prayer, in our neighbor, in our longing for holiness, and in the quiet courage of hope.
May we be found ready, joyful, and radiant with His light.