Second Sunday of Advent [A]
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT [A] The word “harmony” shows up in our second reading this weekend (Rom. 15:5). That’s what Saint Paul wants to see: believers need to live in harmony with one another. Paul’s message would seem to parallel what’s written in the eleventh chapter of Isaiah. The prophet foresees the day when a spirit of harmony will pervade the entirety of God’s creation; even the wolf and the lamb will be able to live in harmony with one another (Isaiah 11:6). Therefore, our first two readings have to do with the subject of harmony. Is it a theme that will carry over, into the Gospel? Yes and no. Matthew describes a crowd gathered along the Jordan river. There’s harmony in the fact that they are all tuned in on a common voice—that being the voice of John the Baptist. Yet, ironically, John will be the one who strikes a sour note. He will be the one who disturbs the tone of harmony. He singles out the Pharisees and the Sadducees: You don’t belong here! You will have to...