The Gospel for the Second Sunday of Advent is always about John the Baptist. The last of the Old Testament prophets was Malachi and it had been 400 years since his ministry. God had been silent for 400 years! But it seemed to a lot of people that it was time for God to move, to do something. In Israel in the early years of the first century there was hope that finally God would send the Messiah.

When John appeared in the desert, it was a sign that God was finally acting. Of course, people thought that he was the long awaited Messiah. John was indeed the sign that God was alive and about to seize control of history again. John was a prophet, the first in many centuries.

He was not the Messiah, but he exhorted the people to repent and to get ready for the mighty things that God was about to do. Perhaps it seems in our day that God has been silent for a long time. It may even seem that history is slipping out of God’s hands, that God is powerless against the forces of history and technology. The message of today’s scripture is that God is never powerless and that God always comes with salvation. We need to reform our lives so that we will be ready for God.

This Advent, take time for silence. John preached in the silence of the desert and in that desert people were able to hear the stirrings of God in their hearts. If you sit with the Lord in silence, God will tell you what repentance is needed in your life.

End of the year donation: Please consider making an extra generous end of the year donation to Saint John Church. Saint John’s Church is financially sound due to our generous benefactors and the donations that young couples provide for their weddings. But we also have many challenges to assure that we remain a vibrant Catholic presence in Center City. I assure you that we are careful with the donations and money we receive, that we operate without waste. I pray every day for our generous benefactors.

Young Adult Outreach. Our Jack’s Yacs group is planning several events focused on Advent and Christmas:

• Wednesday, December 14, 6:30 PM: Prayer and Reflection: Topic and details to follow Sunday, January 8: Join us for the Feast of the Epiphany Mas at 6 PM, followed by dinner and drinks in the parish center.
• Sunday, January 8: Join us for the Feast of the Epiphany Mass at 6 PM, followed by dinner and drinks in the parish center.

Christmas Gifts for ProMedica patients: For many years on Christmas Eve, Holy Redeemer children have gone to the nursing home/rehab facility at 16th and Lombard Streets. The name of the facility has changed over the years and it is now called ProMedica. The children will sing Christmas carols and give each resident a wrapped Christmas gift. Simple gifts are appreciated: word puzzle books, adult coloring books, decks of cards, stuffed animals, 2023 calendars with pictures, socks, warm scarfs or lap blankets. Please consider buying a few gifts, wrapping them and mark them M, F or E (male, female or either). Please do not give food or candy. Gifts will be collected in boxes in the upper and lower churches.

Christmas Concert, December 11, 2 PM: The annual Saint John’s Christmas concert will be in the upper church and will feature our own Saint John’s Choir and students of the University of the Arts. A free will offering will be collected. Please join us for refreshments following the concert.

Saint John’s Staff and Volunteers Christmas Party: On Thursday, December 15, we will have our staff and volunteers Christmas party from 12 noon — 2 pm in the parish center. All volunteers are invited: Eucharistic ministers, servers and lectors, cleaners, money counters, receptionists, music ministers and choir, office helpers, hospitality and events planners. If I have forgotten a category of volunteers, let me know and come to the party.

Advent Penance Services: In addition to our usual Wednesday to Saturday schedule of confessions, Saint John Church will offer two communal penance services with individual confession of sins and absolution. Mark your calendars for December 19 and 20, 12:30 PM. Plan to make a good confession before Christmas.

Collection for retired and ill religious men and women: Our second collection is for sick and elderly religious Sisters, Brothers and priests. Many Catholics have been blessed by the ministry of religious men and women. In the United States, many religious Orders have large numbers of dependent elderly members. In fact, some of the money donated in this collection assists our Capuchin community to care of our elderly priests and Brothers, some of whom served at Saint John’s. Please be generous.

Father Frank Yacobi, OFM Cap: For the past few weeks Father Frank, former pastor of Saint John's, has been on our prayer list. A number of people have asked about his need for prayer. About three weeks ago, Father Frank developed a major breathing problem due to a serious bacterial infection in his upper respiratory system. So far, antibiotics have not resolved the issue. He is somewhat better than he was, but he still struggles for breath. He is moved from ICU to a regular room, a sign of progress, but he is still seriously ill. Please keep Father Frank in your prayers.

Laudato Si Circle: The Circle will not formally meet again until February 5, 2023 due to the Marian Devotion lecture on December 4 and New Year holiday on January 1, 2023.

Our Lady of Guadeloupe Triduum: The Visitation Nuns at 5820 City Avenue, Philadelphia, invite all to celebrate a Triduum of Masses for our Lady of Guadeloupe at 7 PM, December 10, 11 and 12. The celebrant and preacher will be Father Joseph Okonski.