“prepare the way of the Lord.”

Removing all obstacles which stand in the Lord’s way preventing him from coming.

Every mountain and hill should be brought low and every valley be lifted up.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Isaiah 11:1-10

From the stump of Jesse,

 The "little ones" are those who approach God with the humility,

openness, and trust of a child,

rather than the pride or self-reliance of the "wise" who have rejected divine authority.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Isaiah 11:1-10

From the stump of Jesse,

St. Nicholas, bishop

The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic God's giving,

by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves. 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26

O people of Zion

Whoever takes Communion creates a home."

It means believers are united in Christ, intimate connection with Christ,

he Christian community as a whole.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1st Reading: Isaiah 4:2-6

On that day the Shoot of the Lord

 The Messiah,  "Son of David, help us!

The title "Saviour" signifies his role in delivering people from their sins.

It is a cry of anguish and desperation,

but also of hope, as those who cry out believe

that Jesus can and will provide healing, restore them, and set them free.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Isaiah 29:17-24

In a very short time,

 Aabout Jesus glorious return and Isaiah tells the people to " stay awake."

 Saint Paul urges the Christians to await the Lord by walking in the ways of light.

 The Church calls us at the beginning of the new liturgical year

 to look forward to Christ's glorious return, and to the end of time. 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊      

 Isaiah 2:1-5

The vision of Isaiah, 

St. John of Damascus, priest, doctor

Images are books for the illiterate and silent heralds of the honor of the saints,

teaching those who see, with a soundless voice and sanctifying the sight. 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Isaiah 26:1-6

On that day

 Christ is considered of judgment and reward.

"while all will be judged"

And will have to give an account of their life.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Daniel 7:15-27

I, Daniel,

St. Francis Xavier, priest

It is impossible to find a saint who did not take the 'two p's' seriously – prayer and penance. 

The "two P's" refer to prayer, a direct form of communication with God,

and penance, which involves acts of self-discipline or atonement to show remorse and devotion.

1st Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10a

On this mountain the Lord Sabaoth

  "My words will not pass away"

that conveys the enduring and permanent nature of his teachings,

even as the physical world fades. 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Daniel 7:2-14

Daniel said,