A number of resources have been developed to help enrich your Advent journey, including weekly guided reflections on the Advent readings, Sunday gospel reflections, and other multimedia resources to help you engage with Scripture from a contemporary perspective. Our hope is that these opportunities might deepen your sense of Advent anticipation, as you await and prepare for God’s great gift of love and hope for our world: Jesus.
Scripture reflections—Sunday Mass readings
To break open the Mass readings for the Second Sunday of Advent, Scripture scholar Fr Trevor Tibbertsma explores the central characters and themes, posing insightful questions for personal reflection and/or discussion in a parish, school or home setting. The following questions are also offered for personal or group reflection.
Questions for reflection:
- What are some ways to prepare the way for the Lord this Advent?
- Can you think of your favourite Old Testament story? Why?
- Who is your favourite saint? Why?
Further questions for discussion:
- What did you hear that was new to you? Excited you? Challenged you?
- How might this assist you to prepare, anticipate, engage in Jesus’ coming?
- How might this be used in your context?
Advent Voices: ‘Stay Awake’
This audio resource explores key figures of the Advent readings through a personal lens. During this second week of Advent, Kevin Mark looks at the prophet Isaiah and how his life can offer inspiration as we prepare for Jesus to be born anew at Christmas. Kevin is a parishioner of St Mary of the Angels in Geelong, where he has the role of Adult Faith Education & RCIA Coordinator. Kevin also works as a Catholic prison chaplain.
Real Conversations
A four-part series exploring the big questions confronting us during this time of pandemic. As well as providing material for individual or group reflection during this season of Advent, each episode shares different ways we can survive, thrive and look forward with hope borne from faith—in a God who loves, cares and accompanies us. In this second episode, our guest Karen Rolfe looks at the foundations and conditions for connection and how we might look anew at reconnecting post-COVID.
Songs of hope: An Advent Spotify playlist
Our hopes and dreams for the coming kingdom are often most meaningfully expressed through song. This year, as opportunities to meet and sing together are limited by COVID restrictions, music can still form a rich part of our Advent experience, but perhaps in a different way.
This Spotify playlist features examples of familiar Advent hymns and anthems, and some less familiar Advent-themed songs, from a broad range of eras, styles, and artists. Two pieces of music have been selected for each day of Advent, each broadly related to a passage from the daily Mass readings. You might like to use the playlist as a daily devotional tool—individually or with your household—look at the Mass readings and then listening prayerfully to the songs selected for that day. Or you might simply like to use it as a kind of ‘soundtrack’ for your Advent journey, listening to it as you drive or cook dinner or do the housework.
A Christmas playlist is also available for the Season of Christmas.
2nd Sunday of Advent (6 December)
‘Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her
that she has served her term,
that her penalty is paid.’
—Isaiah 40:1–2
- ‘Comfort, comfort ye my people’, The Many
- ‘Comfort Ye my people’, Messiah (George Frideric Handel), Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Monday of the 2nd week of Advent (7 December)
‘And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.’
—Isaiah 35:10
- ‘The Trumpet Child’, Over the Rhine
- ‘Savior of the nations, come’ (St Ambrose), Sister Sinjin
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (8 December)
‘The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”’
—Luke 1:30–33
- ‘Mary consoles Eve’, Rain for Roots, featuring Sandra McCracken
- ‘Ave Maria’, Westminster Cathedral Choir
Wednesday of the 2nd week of Advent (9 December)
‘Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.’”
—Matthew 11:28
- ‘Glory in the darkest place’, Brittany Hope
- ‘Hush-a-by (Come unto me and rest)’, Keith and Kristen Getty
Thursday of the 2nd week of Advent (10 December)
‘Yours is an everlasting kingdom;
your rule lasts from age to age.’
—Psalm 144(145):13
- ‘Kingdom come’, JJ Heller
- ‘Of the Father’s love begotten’, Ordinary Time
Friday of the 2nd week of Advent (11 December)
‘The Lord will come: go out to meet him!
He is the prince of peace.’
—Gospel acclamation
- ‘Light upon the mountains’ (Henry Burton), The Walking Roots Band
- ‘E’en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come (Paul Manz)’, The University of Utah Singers
Saturday of the 2nd week of Advent (12 December)
‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths:
all people shall see the salvation of God.’
—Gospel acclamation, Luke 3:4, 6
- ‘Hosanna to the Son of David’ (Orlando Gibbons), performed by the Australian Brandenburg Choir
- ‘People get ready’ (Curtis Mayfield), Eva Cassidy
