2nd Sunday of Advent 2025

Join us on December 7, 2025, for Holy Eucharist at 9:00 AM, as we celebrate the 2nd Sunday of Advent 2025. Together, we will light the Advent candles and prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ.

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If You Cannot Join Us In Person for the Second Sunday of Advent 2025!

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Join us live at 8:50 am for the organ prelude, or at 9:00 am for the opening hymn. The replay video will be available immediately after the service ends.

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The Collect for the 2nd Sunday of Advent 2025

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets, to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Readings for 2nd Sunday of Advent 2025

Old Testament: Isaiah 11:1-10

¹A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. ²The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge, and the fear of the Lord. ³His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; ⁴but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

⁵Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. ⁶The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion, and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. ⁷The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. ⁸The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. ⁹They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

¹⁰On that day, the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19

¹ Give the King your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to the King’s Son;

² That he may rule your people righteously
and the poor with justice;

³ That the mountains may bring prosperity to the people,
and the little hills bring righteousness.

⁴ He shall defend the needy among the people;
He shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor.

⁵ He shall live as long as the sun and moon endure,
from one generation to another.

⁶ He shall come down like rain upon the mown field,
like showers that water the earth.

⁷ In his time shall the righteous flourish;
there shall be abundance of peace till the moon shall be no more.

¹⁸ Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous deeds!

¹⁹ And blessed be his glorious Name for ever!
And may all the earth be filled with his glory. Amen. Amen.

The Epistle: Romans 15:4-13

⁴For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.

⁵May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, ⁶so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. ⁸For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, ⁹and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

“Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name”; ¹⁰and again he says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”; ¹¹and again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him”; ¹²and again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.”

¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

¹In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ²”Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” ³This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'” ⁴Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, ⁶and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

⁷But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸Bear fruit worthy of repentance. ⁹Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

¹⁰Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ¹¹I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹²His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Reflection on the Readings for the 2nd Sunday of Advent 2025

Old Testament – Isaiah 11:1-10: Isaiah describes a vision of the coming Messiah as a shoot growing from the stump of Jesse, who is King David’s father. This prophecy highlights that the Messiah will be filled with the Spirit of the Lord, bringing wisdom, understanding, and justice. He will judge righteously, especially defending the poor and humble. The passage culminates in a beautiful vision of peace, where natural enemies coexist harmoniously—such as the wolf and the lamb, and the leopard and the young goat. This peaceable kingdom represents a world transformed by the knowledge of the Lord, where violence and destruction no longer exist.

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19: This royal psalm emphasizes the importance of the king embodying God’s justice and righteousness, particularly in defending the needy and rescuing the poor. It envisions a reign characterized by prosperity, peace, and lasting righteousness. The blessings described in the psalm extend beyond any earthly king to point to the ultimate King whose reign will bring true justice and peace. The closing doxology reminds us that only God can achieve these remarkable deeds, and His glory should fill the entire earth.

Epistle – Romans 15:4-13: Paul reminds us that Scripture was written to provide hope through steadfastness and encouragement. He urges the diverse Roman church to pursue unity, encouraging both Jews and Gentiles to welcome one another just as Christ has welcomed them. Paul references multiple Old Testament passages, including Isaiah’s prophecy about the root of Jesse, to illustrate that God’s plan has always included all nations. The passage concludes with a benediction asking that the God of hope fill believers with joy and peace, enabling them to overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Gospel – Matthew 3:1-12: John the Baptist emerges in the Judean wilderness, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy of “a voice crying out in the wilderness.” His message is urgent and straightforward: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” John’s appearance—dressed in camel’s hair and consuming locusts and wild honey—mirrors that of the prophet Elijah. When religious leaders approach him, John confronts them sharply, warning that true repentance must be demonstrated through actions and that mere ancestry cannot save them. He proclaims the arrival of one who is far more powerful than he, who will baptize not with water but with the Holy Spirit and fire, separating the wheat from the chaff.

The central theme of the 2nd Sunday of Advent 2025 is preparing our hearts through repentance. The prophets Isaiah and John urge us to prepare for the coming King by turning away from sin and embracing God’s transformative grace. The promised Messiah will bring justice for the oppressed and judgment for the unrepentant, ultimately establishing a kingdom of peace where all nations can find hope.

Devotional: Preparing the Way

Advent is a season of active waiting, not passive waiting. The voice of John the Baptist resonates through the ages with an urgent message: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.” How do we get ready for Christ’s coming—both in celebrating his birth at Christmas and in anticipating his promised return?

Isaiah’s vision offers us hope for a peaceable kingdom where former enemies live together in harmony. This is not just a distant dream; it is a reality we are called to embody today. By extending a welcome to those who are different from us, advocating for justice for the poor and marginalized, and choosing peace over conflict, we actively participate in bringing Isaiah’s vision to life.

Paul emphasizes that our preparation is a communal effort. We should welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us, regardless of our differences in ethnicity, background, or experience. The God of hope fills us with joy and peace, not just for our own comfort, but so that we can share that hope with a world that is in desperate need.

John’s call to “bear fruit worthy of repentance” urges us to examine our lives honestly. Are there areas where we depend on our spiritual heritage or past accomplishments rather than on our current faithfulness? Have we become complacent with certain sins, allowing branches that produce no good fruit? The axe is at the root of the tree—now is the time to remove whatever hinders us from producing the fruit of God’s kingdom.

This week, reflect on the following questions: What changes do I need to make in my life to create clear paths for the Lord? In what areas is God calling me to work for justice, offer welcome, or strive for peace? How can I contribute, even in small ways, to realizing Isaiah’s vision of a peaceable kingdom?

The God of steadfastness and encouragement is with us, filling our hearts with hope. The one who is to come will baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire, cleansing us of what is false and igniting what is true. Let us prepare the way for the Lord with joyful expectation.