Advent is a call to prepare but not by getting busier. It’s a call to be full of the right things.
This Second Sunday of Advent (a.k.a. the Thirty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time) the podcast crew is joined by Fr. Eric Johnson, pastor at St. Mark the Evangelist, who helps us reflect on the bold proclamations of John the Baptist and the quiet invitation to hope in what God alone can do.
Here are a few key takeaways from the episode:
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Isaiah 11 gives us the classic Advent image of a shoot sprouting from the stump of Jesse. Out of destruction comes God’s promise of peace and justice not our doing but His.
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Romans 15 reminds us that hope, endurance, and harmony come from Scripture. As God's family grows, so does our call to be unified in Him.
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In Matthew 3, we meet John the Baptist in full prophet mode calling people to repentance, warning the Pharisees (“you brood of vipers!”), and preparing the way for Christ who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Fr. Johnson reflects beautifully on how Advent isn’t about escaping the chaos—it’s about finding peace in the midst of it. He encourages us not to wait for an ideal, quiet moment to encounter God but to invite Him into the fullness of our lives as they are. Whether it’s bustling Advent prep, macaroni mishaps, or parish penance services this is the season to turn to the Lord with hope.
🎧 Listen to or watch the full episode:
🎧 Spotify
🧦 Product Spotlight: St. John the Baptist Socks
Why they fit: From camel’s hair to locust snacks, John the Baptist is the patron of repentance and bold proclamation and these socks are just as wild and fearless as he was.
