Second Sunday of Advent

December 7, 2025

GOSPEL MEDITATION

This week we hear that John the Baptist is out in the wilderness eating “locusts and wild honey” (Mark 1:6). It’s not just a strange historical detail. It’s a symbolic expression of a healthy spiritual diet. The path to Christ includes both the hard and the beautiful, the gritty and the sweet. We have to learn to gulp the locusts and savor the honey.

I remember working with a young couple preparing for marriage. They were sincere, but raw — barely beginning to discover faith. Part of me wanted to rush them ahead, to fill in all the gaps, to bombard them with scripture and church documents. I swallowed that instinct. It was like eating locusts.

But I also recall them light up as they spoke about each other, about their first child, then their second. And they wanted to be close to God. Something innocent and beautiful was unfolding. That was the honey. I knew God was asking me to savor it.

This Advent, maybe we’re each being invited to accept both locusts and honey. Maybe it’s time to stop avoiding the difficult parts of faith — prayer that feels dry, the call to repentance, the patience with the troublesome. It’s time to eat some locusts.

But we also need to notice the small gifts God gives us: a peaceful moment, a good conversation, the joy of serving someone else, new life, good intentions of our friends. That’s the honey. Savor it! John didn’t avoid either. He took it all in. And so can we. What are your locusts? Your honey? If we let God feed us with both, we’ll be ready — really ready — for the coming of Christ
- Father John Muir

PRO-LIFE CORNER

We contend relentlessly for the dignity of the human person, of every human person, created in the image and likeness of God, destined from eternity for eternity, every human person, no matter how weak or how strong, no matter how young or how old, no matter how productive or how burdensome, no matter how welcome or how inconvenient. All are wanted by God, and therefore to respected, protected, and cherished by us.
- Fr. Richard John Neuhaus

SACRED HEART FOOD PANTRY

Regular food distribution will be on Wednesday, December 17th, our special Christmas dinner bag will be given out to all clients who previously signed up for it. There will be no distribution on December 24th and 31st. The food pantry will resume on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Our volunteers wish everyone a blessed Christmas and a healthy and peaceful New Year!

SACRED HEART FAMILY CHRISTMAS TREE

You are invited to bring an ornament to place on the Sacred Heart Family Christmas Tree. The tree will be located near the cantor stand and you will be responsible for placing and then removing the ornament after Christmas. As a family, create a hand-made ornament; purchase one that has special meaning for you or as a memorial to your loved ones. The intent is to display an ornament that represents your family. Feel free to place your family name or family member’s names on the ornament Start a tradition and share your family with our Sacred Heart Family!

CHRISTMAS CAROLS, COOKIES & COCOA

All are invited to join us for an evening spent with our high school youth of the parish, who will be singing Christmas Carols, serving cookies, cocoa & coffee and packaging a gift to be shared with all who attend our 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass. The evening will begin after the 5:30 p.m. Mass December 20 in the Sacred Heart Formation Center and wrap up around 8:00 p.m. Our high school Confirmation Candidates will be hosting this as part of a service project. There will a donation jar and the proceeds will go to the Sacred Heart Food Pantry. Come join us and help spread the joy of the Christmas season!

EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP

As we begin the second week of Advent, let us recall our motto for this season: we are climbing God’s holy mountain. Our readings inspire us and help us focus on this journey toward holiness.

Our first reading from the prophet Isaiah continues the theme of a journey towards the holy mountain, the Kingdom of God. The prophet gives us a beautiful glimpse of this mountain, where Christ will reign forever. It will be a place of peace, justice, and harmony among all God’s creatures. “There shall be no harm or ruin in all my holy mountain… (This) dwelling shall be glorious.”

As we straighten the paths of our own hearts and minds, we become more hospitable people, better stewards of God’s grace and mercy, and far more open and ready to invite others into our lives, homes and parishes. We climb farther up God’s holy mountain and attract others to join us on the path toward holiness. This is preparation fitting for our merciful Savior.

Prayer Requests

Alan and Kathy Ansman, Mark Blackie, Rod Baronner, Dan Bauer, Dave Bauer, Jack Chilcote, Harry Chirdon, Karen Claar, Brandon Conaway, Shirley Conlon, Denise Conrad, James Conrad, Kathy Corl, William Costlow, Joe DeGennaro Jr., Colette DiMemmo, Margaret Dodson, Tim Dodson, Joan Donnelly, Matthew Dorman, Nate Dorman, Amelia Doughurty, Lois Duncan, Thomas Duncan, Paul Dunmire, Ashley Eagen, Corinda Ermin, Roberta Farabaugh, Herman Frederick, Pat Harpster, Leighton Hess, Lucy Horton, Raymond Kargo, Carol Keagy, Russell Keith, John Kleine, Ruth Lamca, Cyndi Lansberry, Beth Lloyd, Joan Maier, Charles McGrain, Shirley McIntyre, Mason Wayne McManus, Paul Angelo Morelli, Bev Mueller, Bonnie Neal, Jessica Neff, Lee Neff, Kevin O'Rourke, Lucille Parker, Sarah Rihnovich, Elizabeth Siglow, Laura Snyder, Alex Walter, Margo Wascherl, Joan Weston, Renee Williams, Mikayla Yanchik, Pat Zeak.

If you would like to add a sick or hospitalized person to our prayer list or readd a person, please call the rectory office, at 943-8553. Parishioners of Saint Mary are encouraged and welcome to participate. Remember, you must have the permission of the ill person/family to publish their name.

Sacred Heart Church