2nd Sunday of Advent Year B (2023)

Mass Readings for the 2nd Sunday of Advent Year B

• First Reading – Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11: “A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!”
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 80: “Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.”
• Second Reading – 2 Peter 3:8-14: “Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.”
• Gospel – Mark 1:1-8: “People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.”

Themes for the 2nd Sunday of Advent Year B

The readings for the 2nd Sunday of Advent Year B tell us of John the Baptist and his call to repentance. The first reading foretells the coming of John the Baptist. The psalm reminds us that the Lord is kind and just. The second reading encourages us to grow in holiness. And in the gospel, John the Baptist is baptizing people in preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ.

Some possible topics for this weekend are baptism, reconciliation, or the sacraments in general. Here are some ideas:

• Baptism
• Reconciliation
• Getting ready
• Humility

See the Homilies and Reflections section and the More Thoughts section for further expansion on these readings and some reflection questions for the 2nd Sunday of Advent Year B.

Cry Out Lesson Plan

This Cry Out lesson plan will help youth understand who this prophet was and the role he played in making the way for Jesus.

Washed Away Prayer Service

This washed away prayer service makes a nice accompaniment to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  It could also be used for a youth ministry meeting about forgiveness or baptism.

Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)

Consider going to reconciliation as a family or with youth group or youth ministry. And then do something afterwards to celebrate this beautiful gift of grace from our Lord. Go out for pizza together or something similar. 

Litany of St. John the Baptist

In this litany, we ask this saint by his many titles and roles to pray for us so we can be more like him.

What Are You Waiting For?

This discussion and set of reflection questions helps youth consider John the Baptist’s message that “One mightier than I is coming after me.”

Baptism Word Search Puzzle

This word search puzzle includes words typically associated with baptism. It is suitable for use with your Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Vacation Bible School (VBS), or Youth Ministry.

Put Up the Tree and Do a Christmas Tree Blessing

Doing a Christmas tree blessing helps us focus again on the true meaning of this busy season, which is especially important as we draw nearer to Christmas and are worrying about things like purchasing few more gifts or getting ready for guests.

Wreath Prayer Service

Use the this wreath prayer service to make any evergreen wreath serve as a reminder of our salvation.

Prepare the Way

Jeff Cavins encourages us to prepare for the coming of Christ by remembering our baptism and going to confession.

Advent: More Than a Chocolate Calendar

What does Advent mean to you? A time to put the lights up, gift shop, and eat chocolate? Or is it something more? Fr. Mike Schmitz says it’s good to prepare ourselves for Christmas during Advent, but ultimately that’s not what the liturgical season is about.

Clear a Path

From Bishop Robert Barron. In our magnificent first reading from the prophet Isaiah, which is echoed in the words of John the Baptist in today’s Gospel, a voice cries out: “Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low.” Advent is a great time for us to clear the ground, to make level the path, so as to facilitate what God, with all his heart, wants to do.

Straighten the Path

From Scott Hahn. Our God is coming. The time of exile— the long separation of humankind from God due to sin—is about to end. This is the good news proclaimed in today’s liturgy. Today, let us hear the beginning of the Gospel and again commit ourselves to lives of holiness and devotion.

Eden, The Mountain, and The One Who Baptizes with Fire

Also from Bishop Barron. Isaiah looks back to the garden of Eden and the world in right alignment with God, and then looks forward to the Messiah who will set right what has gone wrong in God’s world. Sin interrupts right order, justice, and goodness. The righteous king will restore justice when he rules on his holy mountain.

Change of Heart

In this video from Life Teen, Joel Stepanek helps us understand the readings for the Second Sunday of Advent for Year B. This week we are called to prepare our hearts for Christ.