▼ Video Message from Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito ▼
Second Sunday of Advent
Actions in Faith through ministry in the Diocese of Palm Beach
Here is my Servant
Isaiah 42
Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
2 He will not cry or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
3 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 He will not grow faint or be crushed
until he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
5 Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people upon it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
6 I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,
I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,[a]
a light to the nations,
7 to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
8 I am the Lord, that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to idols.
9 See, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth,
I tell you of them.
This week of Advent, reflect on your faith in Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 42. When God the Father speaks from the heavens at Jesus’ baptism, he quotes Isaiah 42:1, calling Jesus the one “with whom I am well pleased.”
Read: Matthew 12:18-20 and Matthew 3:13-17. The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows that Jesus is fulfilling the Suffering Servant prophecies of Isaiah. The Messianic king whom God appoints to bring justice to the Gentiles is Jesus himself. He is a new kind of king who comes to vanquish the power of sin and establish God’s righteous law in our hearts. The Suffering Servant is not a lone ranger with a good idea, rather he is appointed to his role by the only ultimately legitimate authority: God himself. This aspect of the Suffering Servant is crucial for us who are trying to model our own lives after the pattern of Jesus. Jesus was sent, appointed, called by God. We too need to find God’s calling for our own lives. The meaning of our work, our family relationships, our role in this world is derived from God’s calling on our lives. Second, the Suffering Servant is approved by God. The Lord not only calls him, but he delights in him.
-Catholic Exchange
Support for the Call
Office of Vocations and Seminarians
During this Advent season, the Office of Vocations and Seminarians in the Diocese of Palm Beach reflects the virtue of faith through the everyday trust that God is at work in the lives of those who are discerning His call. A beautiful example is when we see a family supporting a loved one’s vocation journey, each moment is rooted in the belief that God leads him/her one step at a time. The work of the Vocations Office is built on this steady confidence—that even when the path is unclear, God is faithful, and He continues to raise up shepherds and servants for His Church.
The Faith of Advent nurtures Encountering Jesus in Community with Young Adults
Office of Marriage Family Life, Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
Young adults often move at a fast pace—school, work, relationships, responsibilities. Advent creates intentional space to slow down. Through silence, Scripture, and reflection, they learn to listen for God’s voice in the midst of noise.
Whether through parish events, campus ministry, small groups, or family traditions, Advent reminds young adults that faith is lived in community. Seeing their peers prepare spiritually for Christmas strengthens their own belief.
Click to find a Young Adult Community near you!
Diocese of Palm Beach Family Life >
Living Faith
Catholic Charities DPB
This second week of Advent invites us to deepen our Faith—trusting in God’s promises and answering His call to love our neighbor.
At Catholic Charities, faith is lived daily through compassionate service, welcoming the stranger, feeding the hungry, and walking with the vulnerable on their journey toward healing.
May our faith inspire us to be light for others during this sacred season and beyond.
Faith in this Sacred Space
Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery
A cemetery is sacred ground—a place where our faith gently reminds us that our time on earth is only a temporary journey. Here, among the quiet paths and markers of lives once lived, we remember that death is not an end but a passage into the fullness of God’s promise. In this holy space, we are reassured that those who have gone before us are not lost to us; in God’s love, we remain forever united with them, held together in the hope of eternal life.
Fe
Ministerio Hispano
La fe de cada cristiano tiene siempre un triple horizonte que está llamado a cultivar para vivir con fruto este tiempo de gracia: el pasado, el presente y el futuro. El discípulo de Cristo recuerda que Él ya vino para salvarnos: nació en la fragilidad de un bebé. También, sabe que Cristo viene en el presente: cada vez que ora, que vive la Santa Misa, que se confiesa, etc. Tiene conciencia de que Jesucristo vendrá en el futuro, para instaurar la auténtica paz y justicia, en la que los justos y pecadores serán juzgados.
Para mayores recursos:
https://www.crs.org/sites/default/files/documents/2025-10/corona-de-adviento-esp.pdf
First Week of Advent
Actions with Hope through ministry in the Diocese of Palm Beach
Make Straight Paths for Your Feet
Hebrews 12: 1-13
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,[a] and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of[b] the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners,[c] so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children—
“My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
or lose heart when you are punished by him;
6 for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves,
and chastises every child whom he accepts.”
7 Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? 8 If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children. 9 Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness. 11 Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
This week of Advent, place yourself in the grand scheme of salvation history, reflect on what God's promise to send his son means for your life and how we can prepare for Christ's return at the second coming. Place your hope in the Lord, and trust his divine plan.
Read: Romans 5:1-11 - and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Being Lead By God
Office of Vocations and Seminarians
During this Advent season, the Office of Vocations and Seminarians in the Diocese of Palm Beach reflects the virtue of hope in a simple but powerful way—by walking with young people as they discover where God may be leading them. Every conversation, retreat, and moment of prayer is a reminder that God is still calling, still guiding, and still planting new beginnings in our Church. Our seminarians and discerners show us that hope isn’t just an idea—it’s a daily choice to trust that God has a plan for each of us, even when we can’t see the full picture. In their courage and openness, we glimpse the quiet, steady hope that Advent invites us to embrace.
The Hope of Advent within our families
Office of Marriage Family Life, Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
Advent creates hope by turning families toward Christ, grounding them in prayer, strengthening unity, and reminding them that God enters their lives with light, mercy, and promise. Advent activities such as acts of kindness, preparing a nativity scene, or creating a Jesse Tree draw families together. Shared rituals build connection and reinforce the belief that God works through family life.
Unlike the commercial rush, Advent invites families to embrace simplicity and focus on what truly matters. This shift reduces stress and replaces it with hopeful expectation of God’s gift—Emmanuel, “God with us.”
Visit the December Events page to find out what family events are happening around the Diocese of Palm Beach.
Diocese of Palm Beach Family Life >
Hope in This Sacred Place
Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Cemetery
Hope reminds us that love never truly fades and gives us strength during life’s hardest moments.
In this sacred place, it becomes a quiet force that carries us through each day, offering comfort when our spirits feel worn.
It steadies us, reminding us to breathe, to pause, and to trust that brighter days will come.
And hope softly assures us that we are never alone, even when our hearts are heavy, guiding us forward with a light that never completely goes out.
Hope Shines
Catholic Charities DPB
As we light the first candle of Advent, we welcome Hope—the quiet assurance that God is present and working in every circumstance. At Catholic Charities, hope shines each time a family finds stability, a senior receives care, or a person in crisis discovers support and dignity.
This week, may we open our hearts to hope and extend it generously to those who need it most.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace.” – Romans 15:13
Esperanza
Ministerio Hispano
La espera del tiempo de Adviento es sinónimo de esperanza. Te exhortamos a sembrar esa esperanza en los demás a través de un gesto solidario con los que más lo necesitan durante esta primera semana de adviento. Que tu generosidad sea signo de esperanza y símbolo de Jesús, que se acerca a todos.
Para mayores recursos:
https://www.crs.org/sites/default/files/documents/2025-10/corona-de-adviento-esp.pdf
