Second Sunday of Advent
Preparations
What does it mean to “prepare the way of the Lord?” This phrase from the prophet Isaiah, repeated by John the Baptist, has three points of emphasis. Advent gives us the opportunity to examine ourselves—our lives, our relationships, and our vocations. We ask ourselves about preparation. We ask ourselves if we are indeed focused on The Way. And we ask ourselves if our priorities and our actions follow “the way of the Lord.” Preparing here is about creating a welcoming heart and about acting “in step” with God. Baruch says “God is leading Israel in joy…with his mercy and justice for company.” Jerusalem is “named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship.”
Notice how joy, mercy, justice, and peace are prominent words throughout the readings for this Sunday. Paul prays that we will be able to “discern what is of value.” What are the things of true value in life? Who is the John the Baptist in our lives who calls us to prepare the way of the Lord?
As we prepare, as we examine ourselves, these might be the questions we use for self-reflection.
Are you as just as you could be? Are there relationships in your life that you need to re-examine? Are you as joyous as you could be? Are there gifts in your life that you are called to recognize and act on in new ways? How can you take advantage of the Advent season to do some hard work on your life and your relationships? How can you advocate and act for justice in our Church and in our world? What mountains need to be leveled and what valleys need to rise up?
In all of this preparing, may we like Israel be led in joy, with God’s mercy and justice for company. May we believe that we can be “light in the darkness.”
To light an advent candle is to say, in the face of all that suggests the contrary, that God is still alive, still Lord of this world, and, because of that, “all will be well, and all will be well, and every manner of being will be well,” irrespective of the evening news. Ron Rolheiser. November 28, 2004. Advent Hope.
Another short but powerful reflection on the readings for this Sunday can be found here: