Bar 5:1-9
Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6
Phil 1:4-6, 8-11
Lk 3:1-6 Full Readings
Prepare the Way for the Lord
"A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord; make his paths straight. Every valley will be filled in, every mountain and hill be laid low, winding ways will be straightened, and rough roads made smooth. And all mankind shall see the salvation of God." This quotation is part of this Sunday's Gospel. A voice is crying in the wilderness, urging us to prepare the way for Jesus, for his coming is near. He is about to be born Christmas. However, this passage is not only meant to prepare us for Christmas alone but also, together with the first and second readings, urges us to prepare for the three comings of Jesus in our lives as we know them (3 of them).
The traditional three comings of Christ cannot be separated. The coming in history was the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem. The coming in mystery is the coming of Christ into our hearts as we endeavour to mould ourselves as his faithful followers and to live out his values. The coming in majesty is the final coming of Christ in glory to gather his elect to himself, either at our homecoming in death or at the end of all things. The three comings lead on, one to another: the coming in history gives a new impetus to the Kingdom of God, the coming in majesty brings it to its climax, and the coming in mystery is our own repeated response. St. Paul in the second reading commends the Philippians for their partnership with him in the gospel and prays that God’s work in them may be completed. So they may be ready for the Day of the Lord, which he envisaged to be imminent. He encourages us today also to always use what we have received from the gospel to become pure and blameless and thus prepare worthly for the coming of Christ. This should be our message for this advent time.
Each year the two middle Sundays of Advent centre on John the Baptist, preparing the way for Jesus. John came to prepare a community of repentance who would be ready for the Messiah. This was to be a community not of those who went around moping about their sinfulness, but a community of those who had changed their ways and their whole system of values and priorities. The Hebrew concept that he proclaimed was a matter of turning around and going in the opposite direction. To be ready for the Messiah meant—and still means—such a radical change of attitude. John himself had prepared by going out into the desert, for the Messiah was to come striding across the desert, as did Israel at the exodus. John’s clothing and his whole way of life showed his rejection of current materialism and his single-minded dedication. It is not primarily a negative point of view, for his quotation of Baruch (as in today’s first reading) or of Isaiah shows that the flattening of the hills and the filling of the valleys is a preparation for the Kingdom of Peace and Justice. A good deal of positive planning and of spadework is needed if we are to be ready to welcome that kingdom.
Who is John the Baptist we are talking about today, and what made him do great? He was born of Elizabeth and Zachariah and was the one who was to prepare the way for the Lord. He stands as a transition between the Old and New Testaments, and of him, Jesus Himself stated that “among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11). He was made great not only because of his being a prophet but also his virtue of humility, recognising himself just as a voice crying in the desert.
John acknowledged that he was not even worthy to stoop down and untie the sandal straps of Jesus (Mark 1:7). He was praised by many and followed by many, and yet he continuously said of Jesus, “He must increase and I must decrease” (John 3:30). John was not in it for praise and honour; rather, his mission was to point everyone to the Saviour of the world. He could have sought the honour and praise of many, and he would have certainly received it. They may have even made him king. But John was more than willing to fulfil his mission and then submit himself to the cruel sword of his executioner. His humility was such that he was focused only on Jesus and desired only to point to Him.
Advent is the time to point others to Jesus but also to prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus. How are we to prepare ourselves? John the Baptist, quoting Isaiah, says we make paths clear, fill the valleys, bring down the mountains, and make paths clear and smooth. Isaiah was pointing to something more than physical deserts, the wilderness, and the valleys. He was talking about their spiritual state. We need to make ourselves clean so that when the Lord comes, we shall be ready to accept him. Remember that we do not know when the Lord will come. Hence, St. Peter encourages us to stop calculating the dates and concentrate more on living good lives. The best way to wait for the Lord is by living holy lives. Assuming the second coming happens now, would you be found ready?
John the Baptist, therefore, tells us that the first step is conversion and repentance (Matthew 3:2; Luke 3:7). Conversion involves receiving God's word into our hearts and minds and allowing his Word to change our attitudes and wrong ways of thinking and judging. Repentance is the deliberate turning away from sin (wrong-doing) and turning to God to receive his pardon, healing, and strength to do what is good and reject what is wrong.
Reflect today on how you are preparing to welcome the Messiah in your life by levelling all the mountains and valleys so that Jesus will reach smoothly in your life without anything stopping him. Reflect also on your patience to wait for God even in answering your prayers.
Let us Pray
Lord God, help me by your grace to prepare myself by levelling all the spiritual valleys and mountains in my life so that I can receive the Messiah with faith and devotion. Amen
Be blessed
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