2nd Sunday of Advent

Dear Parish Family,

Our Gospel presents us with the familiar scene of John the Baptist in the desert along the banks of the Jordan, baptizing those seeking to repent of their sins, preparing the way.  Why was there a need for the way to be prepared?

The purpose of this highway is to connect the people of God with the Lord. 

The people have been in service (the Hebrew word indicates military service) and have had to serve double for their crimes, pressed into the military and sent off into a foreign land in exile. There they fulfilled their duty twice over. So too in the midst of our earthly pilgrimage, as members of the Church militant, our spiritual service and trials can seem great and unending. The length of our service seems prolonged and caused by the delay in God’s return; however, as St. Peter says, this delay is according to God’s designs. Why does he delay consolations in this life? He gives us time to repent, to finish our tour of duty well. Often our spiritual progression stalls because there is still some sin which we will not let go of, some forgiveness we will not offer.

The longer we cling to sin, the longer our service is prolonged. Because sin is the rejection of God and his glory. It creates obstacles between us and God. In the prophecy we heard that the Lord was coming in his glory with a herald proclaiming victory before him. The Lord appears as a general returning glorious from battle, coming to his beleaguered army to refresh their spirits with the good news (that is the gospel) of victory. But will we welcome the victorious king’s arrival? Do we desire his approach?

If we have acted without discipline, with contempt for His orders, and disregard for duties assigned to us, then the Lord’s arrival is surely a dreadful thing. If we have been faithful in the midst of our trials, then our Lord’s arrival will be one of rejoicing. In both cases the Lord’s arrival will be like fire, cleansing us of our impurities, making a highway straight to our souls. All our sins, all these obstacles we have erected, will be dissolved in the fire of his love.

The question then is, what will remain of us when our sin is removed?  What treasure will be stored up in our souls? Have we spend a life repenting and so tearing down the obstacles between us and God, so that his highway of love might run clear and straight to our souls, then we can store up treasures of charity and good works. For all that will remain after the fire of divine love comes upon us is charity itself.

The Church in her ministers continues this plan of preparation. She aids us in directing us as to how we should prepare the way of the Lord to our souls. We know that the Lord is on his way, he is coming in glory. May we use this Advent season to set in order our souls, fighting against those vices and sins that cling to us, and striving to grow in love and virtue. May we be found ready to joyfully greet the Lord when he arrives. (hprweb.com)

God bless you, Sister Maria Inviolata, SMDG