Prepare the Way....

  Prepare the Way....



A couple of years ago, I was reading a story that led me to this thought: every summer there is always some part of the highway that is being repaired. There will be signs that say, "Slow Down – Construction is Ahead" and we will see road graders, gravel trucks, and a lot of men working on the highway. I always thought to myself, "What a nice highway this will be when it is finished and there is no more construction." Summer comes and goes, guess what? They are still working on it!

During the Advent season, the readings invite us to ponder on the coming of Jesus. The first half of the Advent Sunday readings focus on the preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus. The second half of Advent focuses on preparation for Christmas.

The first reading from the Book of Isaiah and the Gospel invites us to prepare the way. We are in preparation for the coming of Jesus: the coming of Jesus in history, which is at Christmas, the second coming of Jesus, and being vigilant to meet him every day of our life. Isaiah 40-55 is known as the “second Isaiah” or “Book of Consolation.” Israelites are in Babylonian exile. This section provides consolation to the exiles who would return to Judah to restore Jerusalem and its Temple. The ultimate consolation rests in the coming of the Messiah, who would bring salvation to the whole world. This Sunday's first reading (Isaiah 4:1-5,9-11) is also read on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. We see in verse 3, a prophecy about John the Baptist preparing the way for the Lord.

In the Liturgical Year B, we read from the Gospel of Mark. He begins the Gospel by introducing John the Baptist and contrasting John’s and Jesus' baptism: John baptizes with water for repentance and Jesus baptizes with fire and Holy Spirit. Mark outlines the mission of John and Jesus by connecting Isaiah 40:3, Exodus 23:20, and Malachi 3:1. The Exodus passage explains how God   appointed a messenger (angel) to lead Israel from the slavery of Egypt to the Promised Land. Isaiah brought this past experience into the future by announcing the New Exodus: both Israelites and all the nations will experience liberation from the darkness of sin to the light of freedom.

In this Advent, John the Baptist invites us to the desert, a place of preparation, a place of renewal so that we can approach Christmas with renewed spirit. This season of Advent is a time of grace for us. It is a time of grace given to us to prepare our hearts so that we are ready to receive Christ at Christmas.

Do we prepare the same way John prepared the people of his day for the first coming of Jesus? John invited the Israelites to receive the baptism of repentance. Today, one of the ways we prepare is through the reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In   Baptism, we receive the new life, but it does not abolish the weakness of human nature nor the inclination to sin. Christ instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation for us, so we can reunite whenever we are separated from him by sin. Jesus told his Apostles, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” John 20:22-23). There are two essential elements for the Sacrament of Reconciliation: the acts of the penitent who comes to repentance through the action of the Holy Spirit, and the absolution of the priest who in the name of Christ grants forgiveness and determines the ways of making satisfaction. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1422-1479 will give us deeper understanding of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

We have the Advent retreat and reconciliation time for reflection and receiving the Sacrament. See the bulletin for the schedule and more details. Another way of preparation will be through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. It can be also incorporated with penance.

Our Advent preparation can be connected to our Eucharistic Revival Years and Maintenance to Mission. We are having half an hour Adoration before our weekend Mass, and relearning our faith, especially on the Eucharist. It may help us to grow in love for the   Eucharist. Every Mass sends out to live the Eucharist by sharing with many. It is our mission. Bishop Powers through his Pastoral Letter invites us to become the missionary disciples. He quotes Pope St. Paul VI, “There is no true evangelization if the name, the teaching, the life, the promises, the kingdom and the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God are not proclaimed.”

This Sunday's readings invite us to the desert with John the Baptist, but we don’t want to remain in the desert, instead, we want to move to the land of prosperity, don’t we? Christmas recalls to us His first appearance on earth. These days of preparation in the desert may lead us to the land of prosperity: a land of joy, love, and peace. Let us build a home for the Child Jesus, who is coming to share his life with us.