2nd
Sunday of Advent – Year B
I Reading: Is 40:1-5, 9-11; II Reading: 2 Pt 3:8-14; Gospel: Mk 1:1-8
Introduction: Homecoming is the central theme of
the Scripture readings for the Second Sunday of Advent. All three readings
focus on the absolute necessity of our getting ready for Christ’s coming by
true repentance, reparation and the renewal of our lives. They also remind us
that the past coming of Jesus 2000 years ago, the present daily coming of Jesus
into our lives through the Eucharistic celebration, the Scriptures and each
other, and his future coming or the Second coming are actually the fulfillment
of God’s saving plan for us all from all eternity.
Today I would like to analyze the words
of the Prophet Isaiah, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all
flesh shall see the salvation of God”. The words spoken by prophet Isaiah once
were the same words used by St John the Baptist many centuries after. And now
we hear the same words again after many centuries. Still they are very relevant
to us.
These words very clearly show us what
type of world or society Jesus wants to be born now. Jesus is not going to be
born everywhere or in every person, but only in a prepared world or place or
heart. That is why Isaiah says, prepare the way of the Lord. He also tells us
how we should prepare.
Today we see world with many ups and
down, discrimination, favouritism, inequality and bias in the name of caste,
creed, language, colour, wealth, money and so on. Jesus really wants to be born
in a society where there is equality. He just wants to see a new creation and
new universe where everyone feels equal to each other. He really does not like
inequalities. That is why Isaiah says, Every valley shall be filled – means all
those downtrodden, outcaste and unwanted, who are all pushed and kept under
like in the down valley, should be brought up to the level. He does not want
anybody to be in the deep down valley; rather he wants them to be brought up to
the level of other people.
Next he says, every mountain and hill
shall be made low. In deed we see in today’s society in which we live many
people claim themselves that they are superior to everyone in terms of caste,
creed, language, colour, culture and money and try to sit on the top of the
world. They keep themselves on the top of the mountain and hills. Jesus wants
them to come down to the level of the other people. He really wants them to be
made low. People, who sit on the top of the world with pride and arrogance,
should humble themselves and find themselves with other common people.
Next, the crooked shall be made straight
– means our crooked hearts should be set right. Sometimes we are jealous of
others and try to put them down. We try to spoil their good name and
reputation. We do not even respect them as human beings. This type of attitude
should be changed and set right. That’s what Isaiah says, the crooked shall be
made straight.
Next, the rough ways be made smooth –
means our rough behaviours like unkind, mean, cruel and unloving attitudes
should be also changed. Only then we can create a world or society where there
will be equality. Isaiah ends his words with “All flesh shall see the salvation
of God”, which he meant that the salvation is for all and Jesus is for all and
Jesus really wants to be born for all.
Therefore today, the gospel tells and
reminds us that Jesus will be born in an equal and just Society; and it is our
duty now to prepare a place for him to be born. We need to fill up the valleys
and bring down the mountains and hills. It is easy! We need to sacrifice and indeed
struggle to straighten up our lives and the society.
Here, I am afraid, you begin to wonder
whether Advent is a joyful season or a penitential period! Well, as the French
proverb goes, “great joys weep and great sorrows laugh”, for life itself is made
up of marble and mud. It is true that Advent has joyous strains, but it also
calls us to struggle in straightening up our lives, using those sources of help
that are available. There is help through the Sacraments, with an emphasis on
reconciliation; there is help through prayer in which we seek sincerely the
Lord; and there is help through Jesus’ people around us through whom God
speaks. Thus the rough ways, the twisted roads and the steep paths are
negotiable for he is coming.
Dear
friends, let us be reminded of Jesus’ words, “Repent and Sin no more”, and let
it be fixed in our mind throughout this Lent.
Jack,
the painter, often would thin his paint so it would go further. So when the
Church decided to do some deferred maintenance, Jack was able to put in the low
bid, and got the job. As always, he thinned his paint way down with turpentine.
One day
while he was up on the scaffolding -- the job almost finished -- he heard a
horrendous clap of thunder, and the sky opened.
The
downpour washed the thinned paint off the church and knocked Jock off his
scaffold and onto the lawn among the gravestones and puddles of thinned and
worthless paint.
Jack
knew this was a warning from the Almighty, so he got on his knees and cried:
“Oh, God! Forgive me! What should I do?”
And
from the thunder, a mighty voice: “REPAINT! REPAINT! AND THIN NO MORE!”
“REPENT ! REPENT ! AND SIN NO MORE”
AMEN.
Fr. A.
Christopher, HGN
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