Word to the Wise
Sunday, December 9, 2018 - 2nd Sunday of Advent - C
[Bar 5:1-9; Phil 1:4-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6]A voice of one crying out in the desert: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." [Luke - quot[ng Isaiah] And this is my prayer: that your love may increase every more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. [Philippians]
At the beginning of the calendar year we may make "New Year's resolutions." We Catholics are accustomed to asking one another at the beginning of Lent, "What are you doing for Lent?" But last week, we began a new liturgical year and perhaps we should be asking ourselves (and one another), "What are you doing for Advent (and Christmas)?" Baruch and Isaiah speak of bringing down mountains and raising valleys, and smoothing and straightening roads to prepare a way for the Lord.. John the Baptist is portrayed as doing that by preaching repentance. He is not just advocating the confession of sins! He means changing our way of living and looking at life! St. Paul prays that we will be able to increase in love, knowledge and perception of what is of value.
These are lofty thoughts but they are not meant to be just "thoughts." They are a call to action. The mountains and valleys and crooked roads are not just inside us personally. They exist in some of the vast social differences in our society when, in the midst of plenty (especially shown during "the holidays") so many go without some of the basic necessities of life. The birth of Christ, which we anticipate so much in this season, means that God's love is manifested in the flesh. If so, how then do we manifest that love not only in this season but throughout the year? We may have to begin with our interior mountains and valleys and crooked, rough ways, but that's just the beginning. AMEN