Gospel Reflection for the 2nd Sunday of Advent

December 10th – A Voice cries in the Wilderness

 There is something beautiful about all the lights that we now see around us in the streets and shops windows. As they shine and sparkle they are trying to catch our eye and get our attention.

In our gospel this Sunday, John the Baptist is trying to do the very same thing; he too is trying to get our attention because he has a message for us as we take another step on our Advent journey.

John comes as a messenger in the wilderness not just with any news, but with ‘good news’ for all to hear. He comes to us with a message of hope. John tells us that someone (Jesus) is coming and that he is far more powerful than John. The first reading from the Prophet Isaiah describes the arrival of this person; ‘Here is you God.’ Here is the Lord coming with power.’ John reminds us today as he did in the desert that God has not forgotten us or the promise that was made to generations before us; Jesus the Messiah is coming. Jesus is coming not just into our world, but into our homes, lives and our very hearts. This most definitely is ‘good news.’

John came with a new message in a new place. Normally people went to the temple or the synagogue to hear the word of God. But John is in neither of these places. He appeared and spoke in the wilderness of the desert and as the gospel tells us all the people of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem made their way to him. Through John, God is proclaiming a new message in a new way. As the Prophet Isaiah reminds us, Yahweh says, ‘look I am doing something new, it is already happening. Can you not see it? I will make a path in the wilderness.’

What is this new thing God is doing? Through the words and actions of Jesus, God breaks into our world and lives in a new, life-giving and personal way. Our God is God of surprises and God’s ways are not our ways.

John asks us to ‘prepare a way for the Lord and make his paths straight.’ What does mean for us today? When the people heard John speak, ‘they were baptised and confessed their sins.’ An important aspect of our Advent journey and preparation is acknowledging that there are parts of our lives that need straightening!

Perhaps one way we could prepare away for the Lord during these weeks of Advent is to consider celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation. As we focus our attention on so many other things during the lead up to Christmas, let us not forget to prepare a place in our hearts to welcome Jesus.

• Michael Moore OMI