Gospel Reflection for Sunday December 8th 2019 The 2nd Sunday of Advent
Prepare a Way for the Lord
In the Old Testament God says, ‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways are not your ways.’ Our God is a God of surprises! The Kingdom that Jesus proclaims is not a kingdom based or built on human power, prestige or wealth. It is based on mercy, peace compassion, forgiveness and justice. We need to let God surpass and exceed our limitations and expectations; our ways are God not God’s ways! Through the birth of Jesus, God will turn things on their head. We get a foretaste of this in the first reading this morning; ‘The wolf will lie with the lamb, the panther and goat will be friends, calf and lion will eat together, the child will play with the snake and not be harmed.’ Even in the Old Testament God was ushering in an new reality, a new way of living, a new Kingdom.
This will reach its climax in the New Testament with the birth of Jesus. God will come to us and become one of us in humility, poverty and obscurity. He won’t be born surrounded by power, wealth or prestige. Through the birth of Jesus in a animal shed in a small unimportant village surrounded by shepherds, God will break in our world and lives in a way that no one ever thought possible.
This is what the great messenger John the Baptist comes to proclaim when says to us in today’s gospel; Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is close at hand, ‘Prepare a way for the Lord, make his path straight.’ We usually associate repentance and conversion more with the season of Lent. However, Advent also calls and challenges us to look at our lives and change whatever need to be changed. Why do we need to repent and change our ways? Because we are getting ready to welcome Jesus into our homes, hearts and daily lives.
Let’s be honest, the shops, the adverts and all the glossy magazines are selling and telling one message and set of values at this time of the year. They are trying to convince us that Christmas is a commodity, a thing. Advent, through the voice of John the Baptist is offering us something far richer, deeper and significant. Advent is asking to prepare to welcome someone, not something! We are getting to encounter and experience the love of God in the face and voice of Jesus Christ.
Yes, these weeks are about shopping, cleaning and parties, which are all very good for us. But Advent offers us so much more. These weeks before Christmas call us to repent and prepare to meet Jesus. Advent is not simply something that happens ‘out there’ somewhere. We are asked to remember that Advent takes places deep within our hearts, our homes, our families; how we live our daily lives and through the daily activities in we which we engage.
Let us pray for and with each other this week that we will do all we can to repent and prepare a way for the Lord.
What one small simple thing will I do this week to prepare a way for the Lord?
-Br Michael Moore OMI
Gospel for Sunday December 8th : Matthew 3:1-12 ©
The one who follows me will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire
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