Third Sunday of Advent

A Voice Crying Out in the Wilderness "Make ready the path of the Lord!"

 In the third week of Advent, our focus shifts to John the Baptizer's admonition to "make straight the way of the Lord'" in Jesus' first coming. John prepares for the first coming of Christ while we are now preparing for the Second Coming.

This Sunday is Gaudete or Praise Sunday. What are we praising? We are joining Isaiah and Mary and proclaiming, "In my God is the joy of my soul!".  Both Isaiah and the Magnificat are the responses to a praiseworthy God. Isaiah's praise is an excellent place to start to see our role in "making straight the way of the Lord."

For us, it is not how well but how earnestly the "glory of the Lord" is revealed. One key aspect is "bringing glad tidings to the poor." It is more than simply meeting the financial needs of those less fortunate financially than ourselves, though that is an excellent place to start. It is about establishing community with the poor, accompanying them, and identifying with them as fellow seekers who value them as fellow travelers. While we may eagerly, and too often temporarily, provide material support, we are called to enter their poverty with the blessings of grace we have experienced on our journey. The poor come in all areas of our lives. The poverty of social isolation is where we find ourselves the center of attention and see others on the sidelines longing for inclusion. It can be the person who requires an attentive ear to vent frustration and anger. It can even be angry with us who believe we have not treated them justly. That means, for us, entering into the poverty of asking for forgiveness. All of the "poor" require our immediate attention, our wakefulness, to remind us that God found expression best with humanity, his creation who left the riches of Eden for the poverty of isolation.

Isaiah also speaks of "proclaiming liberty to captives." Our liberation from the alienation of sin is a great place to start. As we proclaim God's grace as a great liberation, we extend that grace to everyone. Forgiveness isn't a single act but a way of life, living in the receiving of forgiveness for those whom we have offended and rejoicing in their mercy (all mercy, ultimately, is God's mercy) and extending to those who have offended us reconciliation that isn't conditional upon them asking for our mercy.

Our lives as Christ-bearers, light in the darkness, smooth pathways through rough terrain, enable us to join Mary in declaring, "My soul rejoices in God my savior" because though poor, he has brought me glad tidings. 

First Sunday of Advent

 Sunday begins Advent, a time of preparation to receive Christ at Christmas, but it is more than referencing the past; it also connects with our sure hope of Christ’s return and the inauguration of God’s reign. Jesus proclaims in Matthew: "Therefore, stay awake!" What are we watching for? Are our heads turned heavenward, searching the skies for Jesus returning in glory? Remember the angel's advice after Christ’s ascension?

And as they [his disciples] were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way you have watched Him go into heaven (Acts 1:11).

     Our mission as watchers involves looking for the dwelling of Christ among us now by the power of the Holy Spirit. We need to be alert because it is often difficult to see Christ through the layers of sin that surround others that are unappealing. We may have difficulty seeing Christ in others because we first must acknowledge Christ within ourselves as the lowly beggar, the control freak, or other undesirable.

     Let that be our beginning, then. Let us look for Christ where he is least likely to be found, both in others and those places in our lives that need healing from sin. Let us not be afraid of venturing out into the dark or inwardly into the dark places in ourselves.  Let Holy Scripture be a place to start, and let your prayer proclaim, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Ps.110:105). On this path, we will encounter Christ in the most unexpected ways as we journey in Advent, for Christ’s appearance over two thousand years ago was equally hidden and unlikely. Who would expect God among us in a backwater town, among farm animals, shepherds, and pagans, in the middle of the night?