7.12.2003 2nd Sunday of Advent
First Reading: Baruch 5, 1-9
Psalm 125
Second Reading: Phillipians 1, 4-6, 8-11
Gospel Reading: Luke 3, 1-6
The prophet Baruch exhorted Jerusalem, or rather its inhabitants and with them all the people of God to be joyous. Joyous, because the people, who had been made slaves and deported into the midst of unbelievers, were allowed once again to serve the true and living God in freedom! There were truly great exaltations for God Himself was preparing the path for His people, levelling mountains and valleys and even getting the forests to help the journey! The people's return demonstrated the glory of God who showed in this way how great He is, the truth of His love and the beauty of His mercy. When does this return take place? A return of exiles announced by the prophet as a sign or a foretaste of that more definite return that took place with the coming of Christ.
Jesus is the path which makes it possible for sinners and even pagans to approach God. He shows the people how to live in true communion with God, a communion which is no longer obscured or obstructed by sin; through him it is possible to experience true joy which is free from the fear of disappointment; a joy made perfect by the fact that all those empty spaces left in the human heart by the sins of past generations, have been filled or healed by him.
Today we hear the same declaration made by the prophet Baruch, made by John the Baptist. The declaration is imminent because Jesus is already there among the people, he needs only to be indicated and made manifest.
John's voice fills the desert! It fills the area of the river Jordan, that area which is the border between the people of Israel and other nations; the area which is crossed over by roads coming from distant places, from the ends of the world. The words of John must be carried everywhere, for the love of God, which they declare, is a love which reaches out to all men, even unbelievers in order to form one nation.
John's voice fills time and history, it calls out above the noise of the names of those who dominated, oppressed and became famous through riches and violence. John's word begins to place in the shadows Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate, Herod, Philip, Lysanias, Annas and Caiaphas. These great ones lose their greatness, because one is coming to liberate the inner being of man from their dominion, leaving them power only over bodies. Their presence and names cause the poor to stoop under a heavy weight of sorrow, whereas he who is to come makes them walk tall and hold their heads high!
John's word announces forgiveness, the forgiveness that men will receive when they open to him who is to come. Now they are preparing for that meeting knowing that they need him, humbling themselves to enter the water like beings who need to wash off the dirt and the mud. It is truly necessary to prepare oneself for the meeting with Jesus, to become humble and simple, to have an open, waiting heart, otherwise he might pass you by without your recognizing him or realising the importance of the event.
The Apostles participate in the ministry of John, the preparation of hearts for the meeting with the Lord Jesus, Saviour of mankind. St Paul in his letter to the Philippians expresses himself in this way, desirous that his love towards them might bring as a fruit their preparation for the acceptance of Jesus Christ! The whole community is engaged in spreading the good news that not only cheers hearts, but brings them to desire a stable unity with the God of Love, the Father of the Lord Jesus.
So when we announce the good news with our lives and words, we continue to
help the men and women of this world to perceive and desire the presence of
him who can fill their hearts. These weeks of Advent bring as a fruit a living
and continuous welcome to Jesus and also the desire that he is accepted by those
who live with us or are near to us, a desire which will become prayer and disinterested
gestures of kindness as well as, with care and common sense , holy and wise
words which orient towards our Lord and Saviour!
Welcome, Lord Jesus!