Second Sunday of Advent – December 10, 2023

12-10-2023Weekly ReflectionFr. Timothy Eck

Our Gospel presents us with the familiar scene of John the Baptist in the desert along the banks of the Jordan. There he is baptizing those seeking to repent of their sins. Mark identifies this action of John as fulling the prophecy from Isaiah that one would prepare the way (that is, a road) of the Lord. Turning back to the original prophecy, why was there a need for the way to be prepared? What was wrong with the existing road? For whom was the way made? Where was it going?

To start, we find that purpose of this highway is to connect the people of God with the Lord. The people have been in service and have had to serve a tour double that of a normal one for their crimes. But what kind of service have they served? In Hebrew, the word used for service indicates it is military service, and so the people on account of their infidelity had been pressed into the military and sent off into a foreign land, Babylon in exile. Their spiritual battle in that place was to give witness to God’s glory in these foreign lands since they did not do so while in Jerusalem.

There they fulfilled their duty twice over. So too in the midst of our earthly pilgrimage, as members of the Church militant, our spiritual service and trials can seem great and unending. The length of our service seems prolonged and caused by the delay in God’s return; however, as St. Peter says in our second reading, this delay is according to God’s designs. But why does he delay in giving us consolations in this life? He gives us time to repent, to finish our tour of duty well. Often our spiritual progression stalls because there is still some sin which we will not let go of, some forgiveness we will not offer.

The longer we cling to sin, the longer our service is prolonged. But why does this prolong our tour of duty? Because sin is the rejection of God and his glory. It creates obstacles between us and God. How can we finish a tour of duty if we are constantly not fulfilling our orders or deserting our post?

But this way is not just made for us; most accurately, it is made for another, God. In the prophecy we heard that the Lord was coming in his glory with a herald proclaiming victory before him. The Lord appears as a general returning glorious from battle, coming to his beleaguered army to refresh their spirits with the good news (that is the gospel) of victory. But will we welcome the victorious king’s arrival? Do we desire his approach?

If we have acted like a soldier without discipline, with contempt for the general’s orders, and disregard for duties assigned to us, then the Lord’s arrival is surely a dreadful thing. If we have been a faithful soldier in the midst of our trials, then our Lord’s arrival will be one of rejoicing. In both cases the Lord’s arrival will be like fire, as we heard from St. Peter, cleansing us of our impurities, making a highway straight to our souls. All our sins, all these obstacles we have erected, will be dissolved in the fire of his love.

The question then is, what will remain of us when our sin is removed? Should we spend a life dedicated to raising obstacles between us and God, what treasure will be stored up in our souls? Will it not have been spent on barriers, leaving us spiritually bankrupt? But if we spend a life repenting and so tearing down the obstacles between us and God, so that his highway of love might run clear and straight to our souls, then we can store up treasures of charity and good works. For all that will remain after the fire of divine love comes upon us is charity itself.

The Church in her ministers continues this plan of preparation. She aids us in directing us as to how we should prepare the way of the Lord to our souls. We know that the Lord is on his way, he is coming in glory. May we use this Advent season to set in order the camp of our souls and set aright the paths to it. May we fight against those vices and sins that cling to us, and instead strive to grow in love and virtue. For the Lord is coming indeed; may we be found at the watchtower, ready to joyfully greet him when he arrives. Amen.