Sunday 8 December - Make straight the way for the Lord

Readings

Psalm 85, Isaiah 11:1-10, Matthew 3:1-12 and John 1:19-34

Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ They asked him, ‘Then who are you? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the Prophet?’ He answered, ‘No. ’Finally they said, ‘Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, ‘I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Make straight the way for the Lord.” John 1:19-23

Reflection

John the Baptist would get the work done. He never let anything come in the way of what he believed God wanted him to do.  Uncompromising? Tough? Serious? No holds barred?  A loner?  Probably and possibly all of these things, but John has been captured by his calling. He would prepare the way for John believed in preparation. "Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight!" he shouted and you could not ignore him. John wanted the people  to prepare and to repent.  Repent of what? We can ask ourselves the same question.  Well, for a start, our self-centredness, our cluttering up our lives with non-essentials, our forgetfulness of the need to pray. 

Advent is a time of mercy, of forgiveness, of peace.  "I will hear what the Lord God has to say, a voice that speaks of peace..." (Psalm 85) and the response is: "Let us see O Lord your mercy, and give us your saving help!" Well, how can we expect mercy when we refuse to give it to others? 

Let us try to make this Advent special by ridding ourselves of the things that make us and others unhappy. That's what John meant by preparing the way of the Lord.  Why put it off?

Prayer 

Loving God. As I continue this Advent season, open my eyes  to see in new ways the delight and wonder of your love. In the darkness help me to see the promise of light and peace. In the cry of the hungry help me see the possibility of a world where all are fed. In my own yearnings and weakness help me to see the hope of Christ. And in the eager anticipation of the coming of Jesus, may  I embrace the dawn of a new heaven and a new earth. Amen