April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
ADVENT REFLECTION
Week II: 'Prepare a way for the Lord'
This week, we see and hear the second sign on our journey: St. John the Baptist appears and commands us to "prepare a way for the Lord."
It was certainly the mission of St. John the Baptist to prepare a way for the coming messiah, Jesus Christ. However, even though Jesus has come, St. John's message still has great value and we, too, have to prepare a way for the Lord.
As third-century writer Origen put it, "I think the mystery of John is still being carried out in the world. If we are to believe in Jesus Christ, the spirit and power of John must first come into our hearts and prepare for the Lord a perfect people, making the rough ways of our heart smooth and making the crooked straight."
How are we to do this? The answer lies in the words "prepare" and "way."
We spend quite a bit of our lives in preparing for things, from a midterm exam to the next sporting event, visitor or family event. This may involve study or practice - sharpening up our knowledge, skills and awareness. It can involve preparing the house for visitors by cleaning up, getting a guest room ready or cooking ahead of time.
These images easily can be translated into how we prepare in a spiritual sense to recognize Jesus when He comes, and then to welcome the Lord and let Him enter into our hearts.
As with our everyday preparations, all this involves effort and focus. We might need to sharpen our faith knowledge and spiritual skills, helped by the sacraments, God's Word and our prayer time. It might also require that we clean up our house - that is, our heart and soul - in some way, perhaps helped by celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation.
Advent really is a special time when we can be energized and prepare for the coming of the Lord.
We also need to look at the word "way," for the phrase "prepare a way for the Lord" also has an image of a way or a journey. It reminds us that the Lord travels or journeys to us. But what if that way or road to us is blocked somehow? What if there is something blocking God's path to us?
Advent, like Lent, is a season of preparation, and part of this preparation is conversion and penance. That is one reason we use the liturgical color of purple both for Lent and for Advent: It is the color of penance and of renewed conversion.
As part of preparations, we need to take a serious look at what might be blocking our relationship with God and, with God's help, make sure that obstacle is removed. It could be a familiar fault or failing, or a less than active or vibrant prayer life, or a long-held resentment or hurt. Any of these and so many more can act like roadblocks to being open and welcoming to the Lord as He comes to us.
The sacrament of reconciliation is a great way to unblock things.
Unlike St. John the Baptist, we do not need to live in the desert, to dress in camel-skin clothes or to live on a diet of honey and locusts (could this be the latest diet fad?). However, we do need to "prepare a way for the Lord" - for ourselves and also to help others to do the same.
May the Lord bless us and help us as we and our families and friends prepare a way for God. As a well-known hymn puts it: "Hark, a herald voice is calling/'Christ is nigh,' it seems to say/Cast away the dreams of darkness/O you children of the day."
(Father Barratt is pastor of St. Ambrose parish in Latham. He holds a doctorate in theology and was a professor at St. John's Seminary in England before coming to the U.S. in 2004.)[[In-content Ad]]
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