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GOD ACTS EACH AND EVERY DAY

(A biblical refection on the SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT [Year C] – 9 December 2012)

Gospel Reading: Luke 3:1-6

First Reading: Bar 5:1-9; Psalms: Ps 126:1-6; Second Reading: Phil 1:4-6,8-11

The Scripture Text

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, in the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness; and he went into all region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” (Lk 3:1-6 RSV)

As he told the story of Jesus’ coming as a man, Luke took particular care to identify a specific point in history when these events unfolded. He noted who was in power, where they ruled, and when it all occurred. He also stated explicitly that the word of God came to one particular person – John – who preached a distinct message rooted in his people’s prophetic heritage.

By crafting his Gospel in this way, Luke emphasized a very important point: God speaks to His people, through His word, in the real world. He bridges the gap between heaven and earth, and as a result, lives are changed forever.

How easy it is to lose sight of the fact that God acts each and every day! Like the faithful Jewish believers of Jesus’ time, we may take scripture very seriously and still fail to recognize God when He reveals Himself. Hoping that God will act in the future, we look for the new heaven and new earth that will come at the end of time. But we should remember that the Jews – God’s own chose people – believed they too would recognize the Messiah, yet most did not. Even we Christians, by definition “believers in Christ,” can be skeptical when we hear of miraculous happenings throughout the world.

How can we recognize God’s action today? We can hold onto the things God has revealed already, and always remember that God wants to teach us even more with each new day. He is ever at work, advancing His plan toward its fulfillment. As it was in the days of John the Baptist, so it is in our day. Any work that brings down the mountains of sin and exalts the lowly and humble of heart is part of God’s plan to prepare His way. God loves us deeply; He is always seeking to bring us to Himself, smoothing out the “rough ways” in our hearts that keep us from advancing on the path to His love.

Short Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus, and “prepare the way” in us so that we can receive You more fully. Open our hearts to Your word, and show us, in specific, unmistakable ways, how You are at work today. Lord, show us Your salvation. Amen.

A Christian Pilgrim

GOD COMES TO US ON THE ROADS WE MAKE

(A biblical refection on the SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR C) – 9 December 2012)

First Reading: Bar 5:1-9; Psalms: Ps 126:1-6; Second Reading: Phil 1:4-6,8-11; Gospel Reading: Lk 3:1-6

Bridge the valleys, cut through the mountains, straighten out the sharp curves and smooth the surface! American ingenuity has responded admirably to this advice of John the Baptist. Our country can display approximately 42,500 miles of four-lane National Interstate Highways, carrying 25% of the nation’s total traffic. The well planned cross-country network was eagerly promoted by President Eisenhower, basically for military purposes. The road system, identified by the familiar red, white and blue signs, can quickly deploy troops to any part of the country.

The primitive roads and nameless paths traveled by the Baptist were a great contrast – winding, rough and mountainous. John understands, like the present-day highway builders, that the more hazards removed, the better the road.

Poetically, John uses the image of the road to show how we can either encourage or impede God’s entrance into our lives. We have a duty to level off our sharp peaks of pride, selfishness and blind ambitions, which become mountain-sized obstacles between God and ourselves.

Valleys also slow the journey to our Savior. These are the low cold areas of depression, fear and despair. They obscure the warming sun and keep us wandering along the dark edge of night.

Advent is the “coming toward God” season, when each of us is challenged to examine his or her way to the Lord. If you are lost and going in circles, ask for advice or call a counselor to help lift reality.

John wants us to straighten out our dead ends and hairpin curves of double standards, lying, cheating and crookedness.

Our rough ways of acting and speaking can become more gentle; our former violence can be paved with compassion. The Herald of the Messiah continues to shout, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” With barriers removed, God is not far from us. If the obstacles remain on our way of life, we make contact or even communication with Him nearly impossible. God comes to us on the roads we make. If He doesn’t come, we have not prepared the way.

Note: Taken from Fr. Jame McKarns, GO TELL EVERYONE, Makati, Philippines: St. Paul Publications, 1985, pages 192-193.