2nd Sunday of Advent (Fr. Simham)
PREPARE THE WAY
Friends, the theme for our reflection this week is Prepare the way. Prophet Isaiah in the first reading and John the Baptist in the Gospel echo the same theme. Isaiah says this to the people of Israel in Babylonian exile. Babylonian exile was the most shameful event in the history of Israel. They were deeply hurt at what had happened. Read Psalm 137: 1-6. By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, we also wept, when we remembered Zion. We hung our lyres on the willows in its midst. For there those who carried us away captive required of us a song; and those who tormented us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember you, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy. (Psalms 137:1-6)
Their spirits were running low. They were in the verge of discouragement and disappointment. And the Lord sends his messenger Isaiah to offer them hope. Isaiah 40:1-5 “Consol my people Israel, consol. …….That her term of service is ended.” “Prepare in the wilderness a way for Yahweh, Make a straight path for God…………………….. Here is the Lord Yahweh coming with power……………………….gathering lambs in his arms.”
So the central message is that the Lord coming to deliver them and they need to prepare the way for him. How? Making a straight path.
The same message is repeated in the Gospel. The messenger here is John the Baptist. He is announcing the coming of the Messiah. And the message again is as quoted from Isaiah “Prepare a way for the Lord and make his paths straight.”
If we closely observe these two readings there are two things that are common for our life.
First, there is the need for deliverance. Is it not true that we like people of Israel need deliverance. It may not be from political bondage or enslavement but there are so many other things that keep us enslaved. That take away our freedom. There are so many things that bind us. We find it hard to overcome. May be our addictions. May be our fears, May be our financial or family problems, may be our emotional problems. May be our own plans for the future; so demanding. There are so many things that bind us up curtailing our freedom. May be we all need liberation. And the good news today “Consol my son, or my daughter….. Consol. The Lord is coming to liberate you on Christmas day. Consol.”
Secondly, you from your part should prepare a way for the Lord to come into your life.
CS Lewis writes that though God made us without our consent, He will not save us without our permission; Without our co-operation. We need to co-operate or prepare the way so that God can walk into our lives and liberate us.
How can we prepare the way or where can we prepare the way? Enter into the wilderness. Isaiah says “Prepare in the wilderness a way for Yahweh, Make a straight path for our God across the desert.” And John the Baptist who came to prepare the way lived and moved in a desert. Desert or wilderness in the Bible has a special significance. Even though it is a place of temptation and hardship Israel had to pass through it before they reached the promised land. The Torah commentaries state that the 40 years in the desert were a period of spiritual growth and development necessary to prepare the Jews for entrance into the Holy Land.Deut. 8, 2 – “Remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you the forty years to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart…” It is a journey where they learnt to depend on God completely. Even Jesus spent 40 days and 40 nights in the desert.
This is what we need during this season of Advent. Desert experience. Where you open your fists and let God to take hold of your hand lead you. If you are one of those who like to divide the world into two classes of people: there are those who live with grabbing fists and those who live with open palms; there are those who seek to possess and those who believe in dis-possession. When it comes to prayer we find these two basic attitudes also. There are those who pray wanting to control God and those who pray wanting to submit.
This is what it means to prepare the way and straighten the path. Let God lead your life. Put your hand in his hand joyously walk with him this Christmas. Liberations is yours. Amen.
Fr. Showreelu Simham