2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR B

Isaiah 40:1-5.9-11
Psalm 84:9614
2Peter 1:8-14
Mark 1:1-8

A Voice that Cries in the Wilderness....

The Advent season is a period of joyful hope, for our Saviour is coming to console us and make all things new. This is the Good News of God’s love for us. As such, there is the need for real and sincere conversion of heart.

St Mark introduces one of the main figures of Advent season: John the Baptist, the Precursor of Jesus the Messiah (Mark 1:1-8). John was sent by God as a messenger to prepare the people of Israel for the coming of their Saviour. He did so by proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. His coming was a fulfillment of God’s promise as announced by the prophet Isaiah, who was to bring the good news of liberation and consolation to the people in exil (Is. 40:1-5.9-11).

Indeed, the Lord Jesus did come in fulfillment of the prophecies of old. But such prophecies are still relevant to us, because we are still waiting for his second coming. St Peter tells us in the second reading, “What we are waiting for is what he promised: the new heaven and new earth” (2Pet. 1:8-14).

However, thousands of years have elapsed without such promise being fulfilled. Is God not delaying, or being slow in carrying out his promise? Or has He forgotten that He had promised us such wonderful things? St Peter answers us by saying that for God one day can mean thousands years, and a thousand years is like a day. Moreover, God is not delaying, but He is being patient with us so that everybody should change his evil ways of life.

Such conversion consists in making low the mountains of our hearts, that is setting aside our selfish attitudes, arrogance, pride, etc. We must fill our valleys, that is letting go our sluggishness, laziness, lack of motivation, and self-defeating thoughts. We must make straight our ways by being truthful, honest, sincere, etc. This way, the Lord will find a home in our hearts when he comes. May he bless and keep all of us.

Amen