2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR B

Isaiah 40:1-5.9-11

Psalm 84:9614

2Peter 3:8-14

Mark 1:1-8

A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS !

The Advent season is a period of joyful hope, waiting and preparation for the coming of the Son of God. In fact, St Mark, being the first to write a gospel narrative, opens his account with these words: “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ the Son of God.” Indeed, the coming of Jesus Christ among men was Good News to all humanity, and the herald of such Good News was John the Baptist, known as the Precursor of the Messiah. 

In fulfillment of God’s promise, John was sent by God as a messenger to prepare the people of Israel for the coming of the Messiah. He did so by proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. John was therefore the forerunner, the “Voice that cries in the wilderness” saying: “prepare the way of the Lord…” His ministry was predicted by the prophet Isaiah as he described the commissioning of God’s messenger, the “herald of glad tidings”, who was sent to announce good news to the exiles in Babylon: their service was at the end; God was coming to set them free and restore them to their land (Is. 40:1-5.9-11). 

The figure of John the Baptist is thus important during this time of Advent. His simple but austere life, his faithfulness to his mission and his call to conversion are still relevant to us today. He invites us to make low the mountains of our hearts: setting aside our selfish attitudes, arrogance, pride, etc. We are also invited to fill our valleys: letting go our sluggishness, laziness, lack of motivation, and self-defeating thoughts. Finally, to make straight our ways by being truthful, just, honest and sincere. 

If we prepare ourselves daily in this way, then we should not be worried about when the Lord will come. We will not become impatient or get tired waiting upon the Lord in whatever situation we find ourselves. For God never delays; and for him, one day is like thousands years, and a thousand years like a day. Again, his patience is for our own good, because the longer we are allowed to wait for his coming the more people will have an opportunity to be converted and take part in God’s glory (2Pet. 1:8-14). Let us ask the Lord to grant us the grace so as to be always patient and get our hearts ready for his coming. 

Amen