First Reading – Baruch 5:1-9;
Second Reading – Philippians 1:3-6, 8;
Gospel – Luke 3:1-6
The season of Advent heralds the coming of Emmanuel, meaning “God with us”. It is the time we realise when our God comes to earth to take on human form and live on earth just as we live. He does it as he shares his life and love with us. When God shares his love with us he invites us to share our love with Him and with others. Advent is the time of waiting as we prepare ourselves to welcome the God who became man and who by example showed us how we too should be able to live like him for others. Advent means waiting. We wait for someone we love and we long to meet that person. In today’s Gospel Luke beautifully places the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry within a historical context. He sets John’s ministry in historical time by telling his audience namely, the leaders were in the region. John’s role was to prepare the way for Jesus and to proclaim a theme of repentance for those who chose to follow Jesus. He also explains the role of John the Baptist in the context of the mission of Jesus.
In the First Reading, Prophet Baruch reminds the people of Israel that they have to share the gift of joy with others by calling them to put on the garment of integrity. God is asking them not to be part of the sad story of corruption. In this reading, God is assuring that he will flatten any high mountains and fill any deep valleys in order to make the ground level. This is an invitation to change their external behaviour and reconcile them with the Lord. In this prophetic song, God promised to bring back His people from exile in Babylon. The Reading begins by giving the people hope and confidence, inviting them to stop mourning for the past and prepare to celebrate the future. They should replace the robes of mourning with garments fashioned from the justice and glory of God. The garment of our sorrow and afflictions is the death and suffering that has come upon the Israelites because of their disobedience.
Today’s Gospel reading presents us with the words of John the Baptist, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth: and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” He calls out, “Prepare a way for the Lord,” and his words are equally meant for us as for the people he directly spoke to. He comes “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,” says Luke. There are three words there which are closely linked – baptism, repentance, and forgiveness. Baptism is the call to be initiated in the life of Jesus and be cleansed from all blemishes. It is a symbolic action through which people expressed their reconciliation with God by their immersion in the waters of the River Jordan hoping that their desire to have their evil past totally washed away. ‘Repentance’ is the forgiveness of sins and is understood as metanoia, meaning change of Heart, not just sorrow for past sins but a total and radical change of outlook in our relationship with God and other people. It calls for a radical and genuine renewal and conversion of heart.
John’s mission was to preach repentance, to get the people to turn back to God, and it was customary among the Jews to go through the external rites of washing to represent internal cleansing of the heart. The place Jordan was opportune and symbolic of the repentance of the chosen people of God. He was preparing the people to receive the chosen one of God. We are preparing ourselves to receive Christ at Christmas and the prophet tells us how we should prepare ourselves if the welcome we give our saviour is to be sincere and true. Even the best and the holiest among us have to admit that our paths namely our dealings with God have to be smooth and straight. When a king or a person of high rank was to visit another king or the dignitary, the host sent his slaves to level the paths and smooth the roads for the guest’s camels. Similarly, it is necessary for people to prepare their minds and smooth their consciences by wiping away all that can be offensive to God.
The Gospel reminds us that our own role is not unlike that of John the Baptist. Like him, each one of us has a mission to communicate the Spirit of Christ and his message of hope, love, freedom, and peace to others. To help people fill their valleys and make their rough paths smoother. A word of affirmation and encouragement can work wonders. To have a naturally cheerful disposition can be a real witness of Christian joy. John heard the word of God in the desert. Our cities and towns are often such busy places and our lives are often so hectic. We really do need some quiet so that we can hear God speaking to us.
Christmas is the commemoration of the greatest gift of the mercy of God bestowed on this world. The feast invites us to turn ourselves to God in gratitude and repentance and experience his abounding mercy. Christ will come to us with the salvation of God and we can confidently hope to live the coming year with gratitude to our Father in heaven. During the course of this week, let us reflect upon our spiritual ancestors, our saintly brothers, and sisters, who have gone out from Jerusalem so we may share in the joy of the Gospel of Christ. Let us reflect upon their message which has become our message. Let us prepare ourselves to celebrate the past coming of the Lord that is commemorated on Christmas day.