2ND SUNDAY HOMILY IN ADVENT - YEAR B

2ND SUNDAY HOMILY IN ADVENT – YEAR B

THEME: PREPARE FOR THE LORD.

BY: FR. KARABARI PAUL

‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight…’

Preparation is one of the regular activities of human beings. Those who refuse to prepare are taken unaware. Preparations are not just meant for normal human activities but also in spiritual matters. Wr need to prepare ourselves for divine visitations.

The Readings today (Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11, 2Peter 3:814, Mark 1:1-8) all reflect on preparation for the coming of the Lord. Isaiah 39 ends with the announcement of the coming Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem, and the exile of the nation. That was a bitter blow. Now, the beginning of Isaiah 40 shifts to being predominantly a message of comfort but at the expense of individual responsibility. Comfort and blessing should be announced but the people must prepare themselves for that. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain of human pride be made low. The rough places within the heart of man must be a plain; high and proud thoughts must be brought down, good desires planted, crooked and rugged tempers made straight and softened, and every hinderance removed, that we may be ready for His will on earth, and prepared for His heavenly kingdom. And what will all the titles and possessions of a dying sinner avail, when they leave him under condemnation!

In the Gospel, John the Baptist, who was sent as a witness, and to prepare the people had to take austere measures to prepare himself. However, he still counted himself unworthy to do what a slave would do for his master; to undo straps of his sandals. John relied on the prophecy of Isaiah to show its gradual fulfilment. The “desert” represents the wasteland and the barren places; and so it speaks of need in the human heart, or even obstacles and impediments to life. All the changes enjoined are then in the spiritual life: valleys, crooked places, ridges, and the likes are all sinful things, problems in the life that need to be straightened out. The “straight highway” is the spiritual believer who through repentance and amendment of life leaves nothing in his spiritual condition that would hinder the appearance of the Lord, the apprehension of the coming of the Lord, or participation in the Messianic Age of the Lord

When God visits, He looks forward to a prepared heart, a prepared people, a prepared church, a prepared family, and a prepared humanity. When God was to visit the Children of Israel in Exodus 19:10-15, He commanded them to sanctify themselves in preparation for His visit. When God visits, He does not want to behold sin; He abhors sin. The disciples of Jesus Christ also prepared themselves for God’s visitation, which culminated in the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

The coming of Christ will comfort those prepared. The advice of St Peter is important; “Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.”
The state of our heart is the primary determinant for Lord’s Coming; our hearts must be right with God. We must sanctify our hearts; getting rid of every sin and filth in our lives. We must prepare for the Lord. How then do we prepare? 1) Stay close to the Lord — Above all else “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbour…” (Mt. 22:36-40) 2).Stay humbled and submitted to God (James 4:7-8)
3). Forgive others (Mt. 18:34-35) 4). Be thankful . . . and not anxious (Phil. 4:6-7)
5).Stay in the Word and Sacraments — Daily spend time allowing God to speak to you through His word and Sacraments (Eccles. 5:1-2)
Pray — Intercede deeply and daily (Col. 4:3-4). GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. May God have mercy on us, heal our world and land, bless and protect us all through Christ Our Lord Amen. Good morning

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