2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT – YR. B

2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT – YR. B

THEME: Prepare the Way for the Lord

BY: Fr. Uchenna Onyejiuwa

Beloved brethren in Christ, our first reading today is taken from the beginning part of the book of Consolation, which is also known as Deutero Isaiah. Just like its name, the words are quite soothing and comforting. Through His Prophet, Isaiah the Lord speaks words of consolation to His despairing people in exile, announcing the end of their slavery and the imminence of their release from captivity. The entire passage highlights God’s tender love for his chosen people. It is as if God is saying, I have heard your cry and I’m readying to come for your liberation but, you must prepare well for my coming. Of course, every liberative act requires the cooperation of the one to be liberated to be successful. That is why the second part of the reading talks about a voice that preached repentance, calling for the levelling of hills and filling of valleys; a prophecy that found its fulfilment in the Gospel of today, in John the Baptist, a very important and significant figure in this season of advent. His message is simple: “Prepare in the wilderness a way for the Lord. Make a straight highway for our God across the desert. Let every valley be filled in, every mountain and hill be laid low.” It’s an invitation to a change of heart which was accompanied by the baptism of repentance.

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Dearest friends, as those who are anticipating God’s redemptive intervention in this mean condition of ours, how many mountains have we levelled and how many valleys have we filled so far, as a way of showing our commitment to the dawn of a new era of joy and happiness? If we are serious about our cry for deliverance we must ensure that all mountains of sin in our lives are levelled and the valleys of selfishness and ungenerosity filled. This is what we must do to ensure the success of God’s rescue mission in our lives any time and any day. Therefore, you must try to avoid falling into the temptation of indulging in what is morally unspeakable this season, just to be able to celebrate Christmas. For example, stealing, kidnapping, armed robbery, hook-ups, car snatching, pick-pocketing, swindling, ritual killings, graft, etc. Such an approach is counterproductive. It goes completely against the reason for the season. Rather follow the beautiful advice of St. Peter in today’s second reading. Since everything will one day melt away, you should wait patiently for God’s time in your life while you live holy and saintly lives, for it is safer for the Lord to find you in holiness and peace. May the Almighty God give us the grace and the courage to carry out this important moral task in our lives. Peace be with you and do have a wonderful week. (First reading, Is 40:1-5,9-11; second reading, 2 Pet 3:8-14; gospel, Mk 1:1-8).

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