2nd Sunday of Advent (Cycle A)
“Prepare the WAY of the Lord”
Is. 11:1-10, Rom. 15:4-9, Mt. 3:1-12
So, how do we ensure that we do not become lost or misguided in our spiritual journey? The Gospel offers us a straightforward yet profound guide through an acronym: W-A-Y.
1. W — WAKE UP to God’s Call
John the Baptist’s powerful message begins with the urgent cry, “Repent!” which can be interpreted as a call to wake up from our spiritual slumber. Many of us, at times, find ourselves lulled into a state of spiritual sleepiness:
- We may pray out of mere habit, uttering words without truly engaging our hearts and minds in the conversation with God.
- We navigate through life at such a breakneck pace that we forget to pause and listen for God’s voice amidst the noise of our daily routines.
- Our consciences can become dulled over time; we no longer feel the weight of our sins or the need for reconciliation.
- We may grow too relaxed and distracted, allowing ourselves to become entangled in unimportant concerns.
Advent serves as God’s alarm clock, urging us to awaken, to recognise where our hearts may have become cold, and to open our eyes once more to His ever-present reality.
John the Baptist’s powerful message begins with the urgent cry, “Repent!” which can be interpreted as a call to wake up from our spiritual slumber. Many of us, at times, find ourselves lulled into a state of spiritual sleepiness:
- We may pray out of mere habit, uttering words without truly engaging our hearts and minds in the conversation with God.
- We navigate through life at such a breakneck pace that we forget to pause and listen for God’s voice amidst the noise of our daily routines.
- Our consciences can become dulled over time; we no longer feel the weight of our sins or the need for reconciliation.
- We may grow too relaxed and distracted, allowing ourselves to become entangled in unimportant concerns.
Advent serves as God’s alarm clock, urging us to awaken, to recognise where our hearts may have become cold, and to open our eyes once more to His ever-present reality.
2. A — ALIGN Your Life with God
Advent is not merely a time of waiting, but also a vital opportunity to realign our lives to be in sync with God’s will. It calls us to address areas in our lives that require adjustment: straightening what has grown crooked, smoothing over what has become rough, lowering our pride, and filling the gaps left by doubt.
St. John’s message to the Pharisees and Sadducees was clear: “Show your repentance by your good fruits.” It’s not enough to simply feel remorse; our repentance must manifest itself through our actions and choices. Therefore, we should actively consider:
- Aligning our daily priorities: What pursuits consume our time and energy each day?
- Realigning our relationships: Who in our lives needs our forgiveness and understanding?
- Reassessing our habits: What behaviours or routines require transformation to reflect our faith?
- Providing Christ with more space in our schedules: Where can we carve out time for prayer, reflection, and connection with God?
Advent is not merely a time of waiting, but also a vital opportunity to realign our lives to be in sync with God’s will. It calls us to address areas in our lives that require adjustment: straightening what has grown crooked, smoothing over what has become rough, lowering our pride, and filling the gaps left by doubt.
St. John’s message to the Pharisees and Sadducees was clear: “Show your repentance by your good fruits.” It’s not enough to simply feel remorse; our repentance must manifest itself through our actions and choices. Therefore, we should actively consider:
- Aligning our daily priorities: What pursuits consume our time and energy each day?
- Realigning our relationships: Who in our lives needs our forgiveness and understanding?
- Reassessing our habits: What behaviours or routines require transformation to reflect our faith?
- Providing Christ with more space in our schedules: Where can we carve out time for prayer, reflection, and connection with God?
3. Y — YIELD to the Spirit’s Fire
St. John refers to the coming Messiah, who will baptise “with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Yielding to the Holy Spirit means allowing God’s grace to work within us, overcoming our resistance, surrendering the areas of our lives we keep hidden, and allowing His transformative fire to purify us.
To yield is not a sign of weakness; rather, it is an act of profound trust. It involves declaring, “Lord, take control. Burn away anything that does not belong in my life. Make something new out of me.” When we yield to the Spirit’s guidance, Christ takes the reins and begins to shape our hearts in ways we could never imagine.
St. John refers to the coming Messiah, who will baptise “with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Yielding to the Holy Spirit means allowing God’s grace to work within us, overcoming our resistance, surrendering the areas of our lives we keep hidden, and allowing His transformative fire to purify us.
To yield is not a sign of weakness; rather, it is an act of profound trust. It involves declaring, “Lord, take control. Burn away anything that does not belong in my life. Make something new out of me.” When we yield to the Spirit’s guidance, Christ takes the reins and begins to shape our hearts in ways we could never imagine.
So, how do we prepare the WAY of the Lord? Let us commit to following His WAY:
* W - Wake up to God’s call, recognising the need for spiritual vigilance.
* A - Align your life with His will, bringing all aspects of your existence into harmony with God’s purpose.
* Y - Yield to the Spirit’s fire, allowing His transformative power to renew us from the inside out.
If we choose to walk this WAY, we will find that the path of our hearts can be made ready, straight, open, and welcoming, for the arrival of Jesus this Christmas. Amen.
Dr Nicholas Macedon, OCD,
Jeeva Jyothi Carmelite Institute of Spirituality (JJCIS),
Old Gandarvakottai,
Pudukottai - 613301.
Tamil Nadu, India
What's app - +91 - 9698453101
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