Last week we were encouraged to watch and be prepared for the second coming of Christ. This week and next our focus is on the preparation for the Incarnation on the last Sunday of Advent, when the Christ child is born. Both readings foretell the coming of the Christ, the Messiah. This is the first coming, that which began with the birth of Christ Jesus and ended with His death on the cross. Though he died on the cross, he was resurrected, he was the first to be resurrected to new life so that we may all be resurrected into new life. Jesus himself promised to come again at the end time to judge the living and the dead and to reign over all the earth in his kingdom.
Our first reading from Isaiah is a magnificent description of what a world of peace will be like under the rule of the Messiah. The wonderful depictions of lions and calves eating together, wolves and lambs living together and a child leading them all! A time when no one will hurt others and everyone will live in perfect peace because everyone will know God.
Long ago the prophet Isaiah spoke of John the Baptist saying, “There is someone in the desert who is proclaiming, ‘Prepare the way for the coming of God! Make a straight path for the coming of God!’” In the Gospel reading from Matthew we join John the Baptist in the desert baptizing with water to change people’s lives but foretelling of the One to come who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist is presented as the new Elijah (Malachi 3:23a) because he wore the camel hair suit and leather girder that Elijah wore. Elijah was taken up into heaven in a fiery chariot (2Kings 1:8) and was expected to return before the day of the Lord. “Lo, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, before the day of the Lord comes…” (Malachi 3:23a) )
These two readings are about the same person, Christ Jesus, God made man, who was born, died, was resurrected, ascended to heaven and will come again. Advent is about the coming of Jesus, the Incarnation and the Reincarnation. During Advent we prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord, as John the Baptist cried, “Make a straight path for the coming of God!” Notice that John doesn’t beat around the bush, he goes straight to the heart of everything and tells us that Jesus is God. To make a straight path means to prepare ourselves for His coming by ridding ourselves of all that is unacceptable to God by acknowledging our sins and repenting. We can then bear “good fruit” and carry the Gospel message to others.
If we hold in our minds the imagery of the first reading, of a world where justice and love prevail, and when everyone knows God we can influence our own behavior in such a way as to make that image a reality one person at a time. We, too, have been baptized and have the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God and we can make good decisions that will bring about the world peace described by Isaiah, to prepare for the coming of Jesus.
Focus on your path in life; meditate on the Word of God; and wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Lord Jesus! He is coming…we have a little time to prepare ourselves for His arrival!
The Psalm this week is Justice Shall Flourish (Psalm 72).
Peace and Joy!