Saint Rita Catholic Church and School in Webster, NY - An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings

“Prepare The Way Of The Lord, Make Straight His Paths”

The readings for this Second Sunday of Advent fill us with hope for who is to come - the promised Messiah, the one who would gather in the lost souls of Israel in a new exodus and return them to a heavenly Jerusalem. As John the Baptist proclaims, "Prepare ye the way".

Our first reading for this Sunday comes from the Prophet Baruch, the scribe to the great Prophet Jeremiah (Baruch 5:1-9). The situation in time is the most dire of circumstances, the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and exile to Babylon. The people of God felt as if their loving God would never love them again, a feeling that may be a reality for many people suffering in our own time. Baruch speaks with utter confidence as he heralds the day when the Lord will come in His glory, when the scattered people of Israel will be brought back to a new heavenly Jerusalem. He pictures Jerusalem as a mother waiting for her lost children to return, overjoyed at the reality of it.

In our Epistle reading (Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11), St. Paul instructs his readers how they should live as they wait for "the day of Christ", Christ’s triumphant return, when those faithful to Him would share in His glory. Paul writes, “And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ….”

In our Gospel reading (Luke 3:1-6), we hear Luke's introduction to John the Baptist. It was a time when Israel longed for the promised Messiah. Luke places the setting in history by naming the political and religious leaders of the day. He describes John's primary role as a call from God to prepare the way of the Lord. Luke borrows from Old Testament prophets like Isaiah and Baruch using the descriptive images of God coming in glory, filling the valleys and leveling the mountains.

As we continue our season of preparing for the coming of Jesus, we may be encouraged by the faith and confidence of our ancestors. We share Paul’s confidence that “the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” It was and is a hope that does not disappoint!