“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight:
(Matthew 3:3)
There is no doubt that if the President of our country or Governor of our State is visiting our area, the county or community would do all in its power to repair broken areas of the roads and put a new face lift on the way he was to travel. This is done as a mark of respect and honor to the august visitor. Now let’s put the coming of Christ in the position of the august visitor. Shall we not repair the roads and decorate the arena for the gathering to look graceful and splendid? Certainly, we will. That preparation goes back to ourselves in our happiness and joy to welcome Christ who was born for us.
The second Sunday of Advent brings to our mind the preaching of John the Baptist who in the desert, cried out, “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand” (Matthew 3:3). He himself began this preparation of himself by an act of penance of wearing a garment of camel’s hair, tied with a leather belt and his food was locust and wild honey. People, who listened to him from Jerusalem, Judea and all the country around the river Jordan, cam e and confessed their sins, even the Pharisees and Sadducees. He warned that people should take nothing for granted or presume that they were children of Abraham, for they must bear fruit of repentance.
The Church borrows those words of John the Baptist to encourage us to turn a new page of our life that has been stained by sin and wrong doing so that we may shine in grace to celebrate the feast of Christmas. To this effect the Sacrament of Reconciliation is always held at this period that we may make a good confession of our sins so as to be filled with grace, love, and peace with God and all men and women of goodwill.
Fr. Chris
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