Prepare you the way of the Lord, make straight His paths.

Pastor’s Pen
St. Augustine Catholic Church
Sunday, December 19, 2021
Fourth Sunday of Advent

Who am I that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?

The Fourth Sunday of Advent brings the Advent Season to an end.  The fourth candle of the Advent wreath will be lit and at the end of Mass, all will be taken away, but the purple garments will continue to use until the Vigil Mass of Christmas.

It is worth noting that the coming of Christ, as man, did not come as a surprise.  For centuries, the prophets had proclaimed that He would come and it called for total preparation for His coming, proclaiming a baptism of repentance, for the forgiveness of sins.  John, the son of Zachariah, also made the same proclamation about Him, quoting from the Book of Isaiah, “Prepare you the way of the Lord, make straight His paths.  Every valley should be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low.  The winding roads shall be made straight and all rough ways smooth so that all flesh shall see the salvation of our God.”  That is what we practiced last Sunday when we held the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that we would be clean of heart to celebrate the feast of the baby born, King.

This week, therefore, the Liturgy of the Church focuses on the birth of the One whom we are waiting to celebrate His coming.  The Preface of the Mass, which I love so much, says, “All of the oracles of the prophets foretold of Him, the Virgin Mary longed for Him with love beyond all telling, John the Baptist sang of His coming and proclaimed His presence when He came.”  It is by His gift that already we rejoice at the mystery of His Nativity so that He may find us watchful in prayer and exultant in His praise.

We could all sing, “Joy to the world….”

Father Chris