Advent - a journey toward Christmas! This Second Sunday of Advent falls on December 8th which also happens to be the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is a Holy Day of obligation in the USA. The reason for the Holy Day of obligation is that the United States is dedicated to God through the intercession of Mary, and under the title of the Immaculate Conception. However, this year the solemnity is moved to Monday, which means we will have three Masses on Monday, December 9th at 6:30 AM, 8:45 AM and 6:30 PM.

In preparing this reflection, I looked for an image of John the Baptist, that voice of one crying out in the desert and calling people to make straight paths for the Lord. I think the above image says it all - that wild and serious look in his eyes and scolding words: “You brood of vipers!” Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire ... Those words demand action on our behalf so that we will do our best as Christians and bear fruit that will last, for God expects the world to be a better place by our presence in it. Mindful of John the Baptist’s chastising words in demanding readiness, I share this line from a homily a few weeks ago: The surest way to be late for salvation is to think you have plenty of time.

John the Baptist reminds us of God’s wrath and God’s holiness that brings judgment in its train of glory. We are not to presume privilege like the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to John the Baptist for baptism - a kind of just-in-case approach to salvation and a kind of insurance policy so as not to go to Hell. The evidence that John the Baptist is crying out for is a turning away from the old us and then letting go of the things that are sinful and harmful. Let the gradual lighting of the Advent candles on the wreath light the way for us in opening our eyes and hearts to what God expects of us. What we are is God’s gift to us; what we become is our gift back to God. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” [Matthew 3:1] Let go and let God!

Preparing a way for the Lord means building a few bridges and filling in some potholes. As we know, those potholes can be rather big at times, and so we need to repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. On a side note, John the Baptist might have us working on the Department of Transportation filling in the potholes, building new roads and an exit to the new airport … Seriously though, Advent is a time to prepare a way for the Lord. May this time of Advent ready our hearts and awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus open the doors to hope and peace.