Catechism Links[1]
CCC 522, 711-716, 722: the prophets and the expectation of the Messiah
CCC 523, 717-720: the mission of John the Baptist
CCC 710: Israel’s exile foreshadowed the Passion
CCC 2532, 2636: Paul’s solicitude
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| “Roman Road” by Nicolas Poussin, 1648 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Baruch 5:1-9
Commentary on Bar 5:1-9
This selection is the entire 5th Chapter of the book of the Prophet Baruch. In it, the Prophet rejoices over the restoration of Israel as a nation after the Diaspora. In Hebrew tradition, this can only be accomplished after the people have endured their punishment and returned to God’s favor. The author envisions the joy of their homecoming – a gift of God’s mercy, reestablishing them in the land he gave them.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psallm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6
R. (3) The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Commentary on Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6
Psalm 126 is a lament. In this short psalm, the singer rejoices at the return of Israel following the Diaspora, the conquering of Israel and its enslavement. In this hymn, the people remember the greatness of God as he restores their nation and brings them back to their own land ("Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown, they shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves"). The sense is one of being overflowing with thanksgiving.
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Reading II: Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11
Commentary on Phil 1:4-6, 8-11
This is part of the introduction to Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. In it, we hear Paul’s expectation that the second coming of Jesus, the Parousia will be soon - in their life-times. This creates an urgency to his encouragement that the Church at Philippi build themselves up in faith and understanding. The key areas of his focus are on mutual love and compassion: "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."
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Gospel: Luke 3:1-6
Commentary on Lk 3:1-6
In this selection, the Gospel of St. Luke introduces us to St. John the Baptist. John receives his call ("the word of God came to John") and responds to it, going about the region calling for repentance in the face of the imminent coming of the Messiah. The coming of St. John fulfills the prophesy of Isaiah, who is quoted in the final paragraph of the selection (Isaiah 40:3-5).
CCC: Lk 3:3 535
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Homily:
The first week of our advent season has passed and already the second candle, the Candle of Love is lit – only two more to go! The familiar Gospel from St. Luke introduces us to St. John the Baptist, whom we have heard of in scripture previously only as the baby who leapt in the womb of Elizabeth, the Virgin Mary’s cousin, when they met after Jesus was conceived. The Baptist comes now to fulfill his prophetic role.
The Baptist’s father, Zachariah, on the occasion of his naming, told us what he was and what he would be: “…you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins” (Luke 1:76-77).
In the Old Testament prophecy (Malachi 3:23ff in other versions Malachi 4:5ff) the Jews were told, before the Messiah came, Elijah the great prophet would come again. St. John came in that role, as Elijah, exhorting the people to turn away from sin. The Jews of that day did not want to see that truth. They were happy in their expectant role, one that did not require them to fully embrace God’s law. They had time before they had to change.
So St. John comes, as the Gospel proclaims, calling out to anyone who will listen. He makes the same call recorded in the book of the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3-5). It is a call we have all heard before, or have we?
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
Those were the words. They have been proclaimed regularly. They are, for us, synonymous with the Baptist (though in St. Luke’s time the invitation would have signaled the return of Elijah). They call us to take up a journey to the Lord. We have listened to them, but have we heard them?
I was having a discussion with a friend the other day. He told me his wife was complaining, saying that he never listened to her. “At least,” he told me, “that’s what I think she said.”
Like my friend, we have listened to the words, but hearing those words means we have taken them in and applied their meaning to our lives. What does it mean?
“Prepare the way of the Lord
make straight his paths.
Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.”
The analogy springs to mind of building a road. In an earlier era, roads followed the contours of the land. They took the path of least resistance, winding and turning as each obstacle was encountered. These roads were difficult and often dangerous. They frequently took us way out of our way, doubling the distance needed to get from one point to another. With the advent of the Interstate Highway
So what does this mean for us? What kind of road are we building? Prepare it where, in what sense? Does it mean prepare a way for the Lord in ourselves, in our personal lives? Does it mean prepare a way for the Lord in the world at large? These are two very different tasks. One looks inward, inside or selves, the other out – into the world we live in.
This season is a time when we are asked to build both the road in to our hearts and the road out into the world. It is the great paradox of what the Lord asks us to do; be part of the world in order to transform it, and separate from the world in order to avoid the sin that thrives there. We build our roads with great effort. Like the interstate highway, the obstacles we encounter – greed, vanity, and hatred – must be overcome. They are not to be just moved around. That is called situational ethics. We must overcome them through prayer, through hearing the Word, not just listening to it. We must take it into our hearts and allow it to transform us, so that we become the road builders of Lord into the world. We sharpen our skills, drawing upon sacramental grace offered in the Eucharist and Reconciliation.
Let us take these words to heart and truly hear them, preparing a way for the Lord in ourselves and those we meet. Let us make it straight and level so we may travel quickly to him and him to us.
Pax
In other years on this date: Optional Memorial of Saint Nicholas, Bishop
[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, Published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014
[3] The picture is “Roman Road” by Nicolas Poussin, 1648
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