Second Sunday of Advent

Today's Scripture

On this second Sunday of Advent we are reminded of St. John the Baptist’s prophetic role to prepare the way of the Lord (Luke 3:4). The image of the Lord’s coming is found, at some level, in all of today’s readings. In the first reading from Baruch we find God’s exaltation of Israel which had been brought low. The Lord’s coming (implied here) will be restorative (it will bring the people back). We find this fulfilled, at one level, with the ministry of Jesus, and the calling of the twelve apostles representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Again, this imagery, clearly tied to the first reading, is found again in the responsorial Psalm 126, with the expectant hope of return from exile. More explicitly, St. Paul talks of the coming “day of Christ” (Philippians 1:6 and 10).

In light of our present season, we can see this “day” not only at the end of time, but also just a few weeks away at Christmas. And St. Paul’s prayer is good for us: “that your love may increase ever more and more” (1:9). This is not a call to increase in love only when we feel like it. Although liturgically we are in the season of Advent, in our day and age we’re also in a season known as “flu season” and “cold season.” There’s a fairly high chance that many of us reading this reflection have been, are, or at least will be physically sick at some point this season. When we are physically sick and can at times be difficult to “increase in love.” And yet this is our call. Like Jerusalem, which had been laid waste, we too need to remove our “robe of mourning and misery” and “put on the splendor of glory from God forever” (Baruch 5:1). This will not always be easy. In fact, it’s impossible apart from God.

This call to increase in love needs to become incarnate in our lives, just as God’s incarnation will become manifest to the world at Christmas. Let’s take some time to think about ways in which we can be more loving to others during this Advent season. Perhaps we can think of at least one way in which we can be more loving this week. And then let’s put that into practice so that we can increase in love. What better way to prepare the way of the Lord than through acts of loving kindness to those around us.

- Jeff Morrow