Posted by The WORD in other words (2023) by Fr Lino Nicasio SVD – National Shrine of St Jude Thaddeus – Manila
2nd Sunday of Advent – B
Once I went home to my hometown, the city of Calapan, for a brief visit. As soon as I entered the city proper I noticed the deployment of police and soldiers at every major intersection. Upon inquiry I learned the reason for the heightened security: the president himself was arriving the next day for a political meeting with provincial officials.
Passing by the provincial capitol, we noticed a lot of activities going on. It turned out that the head of the president’s security was issuing orders to prepare for the chief executive’s arrival. Things were being moved around, areas cleaned up, and welcome décor was being set up—all under the supervision of the president’s forerunner.
In the Gospel, we encounter a similar happening. Jesus the Messiah was about to make his entrance into the world scene to begin his salvific mission. But his coming needed to be announced and prepared. Hence the need for a forerunner, a messenger in the person of Saint John the Baptist.
His task was to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus the Savior by preaching repentance of sins and straightening one’s life by the grace and mercy of the Lord. The people listened to John and repented. As messenger and forerunner, the Baptist did well.
What does this mean for us? First, through the gospel God calls on us to prepare for the coming of Jesus this Christmas and on the last day through repentance of sins. This is an invitation to confess our sins, do penance, and do good works as befits conversion.
Second, it is a call for us to help others prepare for the Lord’s coming by inspiring, encouraging, and leading them humbly to pray, attend Holy Mass, and do charitable things to others.
When we do these, the Lord will easily find his way to our hearts and lives, for we have “prepared the way of the Lord and made straight his paths.”
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