Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Mt. 3:1
The readings for today’s liturgy open with a hope, a promise – the day, Isaiah speaks of for a leader who will judge the “poor with right justice and decide aright for the land-afflicted”, where all can share equitably the goods of creation, where there will be no more war, where “the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them – a world at peace, where all live in harmony.
A world of peace will come when all the earth is “filled with the knowledge of the Lord”. Knowledge of the Lord, heart knowledge, to know all we have and are, are the gift of the Creator, to know His love, a love given, poured out to the last drop that all might have life and life to the full, (Jn10:10). This is our call as Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, by our very lives “to radiate the very love of His Heart” (Const. #4)
We are already at the second week of Advent. Advent – the translation of this word from the Latin means “coming”. John the Baptist, as recorded in the Gospel, was preparing the way for the people of his day for the coming of Jesus. In this season of Advent, we are preparing for His coming anew into our hearts this Christmas.
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Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Mt. 3:1
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John the Baptist prepared the people to welcome Jesus. We can hear his words today as words spoken to us. The call to take stock of how we are living, to heed the call to repentance, metanoia, a change of heart, a radical conversion. John the Baptist didn’t mince any words when he told the people what they needed to do. We too can ask him, “What is the conversion of heart I need? “What do I need to change so that my way of thinking and acting is that of Jesus?” “What paths do I need to make straight so that my heart is ready to welcome Jesus this Christmas?” |
When we live the metanoia, the change of heart, God asks of us, the world will be that much closer to the hope and promise Isaiah speaks of, a peace and justice we all long for.
Jo Wright, rscj
Dear Jo,
Thank you for the reflection
Teresa