Advent II

The Second Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; Psalm 85; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8

“Grant your people, almighty God, the resolve to run to meet your Christ…”  

We began Advent with this prayer. We prayed for a resolve, determination, a will power so as to run to meet Christ.

The catch with resolve, think here, New Year’s resolutions, is that resolve is not complete without taking the action. Quitting smoking, learning a language, going on a diet, starting an exercise program, the Sacrament of Confession with its own prayer, ‘firm purpose of amendment’ and how many of us have failed, not in our resolve but in taking the initial steps toward action?

Today we prayed, “Almighty and merciful God, may no earthly undertaking hinder those who set out in haste to meet your Son…”  The assumption is that at least some of us are taking steps to run toward Christ…those who set out to meet your Son. But the petition is for no earthly activities to hinder that movement toward Christ. Why? Because as earthy as Christmas is, a baby born in water and blood, an adult who will die in blood and water, is a spiritual feast. It is the beginning of our salvation from sin and death.

It is, the prayer continues, knowledge of heavenly wisdom, the desire for salvation and spiritual activities that will hasten the encounter with Christ.

The prophet Isaiah shouts: “Here is your God! Here comes with power the Lord God who rules by a strong arm…” Tell my people their sins are forgiven. Second Peter thus asks us, “what sort of people ought you to be?” How does a forgiven person, a forgiven people, act?

Might John the Baptist reveal an answer?

John lives simply. Clothed in camel’s hair with a leather belt, he eats honey and bugs. I am not advocating his fashion statement or diet but John’s simplicity. Is not the concern over the present world economic situation, the loss of jobs, businesses, and healthcare caused by the pandemic driving people to make different life choices? Are we any worse off because of those choices?

Simplicity of life style is a very difficult lesson for a credit card carrying consumerist society to learn.

When I walked across Spain on pilgrimage to Santiago I carried only 20 pounds of necessities. In that situation, ‘necessity’ takes on a depth of meaning. I had to rely at times on the care and concern of other people. The experience taught me that in traveling we need very little and that includes traveling through life and running toward Christ and thus has implications for the spiritual life.

Simplicity is not poverty. But a simpler life style might make us aware of the actual poverty and hunger that does exist in our area.

In John calling people to acknowledge their sins, I presume he had first confronted his own sins. Christmas is a spiritual feast. How much of our Advent living is concerned with our spiritual well-being? Are we reflecting on our lives through sacred scripture? … dreaming the dreams of Isaiah? Are we planning on praying the Sacrament of Reconciliation encountering the God who comes to save us?

Second Peter invites us to lives of holiness and devotion. The two are linked. Holiness means living a life like God having been created in God’s image and devotion is dedication and loyalty to our God. Holiness is a gift from God; devotion is our response to that gift. The author of Second Peter wants us to be aware of who and what we really are as followers of Jesus and to behave accordingly.

The author is calling us to be alert to Christ who is already present in our midst and is waiting for us to show up…running to meet…unhindered by earthly undertakings. Christmas is less about a birthday party for Jesus of Nazareth and more the celebration of a recharged people ready to work in the public square for the common good. Christmas is thus not about the past but the present. Emmanuel, God with us now!