Sunday Gospel Reflection
Second Sunday of Advent
Matthew 3:1-12 | December 4, 2022
Preparing for the Lord is Straightening Our Paths
by Carlo S. Dureza
It makes me wonder why Jesus had a spokesperson for His coming. He could have just come and made Himself visible to many, thus courting popularity. As such, He must have been really important because he had a “voice crying out in the wilderness” to make way for Him.
Yes, Jesus is important. He is the Savior, our King. In the present times, as a matter of protocol, emissaries are sent to herald the coming of a man of dignified stature. If a president, prime minister, or King mounts a visit to a country not His own, His coming is announced way ahead in order for preparations to get underway.
John the Baptist was willed by God to prefigure the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He was purposely sent ahead to pave the way for the Savior. He tells us all to repent, to reform our ways for the Kingdom is at hand.
This makes us conclude that Jesus is the embodiment of the Kingdom and that His coming must be met with a welcoming that reinforces the ways of peace and forgiveness. Repentance is the key to these.
Let us keep attuned to our human nature, sinful, broken, and in need of wholeness. May we be consumed with the gift of humility of the Holy Spirit—that we may own up to our sins, confess them, and live a life of obedience to the teachings of Christ.
Today is the second Sunday of Advent, the time of the liturgical year when we await Jesus’ coming. We recall how He has come into the wilderness of our lives as a child emptied of any blight of self- importance that we may be saved from sin and enter our eternal home with the Father.
Let us prepare for Jesus by making straight our ways. May we empty our hearts of selfishness, greed, pride, and lack of forgiveness that He may dwell in us. He came to be with us to be among us, after all.
Let us not be like a brood of vipers, brandishing pretentions and purity within thinking that we do not sin or could escape God’s justice. Repent and mend our ways for the Kingdom is at hand!
Happy Sunday! God bless!
