Second Sunday of Advent

This Second Sunday of Advent, the Word of God emphasizes hope in the future.

The author, aka "second-Isaiah," heralds a fresh start, new beginnings. The second letter of Peter describes the future, a new heaven and a new earth. This letter begs the community to live each day as though Jesus may come suddenly to ask about our lives.

In the Gospel according to Mark, John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness proclaiming: “Prepare the way for the Lord.” That is John’s mission: repent; orient our lives to God and one another. Advent is about preparing for the coming of Christ by fixing our lives on God. 

During Advent, the Word of God focuses on three biblical personalities who delivered a special message. Isaiah spoke about a future Messiah. John the Baptist pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God. The Virgin Mary is the living temple of God, because she carried within herself the presence of God, the Word made flesh, a child, Emmanuel, God with us.

 The Word of God in Advent also references a fourth biblical personality Joseph, who had a dream in which the angel said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.” As I thought about Joseph’s dream, I pondered what couples dream when they learn that they will be parents. Their first dreams are usually for a safe birth, a healthy child. Then parents may dream that their son or daughter will excel. But along the way, where they once dreamt about the Nobel Prize, Mom and Dad may settle for their child passing courses, or recovering from an illness or an addition.

 Joseph sensed, the most important things we can dream for our children are that they always will know that we love them, and that we are always praying that God will grace them with his gifts.

A favorite poem of mine in Advent is about a battered violin, about to be auctioned off for only three dollars. Things change when a master violinist tunes the instrument and plays a Christmas melody. Then the auctioneer gets a bid for three thousand dollars. Here's the point:

 "The Master comes and the foolish crowd

Never can quite understand

The worth of the soul and the change that’s wrought

by the touch of the Master’s hand.”

 As we prepare for the birth of the Eternal Word of God at Christmas, let us pray that the Master’s touch will tune us up as ever more faithful disciples of Jesus. May our hands be a channel of grace to those whose lives may be out of tune. Especially this Advent season we pray “come Lord Jesus, transform us into the best version of ourselves and help us to build a better world of truth, justice, love and freedom