Second Sunday of Advent

On this Second Sunday of Advent we hear the voice of John the Baptist crying out, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” Preparing for anything always involves work, time, and effort. Regardless of how much one prepares for a test, wedding, surgery, etc., there is always that nagging thought: “Am I really ready?” Or maybe even a pronounced hesitation, allowing for the chance to convince yourself that with five or ten more minutes you will finally be ready. If we struggle to complete the preparations and to feel ready for any normal day or special events, then how do we go about preparing the way of our Lord? The Gospel gives us the answer: make straight the path. 

The path, which began at our baptism, is shaped by how we maintain and develop our relationships with God and each other, culminating toward eternal life in communion with the Trinity. How can we make the path straight, level obstacles, and fill in divots? Prayer, sacraments, and service.

One important area in any relationship is communication. Prayer keeps communication growing with sharing, listening, and responding to God and the needs of others. Second, accessibility is another significant area when it comes to building and preserving relationship. Sacraments, especially Reconciliation and Eucharist, enable us to connect and access Jesus and the entire Body of Christ in both a very personal and communal way. Reconciliation allows for healing and reunification. The Eucharist, Jesus, who is the way the truth way and the life, provides continued nourishment and grace strengthening and aiding us in all of our needs. Third, healthy relationships require a lot of personal growth. While challenging at times, serving in ministry or helping to assist the needs of others expands an individual’s capacity for compassion, compromise, and understanding of sacrifice. 

This week the scriptures summon us to be active participants in preparing a way for the Lord by making straight the path to eternal life. The path God calls us to prepare is relational and it is not always easy – at times it’s very messy! – and may often need to be repaired from time to time. Through prayer, sacraments, and service we can work to straighten a path for the Lord to permeate our hearts and the hearts of those around us. Our lives are filled with many people like the prophets, crying out the way to Jesus, helping to form us, providing the necessary tools along the way, and even preparing us for the next phases of life as they come. We share in this task by leading others to Jesus, supporting one another, and walking the journey to heaven together. Reflect this week on the opportunities God is presenting right now in your life and how God is calling you to grow, share, and contribute in straightening the path for yourself and others.

Sandra Santucci is the manager of divine worship for the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana.