Second Sunday of Advent

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“Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God!” These words from the Prophet Isaiah in the first reading today are very much needed in this time when our world seems so uncertain and confusing.  Dealing with the pandemic, racial tensions, and the recent election, there are many who are crying out to be comforted and consoled so that they may have peace.  How do we respond to this cry? Perhaps by looking at our Franciscan Charism of living the penitential life – that is turning towards God and away from anything that separates us from God and others, including sometimes ourselves.  In our Franciscan Tradition, this is conversion of heart that allows us to change the way we see everything and everyone around us.  Conversion of heart helps us to see others as our sisters and brothers by removing barriers that prevent us from entering into relationship and having true dialogue, allowing peace. 

In the Gospel today, John the Baptist tells us to “Prepare the way of the Lord.”  How can we, like John the Baptist, be messengers for Christ? What am I being called to do to prepare the way of the Lord? We can prepare the way of the Lord by creating an environment where everyone is welcomed and embraced.  This happens when we have conversion of heart in order to see God in the other.  How can I better welcome the other and, in doing so, welcome the peace that Christ brings? We are being invited to be messengers of peace, like John the Baptist in the Gospel, to comfort and console in order to “prepare the way of the Lord.” 

On this Second Sunday of Advent,  we are being invited to be messengers of peace, to comfort and console in order to “prepare the way of the Lord.”  Chapter IX of the Third Order Regular Rule can be our guide:

“As they announce peace with their lips, let them be careful to have it even

  more within their own hearts.  No one should be roused to wrath or insult on

  their account, rather all should be moved to peace, goodwill and mercy

  because of their gentleness.”

God of love and peace, give us wisdom and understanding to bring about peace in our world.  Help me to model the peace that the Incarnation brings so that I may reach out with understanding and welcome to everyone in the world, especially those who are excluded, devalued, and forgotten.

Brother Joseph Bach, OSF