Help Me Make Your Paths Straight

Help Me Make Your Paths Straight

Lk 3: 1 – 6

Second Sunday of Advent

Introduction

Today is the second Sunday of Advent. In today’s reading, we hear John the Baptist preaching in the desert, exhorting people to prepare the way of the Lord.

The Gospel

The Gospel reading taken from Luke begins with a historical background. Luke writes : “ In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lusanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas…”

Luke narrates the historical background of the events that took place, writing details like who the emperor was, who the governors in Judea were and who the religious leaders were at that time.  Some of these prominent figures like Pontius Pilate, Herod Antipas and Caiaphas would later figure prominently in the life of Jesus, especially in his passion and death.  

Situating the gospel narrative in its historical context seems to be  important for Luke. Luke believes that God acts in history. God acts and fulfills his plans and promises whatever the given situation and circumstance may be.

With this introduction, Luke then proceeds to introduce John the Baptist. In introducing John the Baptist, Luke makes it clear that John’s preaching was both in fulfillment of a call from God and of a prophecy from the prophet Isaiah. Luke writes: “ the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.”

Luke writes this indicating that John’s preaching was not a personal initiative of John. Rather John responded to the word of God that came to him. God gave John the task of proclaiming in the desert, a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Luke was also keen to relate John’s preaching as a fulfillment of the words that the prophet Isaiah has spoken, when he writes : “ A voice of one crying out in the desert: “ Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. “ 

Reflection

Luke’s inclusion of the historical background of this gospel episode makes us realize that God acts in history. This would mean, that even to this day, God acts in our lives because we too live in a moment in history. God is ever present today as he was yesterday. And just as he acted at a time long ago, he will act even today to fulfill his plans for us, just as he acted in John the Baptist to fulfill and realize his plan.

God who is the Lord of history will shape the course of our life to fulfill his wonderful plans for us. Luke believes that no emperor, no governor, no religious leader would be able to stop and change God’s plans. He will fulfill his promises regardless of how people redirect or change the course of history according to their own intents and purposes.

John’s appearance in the desert was one clear indication that God was acting. John preached because he was urged by God to do so. And what was John’s message? John’s message was simple: that God’s action in history can readily come and be fulfilled through our radical change of heart; our repentance facilitates and makes the Lord’s coming more swift.

John’s message conveys to us that the best way to allow God to come into our lives is by embracing a new kind of life, putting aside the life that blocks God to come near to us.

When the prophet Isaiah tells us to prepare the way of the Lord, he tells us to fill up every valley and level every mountain and hill. Valleys are a metaphor to what is lacking in us, like the lack of faith, the lack of love and hope. To make a valley a level road, one has to fill it up. Metaphorically then, filling up a valley may mean increasing faith, loving more and being hopeful. This way, we are able to make the road level for the Lord so that he can come and draw near to us more easily.

Similarly, mountains and hills may be another metaphor for our pride and  arrogance. To level mountains and hills, we might need to take away our pride and arrogance which blocks the Lord to come towards us. Only in doing so, are we able to make the Lord’s paths easier and without difficulty.

The Lord wants to come and approach us. In this season of Advent, he tells us that he wants just that; he wants to come near and get closer. Unfortunately, there are mountains, hills and valleys that hinder the Lord from coming to us. This is why, the invitation to fill valleys and level mountains and hills is an invitation for us to embrace a new kind of life, a radical change of heart that will make straight the Lord’s path.

It is in embracing this change of heart that allows God to fulfill his plans and promises to us, just as he fulfilled his plans and promises when he sent John into the desert to tell us that now, God is making his way towards us in a new way, in and through his son Jesus.

Let us ask for the grace to willingly take off the old self by embracing a new kind of life that is pleasing to God.

Prayer

Dear Lord, you have plans for me; beautiful and wonderful plans. I know you want to fulfill them so I can lead a good life. But there is just something that gets in the way of your plans. And that’s me. I seem to be the reason why your plans don’t get fulfilled. I just don’t want to let go of my old self. 

Today you tell me that by getting rid of my old self, I am able to make your path to me much easier. Help me make your paths straight so you can come to me and fulfill your plans in me. Amen.

“ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

 -  Prov 3: 6

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