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
For more reflections like this, visit
my blog: thevineyardlaborer.blogspot.com
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