MAKE STRAIGHT GOD’S PATH
          On this second Sunday of Advent, in this season of renewal and spiritual reinvigoration, we hear a powerful message from one of the central figures of the season, John the Baptist: “repent, the kingdom of God is at hand.”  We were told that this message of repentance or this call to conversion from John the Baptist, happened in the wilderness, in the desert – a place of solitude, of silence, of quiet, a place where there are not a lot of
distractions. In the Scriptures, the wilderness or the desert has a very important meaning – it is a place of renewal, a place where we are able to confront ourselves with our deepest realities because there’s no other thing to do – no gadget, no TV, no Internet --the stillness and the silence of the place unmasks us from the layers and layers of things that we have put on to redefine our identities. The place then, where this message of repentance emanates or comes from, is significant. Usually in this time of year, we can easily be distracted by the glitters of the seasons; this is a very busy time for shopping, parties; there are distractions from left to right.  It’s hard to enter with John the Baptist in the wilderness or in the desert when our schedule and calendars are pushing us to the stores,  holiday sales and parties. And, if we are not careful, Advent can fly by without even making a small dent in our lives. That’s why the message of the Gospel today is very important because it brings us to the heart of our Advent preparation, using the words of John the Baptist, “prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.”
          “Make straight his paths” by entering first into the wilderness and there asking ourselves in the stillness and silence: What are the things that hinder me to make a straight path for the Lord? Vices? Addictions?
Resentment? Unforgiveness? What are the things that stress me right now that don’t allow me to make a worthy room for the Child Jesus?
          The Collect or the opening prayer today summarizes the Gospel message from John Baptist in a  beautiful way—listen to it again and make it truly our own: “Almighty and merciful God, may no earthly undertaking hinder those who set out in haste to meet your Son, but may our learning of heavenly wisdom gain us admittance to his company. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.” Do you have a specific earthly undertaking right now that stops you from being admitted to the company of God? – Fr. Cary