“I think I’m on the wrong road!!!
2nd Sunday in Advent Readings: Baruch 5:1-9; Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6; Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11; and Luke 3:1-6
The first reading and the Gospel of the second Sunday in Advent quote Isaiah 40:3-4, beckoning Israel to prepare the way of the Lord.
Isaiah’s instructions follow on how to do that: make straight his paths, fill the valleys, make low the mountains, straighten the winding roads, and make the rough ways smooth.
Of course, Isaiah is not speaking literally about preparing a road for the Lord. Do we even have the ability to straighten Christ’s paths? I don’t think Jesus needs road construction crews to prepare His return.
Do we need to straighten His paths, or rather the paths that we’ve created? Are our ways of reaching the Lord working? At times I feel the road is very steep, rocky, and curvy.
How can we look at these readings in a nonliteral way? I would like to imagine that we could prepare the way of the Lord by “re-constructing” our hearts and lives.
What can be done to lower, smooth, and straighten our roads to Jesus? Is the road that we’re on even going in the direction of Jesus, or is it rather reaching out to material wants and desires?
Could our disappointments be from always ending up at a dead-end? The first step we should take is to look to see if we’re headed in the right direction. If the road we’re on isn’t going towards Jesus, it can only arrive at a dead end.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (cf. John 14:6). Following his way is the only way to reach the joy that only Jesus can give.
We can straighten the winding roads by looking in the direction of Jesus. To do that, follow His signs that come from His Church: at the minimum attend Sunday Mass or services; read the Bible, or follow the daily Advent readings at https://bible.usccb.org/readings/calendar; and obey God’s Commandments.
We can lower the high ways and fill in the low ways by spending more quiet time with God. Turn off the television, put away our smartphones, and spend quiet time “sitting” with the Lord. Begin with only five minutes then work your way to 15 minutes or even an hour.
Could we smooth the roads by not always having to be right or having the last word in a disagreement? Perhaps apologies need to be made. Making St. Therese’s Little Way our way could increase humility and smooth our roads.
So, in writing this, I’ve concluded that I best prepare the way of the Lord by repairing my way to Him.
Happy Advent Season!
