Daily Retreat 12/09/07
2007 Dec 9 SUN:SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Is 11:1-10/ Ps 71(72):1-2. 7-8. 12-13. 17/ Rom 15:4-9/ Mt 3:1-12
From today’s readings: “On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse.... Justice shall flourish in His time, and fullness of peace for ever.... Whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.... Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
The Baptist’s Cry
The voice of one crying out in the desert, "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His pathways." Isaiah the prophet clearly indicates that it shall not be in Jerusalem, the holy city, where this prophecy shall be fulfilled; rather, in the desert: the manifestation of the glory of the Lord and the announcement of God’s universal salvation occurs in the desert, in the wilderness.
These things were literally fulfilled in history when John the Baptist preached in the desert about the imminent coming of the reign of God. It was in this desert that God’s salvation was revealed when Christ and His glory were made manifest to all when He was baptized, and the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit, descending in the form of a dove, rested upon Him, and the Father’s voice rang from heaven, "This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased!"
The wilderness setting for the preaching of John the Baptist and the Baptism of the Lord is no accident, and in fact, deeply symbolic. Before John, prophets generally proclaimed their message in cities, so it could be heard by as many people as possible. Only when fleeing for safety did the prophets retreat to the desert. But John went directly to the desert, as a sign that God’s salvation was about to reach even to the wilderness, to lands and hearts dry and formerly inaccessible. Remember, at that time, except for the Jews, every nation had been deprived of knowing God’s revelation, and there was little hope for change, since the prophets of the Old Testament directed their message to the chosen people, even though these same messages often had hints, as in the case of Isaiah’s, of God’s plan of universal salvation.
So for this reason, John was sent by God, crying out in the wilderness, that voice that still echoes today, "Prepare the way for the Word of God - make straight His pathways to your heart, clear away any and all obstacles, so that the stubbornness of selfish wills and the hardness of cold hearts doesn’t slow Him down!"
Prepare the way of the Lord! This "way" is the proclamation of the Gospel with our lives! This "way" is the revelation that the Good news is meant to, and in fact, must be shared: all nations must know, all of our friends and neighbors and enemies need to know the saving power of our God! So that leaves an awesome question for you and me to answer: During this Advent season, how will the coming of the Lord be proclaimed to the people who hear your voice crying out in your desert?
Is 11:1-10/ Ps 71(72):1-2. 7-8. 12-13. 17/ Rom 15:4-9/ Mt 3:1-12
From today’s readings: “On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse.... Justice shall flourish in His time, and fullness of peace for ever.... Whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.... Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
The Baptist’s Cry
The voice of one crying out in the desert, "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His pathways." Isaiah the prophet clearly indicates that it shall not be in Jerusalem, the holy city, where this prophecy shall be fulfilled; rather, in the desert: the manifestation of the glory of the Lord and the announcement of God’s universal salvation occurs in the desert, in the wilderness.
These things were literally fulfilled in history when John the Baptist preached in the desert about the imminent coming of the reign of God. It was in this desert that God’s salvation was revealed when Christ and His glory were made manifest to all when He was baptized, and the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit, descending in the form of a dove, rested upon Him, and the Father’s voice rang from heaven, "This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased!"
The wilderness setting for the preaching of John the Baptist and the Baptism of the Lord is no accident, and in fact, deeply symbolic. Before John, prophets generally proclaimed their message in cities, so it could be heard by as many people as possible. Only when fleeing for safety did the prophets retreat to the desert. But John went directly to the desert, as a sign that God’s salvation was about to reach even to the wilderness, to lands and hearts dry and formerly inaccessible. Remember, at that time, except for the Jews, every nation had been deprived of knowing God’s revelation, and there was little hope for change, since the prophets of the Old Testament directed their message to the chosen people, even though these same messages often had hints, as in the case of Isaiah’s, of God’s plan of universal salvation.
So for this reason, John was sent by God, crying out in the wilderness, that voice that still echoes today, "Prepare the way for the Word of God - make straight His pathways to your heart, clear away any and all obstacles, so that the stubbornness of selfish wills and the hardness of cold hearts doesn’t slow Him down!"
Prepare the way of the Lord! This "way" is the proclamation of the Gospel with our lives! This "way" is the revelation that the Good news is meant to, and in fact, must be shared: all nations must know, all of our friends and neighbors and enemies need to know the saving power of our God! So that leaves an awesome question for you and me to answer: During this Advent season, how will the coming of the Lord be proclaimed to the people who hear your voice crying out in your desert?
posted by FrPitstick | 12/08/2007
<< Home