Second Sunday of Advent

12-06-2015Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

“The word of God was spoken to John son of Zechariah.” (Lk. 3:2) Meaning John was chosen, God called him from the wilderness. John did not belong to the class of higher learning; he was not a scholar, a teacher or a rabbi; he was a simple man who lived in the desert, committed to God in prayer. He prepared for this call by organizing his life in silence with God. He needed that silence to open his heart to God and to free it from all worldly influences. In the modern context, we all need our desert, maybe a place (room, chapel, church or a garden), a space or a moment with God to silence our hearts and just listen to God, so His WORDS will be spoken to us like John.

But we have to be careful of people claiming to have received a message from God. I remember a story of a politician who claimed that God called him to run for the presidency. A voter from one state answered him cleverly by saying, “Well, he may have truly received a call to run for president, but unfortunately, I did not receive a call to vote for him.” In the desert, in the silence of our hearts, we must check similar claims with or against God’s word. With John, the authority of his words rests on the fact that he lived God’s words in his life of detachment, simplicity and sacrifice.

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his path.” (Lk. 3:4) Our communities, our families, and our individual lives are far from ideal. Preparing the way of the Lord means we have to make some changes, some clearing and cleansing, imploring, and hopefully some fruit bearing. We cannot go on like this, on a path of downward spiral, where the foundation of marriage, family and authentic human dignity is quickly eroding.  That eventually leads to the destruction of whatever is left of the moral fiber of the people. The Good News is there is a way, a new way of life.

The new way starts with us first. In the New Evangelization, the first step is the holiness of the Evangelizers. This might mean changing some things; mindsets, habits, situations and even whether to associate with persons who are making the way winding and sometimes blocking the desire for a straight path. To do this we have to know where the road is and where this road is leading. Winding roads are dangerous, and traveling those tire us out faster. Rough roads have the same effect, causing so much discomfort. The winding and rough roads of life have hurt people. That is why John says: winding roads should be made straight, rough roads made smooth for the way of the Lord. Remember, like our roads and highways, the Lord’s roads need constant maintenance, because it’s the only road for our salvation.

Be in God,
Fr. Bing

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