2nd Sunday of Advent: Preparing the Way of the Lord

11-27-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

Mt 3:1-12

One responsibility entrusted to me as Associate Pastor at St. Theresa in Phoenix was the Marriage Preparation or Pre-Cana Program. I did it for four (4) years, and in those years, I had at least one couple; when asked to sign up for the program, was hesitant and questioned the rationality of preparing for marriage when they already love each other and had known each other for many years. I explained to them that whether they are aware of it or not, they are being prepared for marriage by the secular world. Mass media, print, and social media often highlight broken relationships, infidelities, divorces, and separations as an expected occurrence - couples are continuously being taught erroneous ideas and values about marriage.

If we come to think of it, we live in a society where the culture promoted is the ways of the world and not
the WAYS of the LORD. The ways dominated by prejudices, racism, sexism, disrespect for human life, promiscuity, competition, and domination of others – devaluate the intangible value of friendship, love, chastity, joy, loyalty, generosity, kindness, gentleness, patience, and peace.

Often, we put the WAYS of the LORD on the sideline or dismiss it. When we miss proclaiming the Paschal Mystery in the changing of colors and seasons, the dying of leaves and trees, and the hibernating of animals - are all God’s way of teaching us to let go of our will to control; Let Be and Let Grow according to His Plan and Will.

In the ways of the Lord: Jesus heals; He is the Divine Physician who comes to heal the sick, strengthen the weak, forgive sinners, and seek and save the least, the lost and the last. When the disciples of John came to Jesus and asked who He was: He said to them in reply, Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead raised to life, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them (Lk. 7:22).

Prepare the way of the Lord - invites us to pray that He shows us the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. It is saying; Lord, you are the way – teach me your way. You are the truth – enlighten my mind with the light of your wisdom and give me the courage to defend and advocate your TRUTH. You are the LIFE – help me to see that there is no other way of life that my heart desire except to embrace your ways, O LORD.

Every day we are called by Jesus to reform our lives, to follow His WAYS and not our ways. When John the Baptist appeared in the desert, he proclaimed: REPENT, the Kingdom of GOD is at hand. Prepare the WAY of the Lord and make straight His path. Every day the call is to reform our lives. To allow God to form us according to His ways. Today, more than ever, Jesus invites us to go into the room of ourselves, as in the desert, to pray for the Holy Spirit WIND to blow where He wants us to BE, to GROW, and to LIVE.

BACK TO LIST