Homily - Second Sunday of Advent

2nd Sunday of Advent C

Bar 5:1-9 Phil 1:4...11 Lk 3:1-6

One of the practical things we all have to deal with is reducing the clutter in our living space. Human beings tend to hang on to things. Many people do not like to dispose of anything that might be of use in the future. While some people naturally seem to be neat and tidy, others don’t seem to mind the clutter of untidiness. And the extremes are either a sterilized and almost empty space or the chaos of hoards of everything.

However, if an important visitor is expected– people usually make changes. They take pains to create a homey living space for their guest – They clean up any mess or clutter that is unsightly. This is one of the reason people take special care to prepare for the Christmas holidays. Guests will be coming!! Extended family members will visit. Furthermore, children are warned to be on their best behavior. Most adults resolve to be gracious and polite in every circumstance.

Unfortunately, however, most of our world fails to realize that God is coming on Christmas Day. On the 25th of December, we celebrate the birth of God-With-Us. The infant Christ always comes with a special gift for us. Yet, so many are unprepared for what he wants to give us. We are unprepared because we have failed – or refused – to get rid of the godless clutter in our hearts and lives!

The scripture passage on this second Sunday of Advent from prophet Baruch was written to encourage the exiles in Babylon. Most people succumbed to the pagan culture of the time and persisted in living lives cluttered with sin and unfaithfulness. To the faithful few, Baruch promised hope and restoration. It was a wakeup call to be hopeful. In the future, they would return to the Promised Land. They would be home with God dwelling in their midst once again

Hundreds of years later, the returned Chosen People were living without freedom once again. They were under the power and dominion of Rome. They had fallen from God’s favor because their hearts were no longer in the right place.

Yet, God never really abandoned His People. In fact, God was sending His own Son into their lives. But they had some serious spiritual work to do beforehand. Consequently, God sent John the Baptist to preach repentance and change. 

Brothers and Sisters, we ourselves are no different than the Chosen People. We are God’s New Chosen People. John the Baptist’s cry to “prepare the way of the Lord” is a charge to discern the Lord’s voice calling out to us in the midst of the noise and clatter that fills our daily lives.

·       How can we open space for Jesus to draw near to us today?

·       What mountains are keeping us from drawing nearer to God and what barriers are affecting our relationship with Christ?

·       What valleys might be impeding our journey into the heart of the Divine?

·       What wounds or fears might be keeping us from drawing close to his Sacred Heart?

Let’s clear the way of stumbling blocks and clutter so that we may not hinder the Lord’s coming to us.  

This week we will celebrate both the feasts of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Immaculate Conception reminds us that humanity is made for God. Guadalupe gives witness that Christianity belongs to every culture. Both feasts celebrate the human potential to collaborate with God’s ongoing offers of grace and thus change history.

Let’s celebrate this week with John who believed in the joy of metanoia (change) and with Mary who rejoiced when invited to live its promise. And may our God who crosses mountains and valleys to draw near to us make us pure and blameless … filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.



Maranatha. Come Lord Jesus!