The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to recognize the intimacy of the relationship that God seeks with us to be our comforter and Spirit that informs our choices for full life.
The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah declares God’s People are comforted.
* [40:3–5] A description of the return of the exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem (Zion). The language used here figuratively describes the way the exiles will take. The Lord leads them, so their way lies straight across the wilderness rather than along the well-watered routes usually followed from Mesopotamia to Israel. Mt 3:3 and gospel parallels adapt these verses to the witness of John the Baptizer to Jesus.
* [40:9] Herald of good news: i.e., of the imminent restoration of the people to their land. This theme of the proclamation of the good news occurs elsewhere in Second Isaiah; cf. also 41:27; 52:7. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 40 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 85 is a prayer for the restoration of God’s Favour.
* [Psalm 85] A national lament reminding God of past favors and forgiveness (Ps 85:2–4) and begging for forgiveness and grace now (Ps 85:5–8). A speaker represents the people who wait humbly with open hearts (Ps 85:9–10): God will be active on their behalf (Ps 85:11–13). The situation suggests the conditions of Judea during the early postexilic period, the fifth century B.C.; the thoughts are similar to those of postexilic prophets (Hg 1:5–11; 2:6–9). (Psalms, PSALM 85 | USCCB, n.d.)
The reading from the Second Letter of Peter is an exhortation to Preparedness for the Day of God.
* [3:8–10] The scoffers’ objection (2 Pt 3:4) is refuted also by showing that delay of the Lord’s second coming is not a failure to fulfill his word but rather a sign of his patience: God is giving time for repentance before the final judgment (cf. Wis 11:23–26; Ez 18:23; 33:11).
* [3:10] Like a thief: Mt 24:43; 1 Thes 5:2; Rev 3:3. Will be found out: cf. 1 Cor 3:13–15. Some few versions read, as the sense may demand, “will not be found out”; many manuscripts read “will be burned up”; there are further variants in other manuscripts, versions, and Fathers. Total destruction is assumed (2 Pt 3:11).
* [3:11–16] The second coming of Christ and the judgment of the world are the doctrinal bases for the moral exhortation to readiness through vigilance and a virtuous life; cf. Mt 24:42, 50–51; Lk 12:40; 1 Thes 5:1–11; Jude 20–21. (2 Peter, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark is the Proclamation of John the Baptist.
* [1:1] The gospel of Jesus Christ [the Son of God]: the “good news” of salvation in and through Jesus, crucified and risen, acknowledged by the Christian community as Messiah (Mk 8:29; 14:61–62) and Son of God (Mk 1:11; 9:7; 15:39), although some important manuscripts here omit the Son of God.
* [1:2–3] Although Mark attributes the prophecy to Isaiah, the text is a combination of Mal 3:1; Is 40:3; Ex 23:20; cf. Mt 11:10; Lk 7:27. John’s ministry is seen as God’s prelude to the saving mission of his Son. The way of the Lord: this prophecy of Deutero-Isaiah concerning the end of the Babylonian exile is here applied to the coming of Jesus; John the Baptist is to prepare the way for him.
* [1:6] Clothed in camel’s hair…waist: the Baptist’s garb recalls that of Elijah in 2 Kgs 1:8. Jesus speaks of the Baptist as Elijah who has already come (Mk 9:11–13; Mt 17:10–12; cf. Mal 3:23–24; Lk 1:17).
* [1:8–9] Through the life-giving baptism with the holy Spirit (Mk 1:8), Jesus will create a new people of God. But first he identifies himself with the people of Israel in submitting to John’s baptism of repentance and in bearing on their behalf the burden of God’s decisive judgment (Mk 1:9; cf. Mk 1:4). As in the desert of Sinai, so here in the wilderness of Judea, Israel’s sonship with God is to be renewed. (Mark, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
Julie Kalkowski, in 2020, asked for all of us who are overachievers and overly responsible, to think back to what John the Baptist said in today’s Gospel.
John was very clear about what his role was: “I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” John was preparing the world for Jesus, our Redeemer. Instead of capitalizing on his newfound ‘fame’, John humbly continued to fulfil the mission given to him. John helps me realize that I don’t have to do everything, I just need to do my part. Spending time with God will clarify my ‘role’ in these troubled times.
I hope you can take comfort from today’s readings. Sit with them and let them speak to you. Maybe you’ll find that during this Advent season, we can all move towards becoming “...the new human being society needs.” (Kalkowski, 2023)
Don Schwager quoted “The voice of the one crying in the wilderness,” by Theodoret of Cyr 393-466 A.D.
"The true consolation, the genuine comfort and the real deliverance from the iniquities of humankind is the incarnation of our God and Savior. Now the first who acted as herald of this event was the inspired John the Baptist. Accordingly, the prophetic text proclaims the realities that relate to him in advance, for that is what the three blessed Evangelists have taught us and that the most divine Mark has even made the prologue of his work. As for the inspired John, whom the Pharisees asked whether he himself was the Christ, he declared on his part: 'I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord' as the prophet Isaiah said (John 1:23; Isaiah 40:30); I am not God the Word but a voice, for it is as a herald that I am announcing God the Word, who is incarnate. Moreover, he refers to the Gentiles as the 'untrodden [land]' because they have not yet received the prophetic stamp." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12.40.3) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 1:1-8 comments that in order to be ready, we need to empty ourselves of our old ways of thinking. That’s where repentance comes in. It clears out the sin that clouds our vision of God. It removes our shame and guilt and delivers us from whatever blocks God’s life from taking root in us. It makes us ready to receive God’s forgiveness and helps us to become more aware of his abiding presence within us.
Are there ways that you need a change of attitude or a new hope this Advent? As you prepare the way for Jesus during this holy season, go back to “the beginning” and listen to John the Baptist’s message. Repentance is good news because it opens your heart to Jesus. So take advantage of opportunities to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation this season. Let God expand your capacity to receive him at Christmas. As Mark shows us in his Gospel, that’s where it all begins.
“Jesus, help me to open my heart to you as I await your coming!” (Meditation on Mark 1:1-8, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes the passage from Deutero-Isaiah was written during the Babylonian exile and is a prophecy that the punishment will end and the people will be restored to their homeland. Second Peter is dated to around 120 CE and reflects the response to the Day of the Lord being delayed. Friar Jude notes that John the Baptist is portrayed symbolically as roaring like a lion as he uses matrimonial Levirate symbolism to indicate that Jesus, not he, is the bridegroom to marry the widow Israel.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, affirms God’s plan to draw all of creation into the intimacy and celebration of Love. The Eastern Fathers of the Church affirmed this belief; they called it the process of “divinization” (theosis). They saw it as the whole point of the incarnation and the very meaning of salvation. The much more practical and rational church in the West seldom used the word divinization. It was just too daring for us, despite the rather direct teachings from Peter (1 Peter 1:4–5; 2 Peter 1:4) and Jesus in John’s Gospel.
The clear goal and direction of biblical revelation is toward full, mutual indwelling. We see this movement toward union as God walks in the garden with naked Adam and Eve and “all the array” of creation (Genesis 2:1). The theme finds its shocking climax in the realization that “the mystery is Christ within you, your hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). As John excitedly puts it, “You know him because he is with you and he is in you!” (John 14:17). The eternal mystery of incarnation will have finally met its mark, and “the marriage feast of the Lamb will begin” (Revelation 19:7–9). History isn’t heading toward Armageddon or a “Left Behind” conclusion. Jesus says, in any number of places, it will be a great wedding banquet. [3] (Rohr, 2023)
We ponder the tension in the texts of the Second Sunday of Advent between the immediacy of the call to repentance and the comforting image of our journey in the Presence of God.
References
Isaiah, CHAPTER 40 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 10, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/40?
Kalkowski, J. (2023, December 10). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved December 10, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/121023.html
Mark, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 10, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/1?1
Meditation on Mark 1:1-8. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved December 10, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/12/10/845776/
Psalms, PSALM 85 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 10, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/85?9
Rohr, R. (2023, December 10). Universal Restoration — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 10, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/universal-restoration-2023-12-10/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 10, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=dec10
2 Peter, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 10, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2peter/3?8
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