December 10, 2023

Second Sunday of Advent Cycle B

Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8

Today’s second reading told us a truth that we all know: “that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day” [2 Peter 3:8b NABRE]. Which brings up the story of a man who had a conversation with God. He asked, "Lord, I have always wondered about time. What is a thousand years like for you?" God answered, "For me, a thousand years is like a second." The man then asked, "What about money? What is a billion dollars like for you?" And God answered, "For me, a billion dollars is like a penny." The man, with a twinkle in his eye, said, "Lord, could you give me one of those pennies?" God answered, "Absolutely, give me a second."

Let’s look at the second reading and why it is discussing God’s time frame for us. A few weeks ago, I mentioned several times while we were reading from First Thessalonians that it was the oldest book of the New Testament. Today, with the second reading from Second Peter, we are reading from the newest, the last book of the New Testament to be written, some seventy to eighty years later according to most scholars. But despite the many decades between them, both letters deal with the very same issue: people whose faith is shaken because Christ has not yet come again. Now it’s easy for us, two thousand years later, to chuckle that these people seem so impatient and think that they should just hold their horses, but there were many pagans at that time that were telling this new group of people called Christians: “Look here. Jesus has not come back. He won’t come back. Get over it.” So the inspired writer of Second Peter tells the people: don’t be impatient. God is patient with you. This delay is not to burden you, but God does it so that you can get your house in order. The day of the Lord is coming, but you are not ready. Get ready.

This is why this reading is selected for second Sunday of Advent. It complements the other readings that tell us also to get ready, to prepare the way for the Lord. The purpose of Advent is two-fold: we remember the first coming of the Son of God into our world, and also we continue to prepare for his second coming. Advent is not primarily a birthday commemoration. The Son of God has always existed, and always will exist, so age and birthdays are not important. We commemorate the moment in time when he came to our world as a human being like us. In other words, it is not about when he came but the fact that he came. Advent and Christmas should be a focus on what Christ gave us, the kingdom of God, both at his first coming and its promised perfection in his second coming, and our response to this gift already given and yet to be received in full. In the weeks up to and including the feast of Christ the King, we read from the last parables of Christ where he taught us what we need to do. There is no reason to go over that again right now, but right now is a good time to reflect on how our lives match up to that standard.

The Gospel quotes the first reading, the famous passage from Isaiah, “A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low” [40:3-4a NAB]. The reference in the Old Testament referred to the practice of preparing for the visit of a king or other important official. Due to the poverty in many of the rural areas, they could not keep up the roads at all times. But if they knew that someone important was coming, someone that they wanted to impress, they would make sure that the visitor has a smooth entry into the town. You wanted your king to be happy and favorably impressed when he remembered your town. I guess it’s the same when our parents or those of our spouse come to visit. It’s not that our homes are horrible places to live day-to-day, but we take extra special care with the housework and lawn when they are coming.

This is what the prophets, both Isaiah and John the Baptist, are talking about. It is not that our lives are hopelessly immoral, but that it is time to do a thorough once-over and make sure that we’ll pass muster. But here’s the rub: we don’t know when the ruler is coming. That he will come is certain; when, not so certain. The second reading uses the exact same wording as does Saint Paul and Jesus himself: it will be like a thief in the night [2 Peter 3:10; cf. Matthew 24:43; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; Revelations 3:3]. One of the problems with Santa that every parent knows about is that he’s a great motivator for kids in December, not so much in February. But if Santa could come on any day of the year, naughty behavior would be down substantially. Well, maybe. It's tough to keep on red alert all of the time. We can’t keep our home mother-in-law ready forever. We eventually lose our focus. Advent is the time to get this focus back.

And it is a conundrum that, at this time of year when we should be taking time out to reflect on the meaning of the incarnation, Christ’s coming to us, we are so busy with the shopping, the parties, the cards, the decorations, the end of the school term, and the like, that we don’t leave much time to stop and do this reflection as it ought to be done. We’ve decorated the house for Christmas, but have we prepared our minds and our hearts? Jesus is constantly pointing to the Pharisees, who follow scrupulously the many little rules that they had – in other words, stayed busy with the external – but never really examined their internal state of affairs. It was the sinners that heard the message and responded to the cry of John the Baptist who looked inward and made a true repentance.

With all the noise in today’s society, it is hard to get the silence we need to really do a long, quiet reflection, but I encourage you to do so. Spend some time in front of the Blessed Sacrament in our Adoration Chapel and take some quite time with the Lord. I would ask that, if you don’t already, that you sign up to do so weekly as a New Year’s resolution, but right now, just go whenever you can. It is only when we still the cacophony of worldly matters that we can really hear the voice of the Spirit trying to help us live a life aligned with God and his plan for us, that is to say, a truly joyful life. And a joyful life is what Jesus came to this world to bring us.

As we continue with the Liturgy of the Eucharist, may it bring us the sacramental grace to hear the Spirit’s call to find Jesus in the manger of our own hearts. We ask for the intercession of Saint John the Baptist to help us understand his call to repentance and preparation in our lives. By our making the roads to our hearts level in this Advent season by intentional reflection, may the Holy Family, as they made their way to Bethlehem, make their way also to our innermost being, bringing us closer to the kingdom of God.