2nd Sunday of Advent 2024
Baruch 5:1-9 Philippians 1:3-6, 8-11 Luke 3:1-6
The prophecies of Jeremiah (last Sunday) and Baruch (today) are full of expectations and give hope and promise for ‘when the Son of Man’comes. Those waiting for the Messiah are told to shake off sorrow and distress because the days that are coming will bring ‘peace, integrity, honour and honesty, devotedness and jubilation’. At the time of today’s gospel episode the people themselves were in a political wilderness, their land was divided: they were in a religious wilderness too, their high-priest had been removed: they also felt that they were in a prophetic wilderness because many generations had passed since they heard a voice or saw a vision of hope.
Then came the word to John the Baptist – in the wilderness. John was left with a dilemma. The word came to him, but he was not the word. How could he proclaim such a profound message without drawing attention to himself? The very fact that he was eccentric, living in the wilderness and wearing animal skins for clothing and eating the insects of the desert made people curious. They came to hear him and the word that he proclaimed soon occupied their minds and raised their hopes. Though we are told that John went through the whole of Jordan district proclaiming the message of repentance and preparation, it was in the desert, the wilderness where the message became clearest.
So often in the Gospels Jesus is seen teaching his disciples on a mountain or a high ground which is removed from the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives. John the Baptist prays and preaches in the desert which is stark and empty. The desert or wilderness is a fit setting for us on our Advent journey. It could be likened to the experience that many of us have had on a pilgrimage to Lough Derg, our penitential island. That desert is indeed stark; bare feet, no food, no sleep or comfort, none of the props on which we rely and consider essential for our human existence. It is in the serene silence of such a place that we can hear clearly and in the clear starkness recognise the truth. It compels us to look inwards at our own selves.
This Advent ‘wilderness’ can be very real and daunting. Our wilderness may be our loss of energy or enthusiasm: our wilderness may be fear or loss, weakness or sickness. These are real situations where we could despair or let our spirit buckle. But Advent is the time when we are reminded to watch and wait for the Lord’s action, the Lord’s personal word to each of us. Out of Darkness will come Light!
In Patrick Kavanagh’s poem ‘Advent’ he speaks of ‘The Advent darkened room’ (our place of penance and letting go) where we will “win back the luxury of a child’s soul” – that simple, uncomplicated contemplation (wonder) of the Word made flesh, Emmanuel, God-with-us – Out of the Darkness comes Light!
Unlike Lent, when we are called to put on the garments of penance and resort to ‘sackcloth and ashes’, Advent is a time to strip away the old garments, give up the old habits and begin again with a new way of living. When the Son of Man comes and we celebrate his Incarnation we will then put on the garments of Salvation and walk in the Light of knowing Him as our Lord and Saviour.