PAUL’S PRAYER

II SUNDAY OF ADVENT - 

John the Baptist is a central figure of this time of Advent. His voice, although proclaimed in the desert, echoes throughout the world, calling everybody to prepare a way for the Lord. The Lord is coming, and his coming is a time for rejoicing, as the prophet Baruch had announced:

“Take off your dress of sorrow and distress,

put on the beauty of the glory of God for ever” (Bar 5:1)

In times of sorrow and distress, we feel overwhelmed with pain, leaving us hopeless, waiting for death as our liberator, as if God himself has abandoned us and become our enemy, However, the prophets do not get tired of encouraging people, turning them to God as the only source of hope. Death will be overcome and we will “put on the beauty of the glory of God for ever”.

Indeed, in the times we are living in, we need this message of hope. In fact, all our fears and hopelessness come from the fact that we have strayed from the right path and turn our backs on the Lord. But our God is a God full of kindness, mercy and love. And the prophet announces that 

“God will guide Israel in joy by the light of his glory

with his mercy and integrity for escort.” - (Baruch 5:9)

God’s mercy and faithfulness walk by our side, protecting and defending us, so that we may reach the end of our journey and find fulfilment in God’s love.

Quoting from Isaiah, Luke puts forward the aim of John’s preaching; he proclaims that

“All mankind shall see the salvation of God.” (Lk 3:6).

God’s salvation is offered to all, and only those who refuse to accept it, will remain outside it.

During this time of Advent, we should make ours Paul’s prayer for the Philippians:

“My prayer is that your love for each other may increase more and more and never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception so that you can always recognise what is best. This will help you to become pure and blameless, and prepare you for the Day of Christ, when you will reach the perfect goodness which Jesus Christ produces in us for the glory and praise of God.” (Phil 1:9-11)

We need to grow in love and to grow in the understanding and knowledge of our faith, so that we may recognise what is best, doing always the will of God. In need to prepare ourselves for the Day of Christ, in order to be found “pure and blameless”. This will not come about by our only effort, because the perfect goodness is produced in us by Jesus Christ, but he will be able to do nothing if we do not open our hearts to him, so that he becomes the Lord whom we serve.