By Donna Leonard, Obl OSB
The reading from the book of the Prophet Baruch this Sunday sets the tone for the week. He addresses Jerusalem with the news that they are to expect the return of the Babylonian exiles. It’s time to stop being downcast and sad, for God will lead them back like royalty. They will return secure in the glory of God. Rough roads will be made smooth and winding roads will be made straight. A new time of peace and justice and joy will come, because God will be returning with the exiles.
The relationship that the Jewish people had with God was complicated. We see the times when the relationship was close, and the people followed God’s commands by living as God taught them through the Prophets. But even when they strayed from God and times were difficult, there was still always the promise that God would never leave them.
Now as Christians, we are at Advent. We wonder at God’s timing and ask why, some 2000+ years ago, the birth of the last great prophet John the Baptist occurred at the same time as the birth of Jesus. The Canticle of Zechariah that we read daily at Morning Prayer always amazes me.
Giving thanks and praise, he says: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free.
Announcing Jesus, he says: He has raised up for us a mighty Savior born of the house of his servant David.
Introducing his son John, he says: You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.
And he tells us why: In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
So, we have come to this day. We believe that Jesus is our Savior who will guide us into the way of peace. Yet often we find ourselves downcast and sad, so we need to be reminded that God is with us, and that there will be rejoicing when our paths will be made smooth and straight.
The challenge for us today during this season of Advent is to reflect on what we can do to keep straight and smooth the path on which we journey, that path on which we will meet the Lord Jesus when He comes to us.
Come, O Jesus, Come.
