Reflection
“The phrase ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’ is central to Advent: The way of the Lord’ is the path of return to God. To follow this way leads us out of our alienation and estrangement to reconnection. In this second week of Advent, we continue to prepare the way of the Lord; we continue to hear a voice calling us to make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God. We are called to reconnect with the belief in a living God. Advent calls us to renewed preparation for this experience.
Prayer
Prepare the way. Make straight the path.
Action
Our best preparation for tomorrow is the proper use of today.
Where do I need to make my reconnection?
Suggested Reading
Listen, listen to me,
Pay attention, come to me,
Listen, listen and your soul will live.
Isaiah 55:3
Open your eyes, alert the ears of your spirit, open your lips and apply your heart
so that in all creatures you may see, hear, praise, love and worship, glorify and honor your God, lest the whole world rise against you.
The Soul’s Journey to God
A waiting person is a patient person. The word patience means the willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us.
Henri J.M. Nouwen
Jesus believed that many of his contemporaries were beset with wrong ideas about God and were looking for their experience of God in the wrong place. He recognized some of the biggest obstacles to conversion were ingrained ideas and images which prevented people from believing that God was close to them and which led them to be fearful of God .How are people to recognize that…God is in their midst? Jesus made clear that there were unmistakable signs: when people act or see others in ways that are good, truthful, loving, forgiving, just, and merciful they should realize that these are the signs of God’s Spirit present and active in human interactions. Jesus urged people to see the connection: live in love and you live in God.
Michel Morwood
When a person, of hope and faith starts down the long path of prophetic action,
it is impossible to turn aside to lesser things. That’s why prophets are so dangerous, they cry in season and out of season, politely and impolitely, loud and long. And they do it because having prayed the vision, they cannot live with themselves and do otherwise.
Joan Chittister, OSB
The thing to do, it seems to me, is to prepare yourself so you can be a rainbow in somebody else’s cloud. Somebody who may not look like you. May not call God the same name you call God – if they call God at all. Who may not dance your dances or speak your language. But be a blessing to somebody. That’s what I think.
Maya Angelou
Advent is the perfect time to clear and prepare the Way. Advent is a winter training camp for those who desire peace. By reflection and prayer, by reading and meditation, we can make our hearts a place where a blessing of peace would desire to abide and where the birth of the Prince of Peace might take place.
Edward Hays