Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross in Green Bay, WI
Reflection for Dec. 8, 2024

Reflection for Dec. 8, 2024

Prepare the Way

How can we welcome God into our lives today?

by Sister Lynne Marie Simonich

As we enter into the second week of Advent, St. Luke draws attention to John the Baptist.  He tells us that “the word of God came to John in the desert”.  John didn’t just hear God’s word – he went throughout the whole region proclaiming it.  Important people, like those mentioned in the Gospel for Sunday, were doing what they thought were the important things.  But do we remember them?  Who remembers Herod and Pilate, except for their connection with John and with Jesus?  We continue to remember John who stands before us telling us to “prepare the way of the Lord!”  We hear this message every Advent – what does it mean for us now?  What do we need to do so that God can enter our world, our lives?

On Monday, Dec. 9, we will celebrate the Immaculate Conception of Mary – Mary received God’s plan into her life and lived out that plan.  God’s grace filled her heart and soul – that grace is here for us, too.  We are truly blessed.

4 Comments

SR ROSE JOCHMANN
12/06/2024 8:47 am

Thank you for this reflection. Yes, what does "prepare the way of the Lord" mean for us now. We change and our world changes - what is the message now.

Lois
12/07/2024 6:59 am

Thank you for the reflection! Prepare the way, is more important now more than ever. We must lead others to Christ by our actions and prayer life.

Diann Wimmer
12/07/2024 1:07 pm

Yes, while Herod and Pilate + are highlighted in the Gospel, they simply indicate that John and his message have come into the real world. Now John's message comes into our real world of 2024.

Linda
12/09/2024 1:43 pm

The following, written by Fr. John Muir, was helpful for me, giving much meaning to These Times and why we are here:

2nd Sunday of Advent In the year 1995, in the seventeenth year of my life, when Fife Symington was governor of Arizona, Bill Clinton was president of the United States, Chuck Keiffer was pastor of St. Theresa parish in Phoenix, Arizona, and Ron and Mary were my parents, the word of God came to my youth minister Eric and through him I started to see the salvation of God.

Soon, Christ came into my life never to leave.

I’m thankful beyond words.

Why am I being so specific, you ask? Because in the Gospel this week we hear the specific names of people holding civic and religious authority in first century Palestine when “the word of God came to John the Baptist:” Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate, Herod, Philip, Lysanias, Annas, Caiaphas, and Zechariah.

All this is meant to help us see that God breaks into our history, into real human events.

Jesus is no mere myth. He is the Word-which-breaks-in, in concrete moments, you might say. And now we anticipate his coming once again in our specific situations.

Advent challenge:

Name as many civic and religious leaders who are in authority currently in your life.

Now, name who the potential John the Baptists may be. A spouse? A friend? A podcaster? A work colleague who brings God’s word to you?

Spend a moment considering that this comprises the concrete, historical setting into which Christ wishes to come. Then, with these specifics in mind, pray: “COME, LORD JESUS, COME.” ~ Father John Muir ~

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