Second Sunday of Advent
December 8, 2024 — Year C
Readings: Bar 5:1-9 / Ps 126 / Phil 1:4-6, 8-11 / Lk 3:1-6
by Rev. Nixon Negparanon, Pastor

Today we light the second candle on the Advent wreath, known as the “Bethlehem candle.” It symbolizes peace, preparation, and faith. The Bethlehem candle reminds us of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, a journey marked by faith and trust in God’s plan. It points to the peace that Jesus’ birth brings to the world, a peace that is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of God’s love and salvation.

As we light the candle, we are invited to reflect on how we are preparing our hearts for Christ’s coming. Are we making straight paths in our lives for Him? Are we embracing the peace that His birth promises? Just as Mary and Joseph trusted God’s plan amidst uncertainty, we too are called to walk in faith and prepare ourselves to receive the Prince of Peace.

The Second Sunday of Advent invites us to embrace the hopeful preparation that Advent entails, a season that bridges the promise of the past with the fulfillment of the future.  The readings today converge on the themes of restoration, preparation, and hope in the Lord. They call us to live in the present, as a place of encounter between what God has done and what He’s about to do.

The reading from Baruch paints a picture of Jerusalem being restored to its former glory. The people are urged to cast off their sorrow and wear robes of righteousness, for the Lord is leading them in joy. This restoration is not just physical but spiritual, signaling God’s unyielding faithfulness. This is a song of hope and restoration. Baruch encourages Jerusalem to rejoice, because God is about to deliver His people from exile and lead them back home in glory.

The imagery of God leveling mountains and filling valleys symbolizes His power to remove obstacles in our lives, making a straight path for His salvation. It reminds us that Advent is a time to trust in God’s promise to bring about renewal and joy.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians complements this, with an invitation to gratitude and confidence. Paul, writing from a prison cell, radiates joy as he reflects on the Philippians’ faith journey. He reminds them of their faithfulness and asks that God, who began a good work in us, will bring it to completion. Paul’s letter reflects his gratitude and a deep affection for the Philippians. He is confident that the good work God has begun in them will be completed.

This reading emphasizes the themes of growth in love, knowledge, and righteousness. It calls us to trust in God’s ongoing work in our lives and to prepare ourselves spiritually for the coming of Christ.

In the gospel, John the Baptist’s voice cries out in the wilderness, preparing the way of the Lord. He calls for repentance and readiness to receive the salvation that God is bringing. The gospel introduces John the Baptist as the forerunner of Christ. His call to prepare the way of the Lord echoes Isaiah’s prophecy and challenges us to repentance and renewal. John’s message is a reminder that Advent is a time to clear the obstacles of sin and indifference in our hearts, so that we can fully receive the Lord.

Together, these readings remind us that God’s salvation is both a promise fulfilled and a work in progress. We are called to prepare our hearts and lives for His ongoing work of restoration.

Reflecting on Paul’s imprisonment, we see a profound example of living in the present as a convergence of past gratitude and future hope. Despite being in a Roman jail, Paul’s letter is filled with joy. He’s grateful for the Philippians’ faith and confident in God’s plan for their future.

Christmas is only three weeks away. Hospital workers report that hospital wards are practically empty at Christmas time. No one wants to spend Christmas in the hospital, much less in jail. Christmas is a time of joy, and there’s no fun in a hospital bed or in a prison cell. Yet, Paul’s most cheerful letter to the Philippians was written from a prison cell. Paul was in detention in Rome, awaiting trial. Neither the uncomfortable conditions in the prison cell or the uncertainty of the outcome of the trial was enough to rob Paul of his joyful and cheerful disposition.

What was the secret of Paul’s unflagging optimism? No doubt, it was his faith in Christ. This faith is expressed in important attitudes: an attitude of gratitude in regard to the past and an attitude of confidence in regard to the future. This was the key to Paul’s cheerfulness even in the face of the present predicament.

We often talk about the virtue of living in the present, but what do we mean by the present? Is it this year, this week, this day, or this minute? The fact of the matter is that the present is a fleeting split second such that, before we get to think of it or mention it, is already passed into the past. We cannot freeze the present in order to live in it, because the present is always passing us by.

Maybe it is better to think of the present as the meeting point between the past and the future. Then we shall begin to realize that the way to seize the moment and to discover happiness in the present is to cultivate a positive attitude toward the past and toward the future.

Paul’s optimism resonates with St. Ignatius of Loyola’s insight, when he said, “Act as if everything depended on you. Trust as if everything depended on God.” Paul acted in faith, encouraging, teaching, and praying, while trusting entirely in God’s providence. This is the balance Advent calls us to: preparing actively while trusting fully.

Today’s world is filled with its own wilderness, uncertainty, divisions, and challenges. Like Jerusalem in Baruch’s prophecy, we long for restoration and peace. John’s call to prepare the way of the Lord is as urgent as ever. It invites us to clear the obstacles of sin and indifference, making room for God’s grace.

Like Paul, many find themselves in circumstances that seem to contradict joy. How can we be joyful in such moments? By embracing the attitudes Paul exemplified: gratitude for God’s past faithfulness and confidence in His future promises.

To live in the present means to recognize it as the meeting point of God’s past deeds and future promises. Gratitude connects us to the past, anchoring us in the moment, in the memory of God’s goodness. Confidence connects us to the future, trusting that He who began a good work in us will complete it. Together, these attitudes cultivate a joy that transcends circumstances: the joy of the Lord, which is our strength.

As we journey through Advent, let us heed John’s call to prepare the way. This preparation involves repentance, yes, but also active gratitude and hope. Let us, like Paul, find joy in the midst of our wilderness. Let us, like Jerusalem, cast off sorrow and wear the robe of righteousness. And let us, in the spirit of St. Ignatius, act with faith while trusting in God.

As we prepare for Christmas, may we clear the paths of our hearts, so that God’s glory may shine through us, for the God who began a good work in us is faithful and will see it through to completion.

May Jesus Christ be praised.