In a world where the festive season seems to begin earlier every year, Advent is often overlooked as simply being a precursor to Christmas. Today’s reflection encourages us to view the Advent season as an opportunity to return to God together, deepening our faith and preparing our hearts for Christ’s nativity.

December 8, 2024: Second Sunday of Advent, Year B
Baruch 5:1-9
Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6
Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11
Luke 3:1-6

Prepare the Way for God!

A reflection by Ann Penick

Since the end of October, the rest of the world has been displaying full-on Christmas, moving in the fast lane towards December 25th. Just after Halloween, Christmas music could be heard throughout certain retail stores; since the middle of November, certain radio stations have been playing Christmas music 24/7! We’ve been bombarded with the Christmas songs of Mariah Carey, Bing Crosby, Gayla Peevey, Burl Ives, Gene Autry, Vince Vance & the Valiants, and many, many more, even before the left-over Halloween candy was put in office break rooms.

While many only view these last few weeks of the year as an extension of the Christmas season, I am thankful for Advent. For me, this is the time when I can stop, unplug, pray, reflect, and hope before the 12 Days of Christmas. It offers me the opportunity to seek love, knowledge, and unity. Advent is a time to remove the distractions and joyfully refocus on my relationship with God.

The first reading, from the Book of Baruch, is about one such joyful return to God. The people are invited to take off their garments of sorrow and put on the garments of God’s Glory. God leads them out of misery and into joy with mercy and justice. The return is both physical and spiritual. It is a transformation from despair to hope—and we can sure use a dose of hope right now! God is always ready to bring us to restoration and renewal, no matter how far we have wandered. During this Advent season, we are called to reflect and return to God with joy and trust, wrapped in the splendor of God.

But our Advent journey is not meant to be walked alone–we accompany each other on our return. In the second reading from the Letter to the Philippians, Paul begins by thanking God for the Philippians’ faith and their working together to spread the Good News. Like them, we are to be active partners in the Gospel, supporting one another and growing in faith and love. We walk together towards God, who is always at work in our lives, even when we face challenges. God guides us and helps us grow in faith.

What does a joyful return to God entail? In the Gospel reading from Luke, John the Baptist preached repentance and reform for those gathered to hear him. He also baptized for the forgiveness of sins. But John the Baptist also points to us, and to our own need to turn away from what harms us and correct our paths—to remove anything which stands between us and God. Advent gives us the opportunity to name these obstacles and prepare our hearts for God, as well as to appreciate the true meaning of the season.

While it is difficult to overcome such barriers on our own, God promises to make the path smooth and fill the valleys. We do not face our challenges alone–God will remove the obstacles in the way of our return. No matter the mountains or valleys in our lives, God is ready to help us overcome them.

But our return requires change; we cannot complete the journey without it. John’s baptism is a call to leave behind habits which don’t serve us and prepare for something new. It is about transforming our hearts and lives to welcome Jesus, just as we prepare to welcome the infant Christ on Christmas.

Jesus, the Anointed One, during our Advent journey, prepare our hearts for Your coming. Help us face and overcome our challenges to make room for You. Help us to seek community and support. Strengthen our love and faith. Amen.

Ann Penick is originally from the Chicago area. She now lives in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Ann was ordained a priest with Roman Catholic Womenpriests in 2011. Ann has been serving the faith communities of Dignity Washington and Northern Virginia Dignity as one of their presiders since 2017. She also served on the board of DignityUSA. In addition she has been pastoring a faith community of young families in Washington D.C. since 2013.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

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