Advent Child: Not your average Final Fantasy (Week 2)

Veni, veni Adonai, Qui populo in Sinai Legem dedisti vertice, In majestate gloriae. Gaude, gaude! Emmanuel nascetur pro te, Israel. Second Sunday of Advent, 4 December 2005 We are now entering the second week of Advent. In today’s Gospel (Mark 1:3-8 ), Jesus’ forerunner John the Baptist cries out in the desert, ‘A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.’ This is predicted in Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11, where it mentions, ‘A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!’ Clearly the idea of preparing the way of the Lord is not to be dismissed easily. But what does it mean to prepare the way of the Lord? Yes, it is to prepare for the Second Coming of Christ. At the end of time we will face a second judgement, and we must be ready. As it is mentioned in today’s epistle (2 Peter 3:8-14), ‘But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be found out.’ Indeed we do not know when the end of time will come, so we should start preparing now. As mentioned in the previous week, Advent truly is a time for preparation. But we should not forget that though Jesus is not physically here, he is present in the tabernacle of our churches. He truly is present in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Perhaps we can take some time during this season to visit him. We must not only be generous with our material goods, we must also be generous with our time. Another way of preparing the Lord’s way is to share the Good News with others, through words and actions. There are so many opportunities for us to do so, be it at school or work. But beware; followers of Christ will always be persecuted. They can expect to be ridiculed and mocked at. After all, even John the Baptist himself was beheaded. The prophets were also not welcomed in their own hometowns. You can expect resistance and anger from your family. This is such if we are to proclaim Him. But do not fear, for the Lord is here! Oh, come, oh, come, great Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height In Ancient times once gave the law In cloud, and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel, to thee shall come Emmanuel!