Second Week of Advent

SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT

Second Sunday of Advent Gospel

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

Luke 3:1-6

English Standard Version Catholic Edition (ESVCE)

Readings taken from Universalis

Weekly Reflection
John Withers
Events Manager at Peter's House

This Sunday’s Gospel sets the scene with precision, situating John the Baptist in historical context with reference to the Roman emperor, the Judean governor, and the regional rulers. This grounding reminds us that God works in real places, real times, and real lives. Place matters deeply to God, and it should matter to us. Where has He placed you, and how will you respond?

Advent is a season to reorient and embark on a pilgrimage of the heart. Like any pilgrimage, it requires stepping out of our routine to encounter God anew. Walking paths like those to Santiago, Walsingham, or Padley (in the Peaks) slows us down, as our thoughts begin to match the rhythm of our steps we open to the Divine. As the world hits fast-forward, Advent presses pause and gives us space to slow, reflect and turn our lives toward Christ.

Why not take John the Baptist’s call to "Prepare the way of the Lord" as an encouragement to the internal work of discernment? Less about achieving perfection or avoiding mistakes, discernment is more about upholding our end of a lifelong dialogue with God. He has made you, in love, for relationship with Him and your free will is testament to His intention to walk with you, not to micromanage your life. Discernment involves aligning your unique gifts, circumstances, and choices with the will of God.

Take time to reflect this week:
Where has God placed me? Consider your home, neighbourhood, town, nation.
Who has God entrusted to me? Consider your family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, groups, communities, ‘enemies’.
What has He given me for the building of His Kingdom? Consider your charisms, talents and strengths but also your brokenness.

For Advent to be abundantly fruitful, like any good pilgrimage it is going to have to get painful. The deeper we walk with Jesus this Advent the more His light will shine in the darkness. The ‘word of God’ didn’t come to the emperor or the governor, it “came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness”. From that wilderness John urges us to prepare our hearts for the Christ who turns things upside down and comes to us in the uncomfortable. The manger not fit for a king, the cross not fit for an innocent man, the heart not ready for the Prince of Heaven.

As you journey towards the horizon of Christmas, embrace the undulating interior journey with confidence that God cares deeply about you, at every step of the way.

John manages 'WeBelieve Festival' on behalf of the Guild of Our Lady of Ransom.

God cares deeply about you

Prayer

Lord, as we continue our journey through Advent, let us prepare a way for You, asking for forgiveness and receiving your mercy, so that we can meet you with a clear heart and mind. We make this prayer through Christ, our Lord.

Amen