4th Sunday of Advent 22.12.19 Straight paths
We are nearly at the feast of Christmas. We summon all our best
intentions as we seek to make straight the way of the Lord, to prepare for His
coming.
This translates to giving Him the best possible chance of converting
and saving us.
Much of the time the human race is obstructing the way of
the Lord by ignoring, denying, insulting, or disobeying Him.
For one reason or another they do not want Him to come. It
might be they deny their need for salvation; or they might think that salvation
is not possible.
For our part, we do know we need saving, and we do want it.
We may be reluctant to part with some of our sins, but we
know we would be better off without them.
God allows our response to determine at least partly what He
will do, or when.
Why does God wait on us, when that seems to jeopardise the
whole operation?
It is because saving us requires our response, from mind and
heart, so our contribution cannot be bypassed or overruled.
God could overrule us, but that would defeat the whole idea
for why He created us – that we would voluntarily come to know, love and
serve Him.
We learn what we have to do from the key figures in the
drama – Our Lady, St Joseph and St John the Baptist - who helped events to go
as needed.
People say, where is God? Why does He not do something? He
has been doing a great deal - prompting us, inspiring us, guiding us. Most of God’s
interventions are too subtle to be immediately obvious, especially to the
mockers.
If we want to see God in action we have to do some acting
ourselves. It is very simple in principle; we do not usually have to do
anything remarkable or difficult; just be faithful to the tasks our state of
life requires; drawing inspiration from the major players in the infancy story.
St Joseph obeyed without question whenever he was told to do
something. He was not given much explanation but he did not need it; he was
happy to obey.
St John the Baptist deferred any praise of himself to its
proper destination. He must grow greater; I must grow less (Jn 3,30), In both
cases humility and a willingness to stand aside lest they obstruct the works.
God waits on us; He is interested in our response. We can give
Him the right response, always with His help.
He wants us to be people who will interact with Him; who
will want to know Him better, and become more desirous of pleasing Him.
He wants this for each individual, and for the Church as a
whole; to be people who will welcome God into His own world. This is not so unreasonable
when we think about it!
It should come easily but it usually does not. There is so
much resistance to letting God take control of His own world.
It may need force for God to make it plain to people the
choice they have.
Thus we have the apocalyptic predictions, including
punishment for unrepentant sinners.
If it comes to cosmic disorders, we will stay calm and continue
to serve till the end.
We will be the faithful servants, ready to greet the Lord
when He returns (Lk 12,37); also faithful sheep who know the sound of the
Master’s voice (Jn 10,27), who can discern His will and put it into practice.
Christmas is always something of a battle between what we
wish and what we actually have. The world is so far from where it needs to be.
We can help bridge the gap between ideal and real. We do our part to make
straight the way of the Lord.
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