Second Sunday of Advent 05.12.2021
Lk 3,1-6
Advent is a time of longing for the emergence of a new human being and a new society, which will be realized at the same time as the second coming of Jesus Christ.
This period is not just passive waiting, but active participation, and the primary requirements for participation are deep reflections on ourselves and repentance.
In today’s Gospel, Luke recorded the background of the times in great detail.
At that time, Judah was divided into four regions and ruled by the Romans, and the high priests were also in the hands of the pagans.
Israel was in a hopeless situation in which material prosperity and spiritual things were destroyed.
When Israel was at its lowest point, John the Baptist, the prophet of God, appeared and cried out to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah.
John the Baptist, son of Zechariah, heard the word of God in the wilderness.
The wilderness was considered a place to meet God, and it was also the place where Moses, the Israelites, and Elijah in the Old Testament met God.
The Jordan River was also an important place of God’s special blessing.
John the Baptist announced a new society to be established by the Messiah, as recorded in the prophet Isaiah.
In today’s gospel, the mountains and hills of the valley mean serious social inequality and high and low mean social status.
If human life is crooked by social injustice, justice will straighten the crooked and smooth the rough, and this can be achieved when the haves humbles themselves and make up for the lack of the oppressed.
“He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.”(Lk 1,52)
“He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.”(Lk 4,18)
“The hungry he has filled with good things.”(Lk 1,53)
The above society is a new society that will soon emerge with the Messiah.
Because He is the One who grants salvation to all humans equally.
John the Baptist was proclaiming that such things are possible when, first of all, individual repentance from sin is achieved.
What is Repentance? Repentance lowers our arrogant heart with humility, repentance fills the deep valley of unbelief between people, and repentance straightens our hearts bent by hatred and envy.
That should be our mindset in this Advent time of waiting for the Lord.
Our believers are called to carry out the Lord’s mission.
As modern-day John the Baptist, we must prepare the way for the whole world to welcome Jesus.
In particular, as believers, let’s try to help those around us who are struggling socially, economically, culturally and spiritually.
Let our hands and feet become the hands and feet of Jesus Christ so that those in need can meet the Lord and be saved and set free.
Through such practice, we will welcome the coming of Jesus spiritually with joy, so let’s always try to prepare well for the Lord’s way as mature believers.
By, Fr. Andrew Kim