Homily: Tuesday of 2nd Week of Advent - Prepare ye the way of the Lord

Every Advent I enjoy listening to the first part of Handel’s Messiah.  The most famous part of Handel’s Messiah, is of course, his “Alleluia Chorus”.

Handel drew the text for his musical composition primarily from the Scriptures, in fact the structure of the Messiah as a whole follows the liturgical year: Part I corresponding with Advent and Christmas and the life of Jesus; Part II with Lent, Easter, and Pentecost; and Part III with the end of the Church year dealing with the end of time and Christ’s return in glory.

So during the first part of Handel’s Messiah, we hear, set to wonderful orchestral music, the Old Testament Prophecies about the coming Messiah from the prophets Isaiah, Haggai, and Malachi.

In fact, the very first movements draw from today’s reading from Isaiah chapter 40.  The beautiful tenor sings those beautiful words of comfort to God’s people who were in the Babylonian captivity: that her captivity is at an end—that her sins are forgiven with the coming of the Messiah, so prepare for his coming.

This reading from Isaiah today should remind us of Sunday’s Gospel.  Because St. Matthew was also quoting this section of Isaiah’s prophecy, when he told us that John the Baptist was out in the desert telling people to repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.  Then St. Matthew says, “It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.”

This weekend I preached on the importance of taking John the Baptist’s call seriously by repenting, examining our life, our choices, attitudes, and behaviors, and going to confession to turn away from our sins as the most important of our Advent preparations.

Jesus in the Gospel today shows us his care for the lost sheep, the sheep who have wondered away from the flock.  We can be the voice, and hands of Jesus today by reaching out to those who may have wandered away from the flock, inviting them back to Church, inviting them to our communal penance service next Wednesday. 

I’ve printed out some examinations of conscience and placed them on the communion rail.  Please at the end of mass take one, and pass them on. 

The lost sheep are received by Jesus with Joy.  May we be instruments of true joy today by proclaiming the mercy of our Messiah for the glory of God and salvation of souls.