Prepare the Way of the Lord

A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (Isaiah 40:3)

The passage from Isaiah, part of today’s readings, is probably one of the most recognized of the Advent scripture readings. Fine. Now what? There’s no real wilderness or desert around here. And there are probably a few too many highways.

Probably you have heard that the imagery relates to a practice in Christ’s time of an advance party going ahead of royalty to make sure that the road would be smooth for their eventual passage. There was a lot more desert and wilderness than cities in those times, and there were no paved roads between cities.

Beyond comfort, a smooth road was also a matter of safety. Getting stuck in the wilderness or desert would subject travelers to danger from the environment and natural and human predators. The advance group of workers both ensured safe arrival for the traveling royalty, and through their presence, alerted those along the way that someone special would be coming soon.

We are encouraged to prepare a way for our Lord Jesus in the wilderness and desert of our lives and the lives of those around us. Wilderness and desert?

Consider the five actions we vow in our Baptismal Covenant: 1) continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers; 2) persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord; 3) proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ; 4) seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself; 5) strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being. This is, at least, a partial description of what the Kingdom of God would look like shining forth from each of our lives. Anything less than an abundance of these actions in our own lives and the lives of those around us tends towards wilderness and desert.

Advent is a time for pausing and reflecting on how we are, in our individual lives, in the wilderness, preparing the way of the Lord, and making straight in the desert a highway for our God. Rather than waiting for New Years to make resolutions, right now is an appropriate time to consider our Baptismal Covenant and how we can prepare the way of the Lord in our lives. Each day of Advent, reflect on the five actions from our Baptismal Covenant by adding before each “How more might I?” For example, how more might I seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving my neighbor as myself? The answers you accumulate and work on throughout Advent will provide you direction for both preparing the way of the Lord and alerting others to his coming.