Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

New DeSales World Newsletter - Summer Edition

2nd Sunday of Advent (December 7, 2003)

Suggested Emphasis

"Prepare the way of the Lord with the splendor of glory from God forever."

Salesian Perspective

John the Baptizer traveled throughout the countryside proclaiming a baptism of repentance using the words of Isaiah; "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths."

Just as John the Baptizer reminded the people in the region of the Jordan to prepare the way of the Lord, we, too, are called to do the same in our own day and age. This personal challenge began with our own Baptism when we became members of the Body of Christ. It happens every day through our daily words and actions, our attempts to "Live Jesus" in our interactions with one another.

Today's reading from Baruch reminds us to "put on the splendor of glory from God forever", while our Responsorial Psalm reminds us the "Lord has done great things for us: we are (or at least, should be) filled with joy".

Are we truly are filled with joy as we prepare the way of the Lord? This can only happen if we work to deepen our relationships with God and one another. We can not give what we do not have. If God (and the things of God) is not the center of our life, how can we be filled with the joy that only God can give?

St. Francis de Sales tells us in The Introduction to the Devout Life that devotion must be experienced in different ways by the gentleman, the worker, the servant, the widow, the young girl and the married woman. In addition, devotion (that is, doing what is right in the eyes of God readily, diligently and frequently) must be adapted to the strength, activities and responsibilities of each individual person. But what we all have in common, wrote St. Francis de Sales, is that preparing the way of the Lord - and being fully prepared to recognize the countless ways that Jesus works in our lives every day - ultimately begins inside each of us: in our hearts, minds, affections and attitudes. Our actions, in turn, should be concrete expressions of the ongoing conversion and transformation taking place even as we prepare a wider, greater and deeper place for Jesus within us.

If we strive to keep our hearts, minds and imaginations focused upon the splendor and glory that God promises us forever (and that we can experience even now), we will be able to prepare the way of the Lord - or, at the very least, manage to not get in God's way - as we travel (with joy) the road to holiness with others.

How can we prepare the way for the Lord today?

Bro. Harry McGovern, OSFS, is a member of the Oblate
community at Childs, Maryland.