Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

New DeSales World Newsletter - Summer Edition

2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT (Dec 10, 2006)

Suggested Emphasis

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

Salesian Perspective

John went throughout the whole region proclaiming a baptism of repentance as it is written using the words of Isaiah: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths."

Just as John the Baptist reminds the people in the region of the Jordan to prepare the way of the Lord, so too we are called to do the same. It started with our Baptism when we became members of the Body of Christ. It happens by our daily words and actions, our call to "Live Jesus" every moment of every day.

Our reading from Baruch reminds us to put on the splendor of glory from God forever and our Responsorial Psalm reminds us the Lord has done great things for us, we are filled with joy.

We may ask ourselves if we truly are filled with joy as we prepare the way of the Lord. Are we? This only happens if we work on our relationship with God and one another. We can not give what we do not have. If God is not the center of our life, we will fail.

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. Not only that, but its practice must be adapted to the strength, activities and duties of each individual person.

St. Francis de Sales knew we must start with our interior, our prayer life. If we work on building a good relationship with God, we can do what St. Paul tells the Philippians: "I pray always with joy in every prayer for all of you."

If we remember the splendor of glory from God forever, we will be able to prepare the way of the Lord with joy in our daily encounters with one another. We will be able to "Live Jesus" every moment of every day.

Rev. Michael S. Murray, OSFS, is the Executive Director of the De Sales Spirituality Center.