Prepare the way of the Lord

2^ndSunday of Advent year C 2018:

It was a big weekend here for us at the Cathedral. Saturday was our parish patron feast day.  It was the celebration of the Immaculate Conception.  Mary is our patron here at the Cathedral under that title.  But, the Immaculate Conception is also the patroness of our diocese and our nation.  So, it was a triple patron celebration.  Also, it was exactly 20 years ago that Bishop D’Arcy consecrated this altar and rededicated the Cathedral after the major renovations.  So, I was thinking about the history here.  The feast of the Immaculate Conception dates all the way back to the 8^thcentury.  But, it was only formally proclaimed in 1854.  So, that’s a 164 years.  Well our Church was dedicated only 6 years later in 1860.  So, the feast of the Immaculate Conception has been celebrated here for 158 years.  And this altar has been host to this celebration for 20 years now.

But, that pales in comparison to the proclamation of John the Baptist.  His voice has been crying out in the desert now for 2000 years.  Make straight the way of the Lord.  2000 years is a long time.  Every year we celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception.  Every year in Advent we hear John’s voice.  Every year it’s the same and it’s been going on for a long time.  Yet, every year is also quite different.

One thing I always find to be a challenge about this time of year is keeping it all fresh.  It can be really easy just to think: yeah, yeah, Jesus was born, I know all about this. The story of our Christian faith is so amazing that it can change are lives.  Yet, we can take it for granted.

So, when we think about history, it gives us a connection to something bigger than ourselves, which is great.  But, if we don’t make the story new in our lives, then it remains something old and stuffy, never making a real impact on our lives.  So, let’s hear the words of the John the Baptist again.  Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.  John’s voice calls out for repentance.  Change your lives and prepare for Christ to come into your lives.  We have heard this before.  John has been saying this for 2000 years.  But, we have never lived today.  We have never lived this Advent, this Christmas.  So, this is a new day, a new year.  Let’s make it a chance to hear God’s voice.  

One great way to repent is to go to confession.  Advent is a great time to go to confession, a great way to make straight your paths for the coming of Christ.  Advent can be a season of change and repentance.  We are preparing to welcome Christ on Christmas morning, through confession we can welcome him into our lives and ask him for his gift of mercy.