How do we prepare the way of the Lord? How do we make straight His paths? These are the paths of the one who judges with justice, according to Isaiah. These are the ways of the one in whose days justice will flourish, according to the Psalmist. If we wish to prepare the way of this Lord who will come at the end of the ages, we do well to see how Saint John the Baptist prepared the way of His first coming in time.
John called people to look honestly at their hearts, to acknowledge the sin and injustice that they had done, so as to turn away from such paths and instead prepare a path for the Lord to come and make justice flourish in them. Many embraced this sincere examination of conscience. To the Pharisees who came to watch others, but hesitated to examine themselves, John called them to reject the thought that repentance was only for others (lest they leave only to others the working of the Holy Spirit who works such repentance).
Today, as we consider Saint John the Baptist, living in the desert, with meagre food and clothing, living a life of repentance, let us ask this great saint to pray for us. May the Forerunner of the Lord pray for us that we too may look honestly at our hearts in preparation for Christmas and for the Lord’s coming at the end of time. May the one who prepared others to welcome Jesus, pray for us that we may not leave Christ’s justice to others, but prepare well for the sacrament of confession this Advent, so that we too may rejoice to make straight the paths of Christ who comes to make justice flourish in our lives!