Take Off Your Robe of Mourning and Misery

Advent is a time of hope and joyful expectations. The first reading of this Sunday begins by inviting Jerusalem to take off her robe of sadness and put on the splendor and glory of God. The prophet Baruch assures the people that God will do something new and favorable for them. The gospel shows the realization of that prophecy. God intervened in human history and invited human beings to a partnership for salvation. 

The gospel begins with some historic data, mentioning the time of God’s intervention. It was in the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontus Pilate was the governor of Judea while Herod was the tetrarch of Galilee during the high priesthood of Anas and Caiaphas. At that time the word of God jumped all these important personalities and went to the desert to an obscure man named John. By doing this, God underlines two important facts: God does not necessarily need politicians and great men to change the world and pass on his message. God needs the simple folks, as simple as they are to partner with him for the birth of a new era. God needs you! 

What is our role in this partnership? Our role, according to John and Isaiah is to prepare the way of the Lord and make straight his path so that he can come to us without obstructions. So, the call to take off the robe of mourning and misery and prepare the way for the Lord will demand looking into our lives to see the things therein that make it difficult for God to complete the good work that He has started by inviting us to partner with Him. A look into the past will reveal what has been compromised regarding our duties to God, to the society and to ourselves. A look into the present will reveal what is being compromised. These must be put right so that the future promised by God through His prophet will begin to manifest. 

Your robe of splendor and glory is ready in God’s hand; make this advent a historic one that marks the beginning of your new collaboration with God.