The One More Powerful

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The season of Advent is that four week journey in which we remember the threefold coming of Christ. We look to the past, and are reminded of the physical reality of his birth– that our faith is rooted in reality and not some philosophical ideology. We look forward to the future with the second coming at the end of days, when the promise of the risen Lord is fulfilled. Finally, we look to the present moment, when gathered as a community of faith, Christ becomes truly present in the Bread and Wine we eat and drink.

The Gospel for the second and third Sunday of Advent is always about John the Baptist and his essential role to “make straight the path” before the Lord comes. The first reading offers us a description of the Lord who comes, he is the one who has wisdom and understanding, who has the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the power of bringing fear of the lord. He is the mighty one, the righteous one, the peaceful one. He is the king of the universe who comes in humility.

As Catholics who look forward to the future fulfillment of Christs’ promise, we are called to imitate the example of John the Baptist. John lived a selfless life, always pointing away from himself and pointing people towards Christ. For in his humility he recognized “the one who is more powerful than I is coming.” We are called to be pointers– our actions, thoughts, words, and our entire lives are called to point others to Christ. Throughout Advent we are called to be humble, and point others to the living Christ Child, soon to be born on Christmas day. We are called to “prepare the way” and “make straight his paths” by centering our lives and all that we do on Christ, and help others to do the same.

When our lives are focused, like John the Baptists’ was, on Christ and preparing the way for his coming, we will then achieve that eternal peace that is described in the first reading. The wolf shall lay down with lamb, the calf and the lion, the cow and the bear– all shall be unified and find rest in the Lord! May we come to bring Christ to the center of our lives, and so prepare ourselves for his sacred coming. May we come to bring peace, love, and hope in our troubled world, so that Christ may find us ready on that special day of his return.


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