Fr Ryan Black reflects on the Gospel of the Second Sunday of Advent.
In the Second Sunday of Advent, we are encouraged to focus on the enigmatic figure of John the Baptist, whom Mark associates with the voice crying in the wilderness prophesied by Isaiah.
It is the only time that Mark himself—as narrator—cites the scriptures in his Gospel, his ‘Good News’. In doing so, he actually compiles several scriptural quotations from various books of the Bible, most notably those of Isaiah and Malachi. The lesser-known prophet Malachi is the one who declared on behalf of God, “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.” Later, the prophet identifies this messenger as Elijah, with whom Mark identifies John the Baptist. This is important because the Lord later promises through Malachi that “I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.”
So, in citing the prophets and identifying the Baptist with Elijah, Mark suggests that the great day of the Lord promised by God is close at hand. Mark also upholds John as the one who bridges the Old and New Testaments – he is the last of the prophets of Israel and he is entrusted with the mission of preparing a way for the Lord, which is one of the key themes of this season of Advent.
That same mission is entrusted to us. We do not know when the great day of the Lord will come, but we must make sure that we are ready when it does. How will we prepare a way for the Lord this Advent?
We can look to the Baptist for help. John is a model of humility for us. Mark tells us that the masses would go to him in the wilderness – “All Judaea and all the people of Jerusalem made their way to him,” and many believed him to be the promised Messiah. Instead of clinging to his fame and influence, he insisted that he was not fit even to undo the sandal of the one who was to come after him. He put Christ first; he did not take His place as the Messiah.
How will we prepare a way for the Lord this Advent? Will we keep our faith to ourselves or will we joyfully spread the “Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God”? Will we take Christ’s place, or will we humbly put Him first?