Homily — Second Sunday of Advent (Year A) “Prepare the Way of the Lord”

Advent is a season with two movements:
promise and preparation.
Last Sunday we heard the promise — Christ will come again.
This Sunday we hear the preparation — “Make straight His paths.”

The readings place us right between those two realities:
the promise of Isaiah’s peaceful King,
and the voice of John the Baptist demanding that we prepare.

Isaiah describes a world that sounds impossible:
wolves living with lambs,
a child playing where snakes dwell,
the earth filled with the knowledge of the Lord.

What is Isaiah doing?
He’s not painting a fantasy; he’s revealing God’s intention.
He’s saying: “This is what life looks like when God truly reigns.”

It’s a picture of justice instead of exploitation.
Peace instead of fear. Harmony instead of hostility.

It is God’s way of saying: “I have not given up on this world.”

And that’s a message we desperately need right now.
We live in a year marked by anxiety, division, cultural hostility,
economic pressures, political exhaustion.
Every headline feels like another reminder that the world is not at peace.

Isaiah reminds us: Evil does not have the last word. God does.

But this promised Kingdom does not simply fall out of the sky.
It enters through converted hearts — hearts ready for the King.

Which leads us to John the Baptist.

John appears in the wilderness — not a comfortable place.
He wears camel hair — not comfortable clothing.
He eats locusts — not a comfortable meal.

And he speaks a message that certainly isn’t comfortable:
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.”

John’s voice is God’s alarm clock. He wakes us up.

John is telling us:
“If you want the world Isaiah promised, start with your own heart.”

Advent is not sentimental preparation;
it is moral preparation.
Spiritual preparation.
Practical preparation.

Not: “Let’s get in a Christmassy mood.”
But: “Let’s get our lives ready for the Lord.”

This is why John calls for repentance — real change.
Advent is the time God gives us to examine the parts of our lives
that are crooked, cluttered, tangled, or steeped in habit.

If Christ walked into your home tonight,
into your relationships,
your work life,
your browsing history,
your vocabulary,
your attitude,
your timetable—
what would you want to tidy up first?

That’s the wilderness question John asks.

St Paul tells us something deeply practical:
“Everything written in Scripture was meant to teach us,
so that by endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures
we might have hope.”

Paul is saying: “You can’t prepare the way of the Lord on your own strength.”

God gives instruction — yes.
But also encouragement.
And also hope.

Scripture is the map for Advent.
It shows us how to live.
It exposes what needs changing.
It reminds us that God finishes what He starts.

If you want an Advent practice this year,
here’s the simplest and most effective:

Read the Sunday readings twice a week.
Once early in the week.
Once before Sunday Mass.
It’s like opening a window so the wind of the Spirit can move again.

John the Baptist is not speaking in abstractions.
Preparing the way of the Lord has always involved specific actions.

So let’s make this real.
Where are the crooked paths in our parish, in our families, in our hearts?

A. In our time

Do we make space for prayer?
Do we give God the first fruits, or the leftovers?
Could we add one quiet moment of prayer each morning or night?
One weekday Mass during Advent?
Ten minutes with Scripture?

B. In our relationships

Advent is the best time to repair what’s broken.
Is there someone we’ve written off?
Someone we need to forgive?
Someone we need to apologise to?
Preparing the way of the Lord might begin with one conversation.

C. In our habits

John the Baptist does not mince words:
there are behaviours that lead us toward God
and behaviours that block His coming.
What patterns do we need to confront?
Anger?
Alcohol?
Scrolling for hours?
Numbing ourselves?
Sarcasm?
Gossip?

Preparing the way means honesty with God.
It means allowing Him to straighten something in us.

D. In our hope

It is easy today to become cynical.
But Christians are not allowed to be hopeless.
Isaiah’s vision is God’s guarantee that peace will come.
Our job is to start living as if His Kingdom is true —
even before it fully arrives.

God does not tell us: “Sit still until Christmas.”

He tells us: “Build a road in your heart — I am coming to walk on it.”

Think of it like preparing your home for a guest.
You tidy, you dust, you clear the table.
Not because you love cleaning,
but because you love the one who is coming.

Advent is not about decoration;
it is about dedication.

It is clearing the clutter of the soul
so that Christ may enter with joy and not with obstacle.

Isaiah promises a world restored.
Paul gives us the Scriptures to strengthen us.
John calls us to clear the way.

So tonight, let us ask ourselves:
What one thing can I straighten this week?
What one relationship can I soften?
What one habit can I confront?
What one prayer moment can I commit to?

Advent is short. Christmas will come quickly.
Christ is near. Let’s not waste these precious weeks.

May the Lord find in us not a wilderness of distraction,
but a road prepared —
a heart ready — a life open —
for the One who comes to save.