Second Sunday of Advent
Baruch 5:1-9; Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6
The Book of Baruch, the source of this Advent’s weekend first biblical reading, is relatively brief, only five chapters.
It also is among the books called the Apocrypha by Protestant scholars. As such it does not appear in the King James Version of the Bible, published in 1611, or in some other translations that rely upon the thinking that led to the selection of books for inclusion in the King James edition.
It is not found in ancient Jewish translations of the Scriptures. Indeed, while some of the ancient Christian writers knew about, and quoted, Baruch, St. Jerome questioned including it in his translation of the Bible, the Vulgate.
For Catholics, however, most important, and decisive, is the fact that the church officially long ago recognized it as divine revelation.
When Baruch was written, great problems beset God’s people, not a rare circumstance. This book encouraged those who were suffering, reassuring them that God would not forsake them, and that God’s justice and mercy would prevail in the end.
Always, in good times or bad, some people were lukewarm in their religious devotion. Baruch calls the indifferent to piety.
The Epistle to the Philippians furnishes the next reading.
Sent as a letter to the Christians of Philippi, an important city in the ancient Roman Empire, the epistle urges the Philippians loyal to the Lord to be steadfast in their faith, come what may, until the second coming of Jesus — a difficult challenge as the glory of Roman paganism surrounded the Christian Philippians.
This reading says that one day, at a time unknown, Jesus will come again in triumph and judgment. Evil will be defeated, once and for all.
St. Luke’s Gospel, source of the last reading, centers upon Jesus, although highly visible in the reading is John the Baptist. Carefully constructed, the Gospel presents the coming of Jesus as uniquely important for human beings and in their lives.
The Lord’s coming was so important, in fact, that preceding this coming was the proclamation of God’s majesty, of human responsibility before God and of the importance of God personally to John the Baptist.
John was a prophet and a holy man. Ancient Jews thought that holiness gave persons special wisdom. God used such persons to reveal truth to other humans. Through John, God revealed the person and mission of Christ.
Also, to emphasize the importance of the Lord’s coming, this Gospel takes pains in setting the presence of John and the coming of Christ at an exact moment in history, namely by stating that it all occurred when Tiberius was emperor, Pilate his governor in Palestine, and so on.
Jesus came in human time and space, in God’s mercy, fulfilling the hopes of the prophets of old who had yearned for the redeemer who would destroy evil and death. When this messiah comes, all will be made right. The rough ways for people would be made smooth. Now, as John the Baptist declared, with such conviction, the Redeemer at last had come.
Reflection
When Baruch was written, times were bad for the Jews. When Philippians and the Gospel of Luke were written, times were hard for Christians.
On this second Sunday of Advent, the church speaks to us. Times are hard. We grumble about inflation. War torments many in the world. So do addiction and poverty. Today’s drift from God is spinning a deadly web.
All will be right and joy and peace will prevail when, and if, we admit Jesus into our lives. He will come to us, but we must invite the Lord into our lives sincerely, by reforming ourselves, by renouncing sin and by giving ourselves totally to God. The pronouncement of John the Baptist is addressed to us today.
