Make Straight His Paths (2014-12-07, Advent)

Advent, 2^nd Sunday -- 7 December 2014

● Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 ● Psalm 85 ● 2 Peter 3:8-14 ● Mark 1:1-8

[__01]      On this second Sunday of Advent, John the Baptist speaks about the path, the highway for Jesus our Savior.

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” (Mark 1:2)

In this regard, John the Baptist is inviting us to build a path for someone else.

This is a path which we are building for someone else, not only for own personal access and right of way.

Have we ever been involved in such a construction, such paving, such roadwork?

Also, is there a benefit to the construction of a road, a path, to be used by someone else?

Yes, I think we have built such roads. And, the Good News is that there is such a benefit.

[__02]      FOR EXAMPLE –

As younger individuals – and sometimes we are grown ups too – we are often building a road, a path, defined by someone else.

As children, did we not learn – or do we not learn – to carry out commands at the will, at the order of another person?

For example, a child learns to follow certain paths or roads because of instructions not because of intelligence.

For example, a child may know nothing about electrical wiring, natural gas, or flammable materials, yet – unless the child were Stephen Hawking of Cambridge – the child will be told to be careful around – or to stay away from – electricity, natural gas, flammable items.

He or she may not know why. Yet, the child does so because the parent/teacher/loved one said so…

[__03]     We learn to make straight paths, to follow a path which others establish in our lives.

“Honor thy father and thy mother.” (Exodus 20:12). This is one way of making this path straight.

Later, with greater awareness and conscience, we can make more of our own decisions.

Yet, there is benefit to our acceptance, our willing service to make straight the paths of someone else.

[__04]     We also make straight the Lord’s path by our willingness to put our frustrations, our uncertainty, our fear, before God.

This part of our Advent journey is not only to consider the road with its attributes of smoothness or speed limit.

We are also called to consider the direction and destination we are heading.

[__05]     Consider that we may encounter people in our lives toward whom we act in very predictable ways.

For example, toward one person… I tend to …

• WITHDRAW OR AVOID HONESTY – that is, I do not want to talk or communicate

• EXPERIENCE FRUSTRATION / ANGER – I lack sufficient patience

• FEEL GREAT JOY – I seek this person out … I enjoy his or her attention or presence.

All of these are paths which we follow. The question is …are they the straight path on which God Himself is also present…or are they the well-worn path that is straight and direct only because we have walked down it with frequency and regularity?

[__06]      The traffic many travelers – or many pedestrians or vehicles – will define a path a trail over which we can walk or ride.

There are trails at Eagle Rock Reservation, South Mountain Reservation and other forested areas which exist not only because they have been marked by park rangers but also because they have been traveled over, walked over, by many visitors.

[__07]      Thus, it is difficult, challenging to choose a new path, a new road when the familiar one may be so well known or recognized.

[__08]      To believe in God’s commands and guidance for us, we would  be invited each day to consider that we are at a crossroads.

We are also at a crossroads in things we are asked to vote for in the election booth/ballot box, to pay for, to select…

Are we not challenged each day to consider what technologies, what ethical choices are going to make our lives better..and which ones may actually take away or reduce our quality of life?

For example, currently, a bill – a potential new law – is in the New Jersey State Legislature under consideration which would give a physician much greater permission – with the patient’s consent – to take the life of a terminally ill person.

What I am referring to is a bill that would legalize physician-assisted suicide. Here, I am not referring to the administration of pain relief or palliative care which could – as a secondary consequence – bring a person’s life to an end.

What I am referring to is a measure that would permit the physician and patient to choose when life would end… even against the straight path of natural causes and God’s plan.

As Catholics and Christians, we believe our lives are in God’s hands. We make the path straight by entrusting our lives to him. We make the path straight by protection of life at all stages.

Thus, we might ask –

• Am I making a straight path; or ..
• Am I going down the path that is popular, well worn by others…?

We are also called to ask – do I live by God’s justice or by my own?

Am I living by God’s justice or by my own?

Am I making his path straight …or only my own vehicle faster and my ride smoother?

At times of uncertainty or change, we might ask if our decisions are guided by God’s prudence, God’s wisdom?

Or, am I only doing what makes me the driver more comfortable?

And, at times of distress or fear,  we might ask if we acting compulsively (running the other direction …or simply stopping on the side of the road) …or are we acting courageously to continue to the destination to which God is calling us.

Advent is our call to continue a journey with his help to make straight his paths by our own construction and renovation of the road.

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