Todays Psalm paints a dream-like scene - a road filled with liberated captives heading home to Zion (Jerusalem), mouths filled with laughter, tongues rejoicing.
Its a glorious picture from Israels past, a new exodus, the deliverance from exile in Babylon. Its being recalled in a moment of obvious uncertainty and anxiety. But the psalmist isnt waxing nostalgic.
Remembering the Lord has done great things in the past, he is making an act of faith and hope - that God will come to Israel in its present need, that Hell do even greater things in the future.
Readings: Baruch 5:1-9 Psalm 126:1-6 Philippians 1:4-6,8-11 Luke 3:1-6 |
This is what the Advent readings are all about: We recall Gods saving deeds - in the history of Israel and in the coming of Jesus. Our remembrance is meant to stir our faith, to fill us with confidence that, as todays Epistle puts it, the One who began a good work in [us] will continue to complete it until He comes again in glory.
Each of us, the Liturgy teaches, is like Israel in her exile - led into captivity by our sinfulness, in need of restoration, conversion by the Word of the Holy One (see Baruch 5:5). The lessons of salvation history should teach us that, as God again and again delivered Israel, in His mercy He will free us from our attachments to sin, if we turn to Him in repentance.
Thats the message of John, introduced in todays Gospel as the last of the great prophets (compare Jeremiah 1:1-4,11). But John is greater than the prophets (see Luke 7:27). Hes preparing the way, not only for a new redemption of Israel, but for the salvation of all flesh (see also Acts 28:28).
John quotes Isaiah (40:3) to tell us hes come to build a road home for us, a way out of the wilderness of sin and alienation from God. Its a road well follow Jesus down, a journey well make, as todays First Reading puts it, rejoicing that [were] remembered by God.