02nd Sunday of Advent: December 08, 2024
Readings: Baruch 5:1–9; Psalm 126:1–6; Philippians 1:4–6, 8–11; Luke 3:1–6
The liturgical readings for the Second Sunday of Advent invite us to contemplate the historical and salvific reality of the Incarnation, as God enters human history in the person of Jesus Christ. It is a profound reality of God's intervention in human history. Hence we must understand the mystery of salvation from the historical context. By doing so, we might be able to deepen our relationship with God thus we celebrate Christmas in a meaningful way. Advent is a season of waiting, but it is also a season of remembering: the God who once entered history as the Word made flesh continues to shape our lives today.
1. Salvation Rooted in History
Luke’s Gospel situates John the Baptist’s ministry within a detailed historical framework: the reign of Tiberius Caesar, the governance of Pontius Pilate, and the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas. These specifics emphasize that the story of salvation is not an abstract idea but a real event within human history. This historical grounding is crucial because it reminds us that God's salvation is tangible and accessible. John’s call to “prepare the way of the Lord” resonates today, inviting us to recognize how Christ continues to meet us in the reality of our own lives and circumstances.
This detailed historical backdrop underscores that the Incarnation is not a myth or fable but a real event within the flow of human history. The temporal reality is also important in our journey towards eternity. The Gospel writer St Luke reminds us that God chose to enter the complexity of human history, with its rulers, cultures, and conflicts, pain and suffering, victories and defeates to redeem the world. The preparation of the way for Christ by John the Baptist calls us to recognize God’s ongoing presence in our own historical and personal circumstances.
2. God's ongoing work in us
Writing to the Philippian community, St Paul expresses confidence in God’s faithfulness, proclaiming that the good work begun in us will be brought to completion in Christ. This assurance is not theoretical but transformative within our life span; it is based on the reality of the Incarnation—God’s entry into history to transform humanity. Paul reminds us that Christ’s coming is both an event in history and a reality unfolding in our lives.
As we prepare for the celebration of Christ’s birth, we are also called to grow in love, knowledge, and discernment, as pathways to holiness becoming living witnesses to His work. The Incarnation is the ultimate moment of God’s restorative work, bringing eternal joy through Jesus Christ. It's a call to embrace this Jesus of history and Jesus of salvation once and for all. In other words, embrace the historical reality of the Incarnation as a sign of God’s closeness.
3. History and Holiness
The Incarnation reveals that history is sacred. God does not work apart from time but enters into it, transforming it from within. Advent invites us to recognize how God’s actions in history—including the birth of Christ—shape the present and guide us toward eternity. We are part of history and part of God's story. God is present in history and God is present in our lives too. The Incarnation is the ultimate affirmation that God works within history. He entered a specific time and place, fully embracing the human experience to redeem it. Advent invites us to reflect on how God’s actions in the past continue to resonate in our present.
God's promises are not abstract but are rooted in a specific historical context. God’s action in history assures us that He is not distant but actively intervenes to save His people. The Incarnation fulfills this prophecy: Christ enters history to lead His people on a journey from exile (sin) to restoration (grace). As we await Christ's coming, let us reflect on how God has worked in our personal histories to bring about restoration. Trust in His ongoing work in your life. It's a time to turn sorrow into joy. Let this Advent season be a time to discover His active presence in your daily life and to grow closer to Him through prayer, repentance, and acts of love.
- Take time this Advent to recognize how God is shaping your life. How is the love of Christ deepening within you, preparing you for the fullness of His presence?
- How has God worked through them to draw you closer to Him?
- This Advent, how can you prepare the way for Christ in your heart and in the lives of others?
- During Advent, ask yourself: how is God continuing to work in my life today?
Prayer
Lord, as I reflect on the story of Your coming, help me to see how You are present in my own story. May I prepare my heart to welcome You more deeply, trusting that You are always at work in my life and in the world around me. I make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.
- Olvin Veigas, SJ
06 December 2024
