Advent wreath with 4 Advent candles and Saint Mary's Chapel in the background

Second Sunday of Advent

Salvation in every time, and in this time

Today’s readings are all about God’s mercy and decisive action – in the past, in the future, and today. They inspire hope in suffering people.

The Book of Baruch recalls the Babylonian Exile, a period of devastating loss and destruction for ancient Israel. But now, God is returning the people to their home, and re-fashioning them into a community of mercy and justice. Baruch calls Jerusalem (and us) to stand up and look for this joyful restoration. Likewise, today’s Psalm describes the overwhelming joy experienced by those rescued from exile and returned home.

In a similar vein, Paul’s letter to the Philippians rejoices “that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:6) – even though Paul is writing from prison, and he will soon be executed.

The Gospel of Luke brings this theme of joyful expectation to bear on a very specific place and time: “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee . . . the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert” (Luke 3:1-2). Imagine if we said instead, “In the fourth year of the presidency of Joseph Biden, when Tim Walz was governor of Minnesota . . .” The word of God comes to this place and time?! Into this complicated political, social, historical moment?! Yes.

What will God accomplish? John the Baptist announces a new era of forgiveness and mercy, echoing the prophet Isaiah: “Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God” (Isaiah 40:4-5). Oppressed people in both Isaiah’s and John’s time were longing for this salvation.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. famously quoted the same verses from Isaiah in his “I Have A Dream” speech, delivered in 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. King called his listeners to “the fierce urgency of now,” and repeated insistently, “now is the time” to end racial injustice. He urged his listeners on, even as he acknowledged that “some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations.”

Jesus comes into our messy lives and our unjust, violent world – now.

Lord Jesus, help me to be a part of your advent in our world, in a way that makes the oppressed rejoice.