Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Luke 3:1–6
There are two kinds of people: prepared and unprepared. I’m definitely on “team prepared” and amazed that not all of my children got this gene. How do I know? Well, when your kid doesn’t practice parking thinking he can “wing it” on his road test, that, my friend, is a kid on “team unprepared.” All that said, being prepared doesn’t always come easily to me. There are times that I struggle.
With Christmas just a little more than two weeks away, preparation can feel like a battle between my heart and home. I want to be interiorly ready for Jesus, but here’s the truth: the exterior tends to win the fight. As I dash around from here to there, it is often with good intentions that I fall into the lie that I will have all the time in the world for Jesus just as soon as I get my other stuff done.
Fun fact: Jesus doesn’t care about my other stuff, and other stuff never gets done.
At the risk of sounding extreme, this mindset is dangerous. Why? Because Jesus is coming soon, my friends, whether or not our Christmas cards have been sent or we’ve hung the perfect cascading garland on our mantels. Jesus Christ is coming for you: your home, your heart, your soul, and so it begs the question—are you prepared to welcome the King?
In truth, we have no excuse to be unprepared. It’s not like Christmas is a surprise; it happens on the 25th of December every year. Plus, we’ve been given plenty of warning. As in ancient times, when a herald was sent ahead of a king to announce his arrival, offering the people enough time to clean up for his visit, we, too, have been sent a herald in Sunday’s gospel. The herald is John the Baptist, the King is Jesus, and the people who need to start cleaning? Well, that would be us.
“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. 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” (Luke 3:4–6).
This call back to the words of the prophet Isaiah refers to the literal dirt roads that needed to be cleared before ushering in the king. It reminds me of the time my husband filled the back of the truck with millings and, by hand, filled in every pothole in our broken driveway just hours before our pastor came for a visit. Make no mistake. Today’s gospel message is not that we pave our driveways before Christmas. It’s deeper than that, not to mention less expensive.
Psalm 84:5 comes to mind:
Blessed are the men whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
Every human heart has a highway leading to the Lord, but when I close my eyes, I see the other roads I often choose: roads of pride, greed, and criticism. Well-worn paths that do not lead to Him. These ways are filled with potholes and valleys, crooked and rough. In short, the roads in my heart are unfit for a king to travel. If you have a similar heart, do not despair; there is time to clear the good road. This liturgical season is not over and graciously offers the opportunity to repair and repent. But how?
Advent preparation requires change. It’s a season meant to disrupt our normal rhythm, cause us to pay closer attention, and clarify our commitments to the Lord. It can be as simple as asking yourself, “What is one thing I can do this Advent to clear the paths of my heart and grow closer to God?” Maybe it’s assisting at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass one extra time a week or praying a daily rosary. Perhaps this Advent, you feel called to fast on Fridays or make a weekly confession. However you choose to repair and repent, be clear, make it attainable, write it down, and for the love of God, do it.
No matter the present condition of your heart, I promise you this: the good road is there, hidden beneath the clamor of the world, buried beneath the weeds of busyness, waiting to be cleared. Today is a great day to listen to the herald and prepare the way; make it straight and filled, even and smooth, repaired and prepared to welcome the King.
Food for thought or journaling...
What heart repairs do you need to make to prepare the way of the Lord? Be clear about one change you can make to your schedule and stay accountable.
Jesus, King of my heart, I do not want to miss Advent by being unprepared. Draw my attention to the roads that need repair, give me the courage to repent my sins, and give me strength to follow through with my Advent commitments. Help me to clear the good road that leads to You. Amen.
P.S. There is still time to get your FREE House of Gold: A Walking with Purpose Advent Reflection, coauthored by Caitlin Bean and me—a simple and profound way to prepare the way through the titles of Mary!
