IS 40:1-5, 9-11
PS 85:9-10-11-12, 13-14
2 PT 3:8-14
MK 1:1-8
The first reading begins a section of the Book of Isaiah that is usually referred to as "Deutero" Isaiah or "Second" Isaiah. Written during the Babylonian Exile in the 6th century BC, it offers hope for exiles to return home when they could easily imagine that God had either lost in combat with the Babylonian gods or had written them off and found another people. So after all the indictments of some of the prophets leading up to the Exile, including "First" Isaiah, now the prophet can say it is at last time to comfort the people who have lost so much. When the prophet says:
A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
as much as anything the way is for the exiles to come home - God does not need a highway to travel on, right? To "prepare the way" this Advent by repenting is great, but do we repent just about religiously-oriented things like, "I promise to pray more or go to church more" (of course, please do those things) or do we repent for things that keep people in exile in one form or another? This Advent, can we repent of racism, sexism, xenophobia, etc. - and repent in a way that is not just beating our breast but confronting our participation in violent systems and look to change not just attitudes but policies and customs and social norms?
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