Second Sunday of Advent~The Voice In The Wilderness

St John the Baptist Bearing Witness by Francesco Granacci

John the Baptist was the voice crying in the wilderness, "Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight His paths." As this Advent season continues, his voice can still be heard. It cries out to each one of us, but we must listen for it and then act on it.
St Paul tells us in today's second reading (Philippians 1:4~6, 8~11) , "...that the one who has begun a great work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus." That great work was started in us at our baptism. The voice began its whisperings then, and it continues. God began the work, but He will not complete it without our consent and cooperation with His grace.
We can ask ourselves during this second week of Advent as we continue to prepare the way for our Lord's second coming, "Have I heard the voice crying out in the wilderness of my heart and soul and acted on it by receiving the sacraments and drawing on their graces in living my faith each day? Or have I begun to ignore the voice, letting things slip a bit?"
Our Lady heard the voice; in her case it came from the Angel Gabriel, but through Gabriel, God was asking Mary's consent to bring the great work He had begun in her to completion in the birth of His Son. The Son, our Lord Jesus Christ in whom we are all baptized and brought in to share in His life.
Let us prayerfully continue this Advent season making straight His paths in our hearts.

Continued Advent Blessings!