Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord.

Through Advent we are often occupied with our own particular need for salvation.   We are concerned with how far we are from God and Advent becomes a time of increasing our Faith.  But the Prophet Isaiah in Sundays reading looks beyond his own self and looks at the world around him and is conscious of how sinful mankind has become.   He asks God why he has let the world sink into  such a sinful place.   Surely He must care?   And yet it seems he has abandoned us.

But Isaiah looks forward to the time when God will come to the help of the just and oppressed.
Today in our world we can cry out like Isaiah.  "Why,Lord, leave us  to stray from your ways, and harden our hearts against fearing you?"   In our families our children are leaving their religious practices, in the world our children know little about chastity living and drifting into sexual relationships and in doing so they learn to despise marriage.    And of those who marry many ignore your law and often ignoring the hurt to their children, they divorce and ignore your commandment.    And the sins of the parents are too many times passed on to  their children.   For its stand on marriage, abortion, and euthanasia your Church has become a laughing stock by the sinners of the secular society.

How long, how long, LORD  will you turn your face from us.    As in this season Mary gave birth to Jesus help us to give birth to a new person within us, a new Church that is marked by faithfulness, and a desire to become saints, for only in holiness can we deserve your love.

Prepare ye the way of the Lord.


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