Prepare the Way of the Lord

Dec. 7, 2025

On this Second Sunday of Advent, the Church focuses its attention on John the Baptist, who is one of the great symbols of Advent. This season of preparing for the comings of Christ, it is he who proclaims the Advent message: “Prepare the way of the Lord.  May straight His paths.”
   
John’s message comes before Jesus shows up on the stage of salvation history. He is speaking at a time when there was a great deal of corruption in the court of King Herod, and, sadly, in those who were the leaders of religion, especially those who were the leaders in the Temple. Because of this corruption among the leaders, the faith of the people had become somewhat lukewarm. John came to prophecy against the leaders and to stir up the faith of the people.

John prophesied, “I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”  In the midst of John’s ministry, Jesus Himself will arrive and undergo the baptism of John, a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. We ask, “If Jesus is sinless, whose sins is He confessing and repenting of?” He is confessing and repenting of our sins, as He will do again on the Cross.
   
Advent is a penitential season, in which we examine our consciences to recognize what in us is blocking our way to God, repent of our sins, and confess those sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is perhaps the most important way in which we prepare the way of the Lord.
—Fr. Mike Comer