FROM THE PATH OF SORROW TO THE PATH OF JOY.

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT. YEAR C.
December 10, 2006.
(First Reading: Baruch 5:1-9) (Second Reading: Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11)
(Psalm 126:1-6) (Gospel Reading: Luke 3:1-6)

FROM THE PATH OF SORROW
TO THE PATH OF JOY.

Our contemporary world seems to be traveling along a path of sorrow, of mourning and misery. We must turn this path into a path of joy. Using the words of Baruch: the world needs to "take off its robe of mourning and misery" - which is a temporary condition - and "put on the splendor of glory from God forever" (Baruch 5:1).

The vast majorities of our fellow human beings are walking through a path of sorrow, are being "led away on foot by their enemies"; but God will bring them back along a path of "glory as on royal thrones" (Baruch 5:6). The Psalmist also reminds us that those who "go forth weeping... shall come back rejoicing" (Psalm 126:6).

The Path of Sorrow.
The Gospel today speaks of deep valleys that need to be filled, mountains and hills that need to be made low, winding roads that need to be made straight, rough ways that need to be made smooth. The following is the description of the path of sorrow:

1. The deep valleys and unsurmountable peaks are:
- The widening gaps between the rich and the poor in our world: Small groups of wealthy individuals (getting smaller and wealthier) who dispossess large numbers of poor peoples (getting larger and poorer).

- The existence of scandalous luxuries in a world where there is an alarming scarcity of the basic goods for human subsistence.

- The control of political power by a minority while the vast majorities lack all chances of effective participation in their governing institutions.

- Access to the benefits of modern technology by privileged minorities while vast majorities are deprived of them.

- A legal system that protects the interests of a few at the expense of those of the large majorities.

2. The winding, twisted roads are the misguided directions our world offers to the peoples:
- Our world speaks of protecting life, but it does not hesitate to promote death; such as in the case of abortion.

- Our world advocates for war and destruction as a means to achieve "peace" and "reconstruction".

- Our world defines as "progress" what benefits a few while submerging vast majorities into inhuman regression and oppression.

These winding, crooked roads are presented by our world as the ones leading to "life" while in fact they lead to death.

The walk along the path of sorrow, of injustices and inequalities is compounded by: (a) Our inability to see the causes of our sorrows (Those who say: "everything is fine"); and (b) Our conformism (Those who say: "There is nothing we can do about it").

The Path of Joy.
In this Sunday's Gospel John the Baptist shows us the path of joy and how to walk along it. This is how John does it:
- By denouncing the evils of the world, that is, by valiantly unmasking the true nature and dimensions of the deep valleys, the peaks, the twisted roads.

- By announcing that the Lord Jesus is to come into our world bringing God's life to all, that all peoples will be able to walk the path of joy, the path where the valleys have been filled, the mountains have been made low, and the twisted roads have been made straight. This is the road of joy: That which allows all human beings to walk "in joy by the light of God's glory, with his mercy and justice for company" (Baruch 5:9). Through his mercy God is always with us; through his justice God allows human beings to live in accordance with the designs proposed by Him and accepted by us.

- By giving testimony with his own life. In a world of scandalous riches and excesses, John gives witness of a life of simplicity, moderation, and care for his fellow human beings.

- By entering into a partnership with God. John enters into a partnership with God. As explained by Saint Paul: Our acceptance of Jesus establishes "a partnership for the gospel" (Philippians 1:5). As we walk along the path of joy, the following is the partnership established between God and us:
(a) God commits Himself to "begin and continue to work in us until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6), in other words, until Jesus becomes all in all.

(b) Human beings commit themselves to lead the world along the path of joy, along the path of true human progress, leveling the valleys and peaks, straightening the twisted roads.

As Christmas time approaches, we want to tell the world that we will make every effort to turn the path of sorrow into a path of joy.