St James Catholic Church

It is in the passage we hear in the first reading that Mark chooses in part to open his Gospel, which he calls “the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.”  This is very telling.  His goal in writing this account, the first of the Gospels to be written, is to establish that the man Jesus was first the Messiah, Christ in Greek, but more importantly, the Son of God.  Therefore, it makes sense that he starts by quoting Isaiah and Malachi, identifying John the Baptist as the messenger who prepared the way for the Messiah.  Immediately after this passage, Mark describes Jesus’ baptism, during which God’s voice is heard saying, “You are my beloved Son.”  However, as Mark goes on to reveal, both assertions are rejected by most people and doubted by even his disciples.  As his disciples now, we too can have doubts. 

Perhaps our task this Advent is to prepare our hearts for the Lord by removing those obstacles that can lead us to doubt.  Perhaps the mountain that blocks our faith is a narcissism that wants to believe that we can do it alone.  Perhaps the valley that needs to be filled in is a despair that makes us feel abandoned by God.  Perhaps the rugged land is an overwhelming guilt that makes us feel unworthy of forgiveness.  Perhaps making a straight path is as simple as opening our hearts to the possibility that God has an answer to all our doubts.  Perhaps God’s power, comfort, and forgiveness, proclaimed by Isaiah and John, are just searching for a clear path into us.  Take refuge in the Lord, and find new hope in our hearts and our lives.

Love, Peace, Joy,

Fr. Bob