As we continue the Advent journey, the readings of Advent help us focus on the true meaning of the liturgical season.
While preparing for Christmas we are reminded of God’s plan for our salvation and His love for us.
It is a time of personal reflection and evaluation of our own spiritual readiness to encounter the Lord.
The Second Sunday of Advent highlights the mission of John the Baptist, who boldly prepared the way for Jesus.
Often seen as a wild figure, John lived with a clear purpose.
He was a real person chosen by God to proclaim the coming of the Lord.
This Advent we are being challenged by the Walk with One initiative to follow John’s example and prepare our hearts to help others encounter Jesus.
We are called to be bold in our faith and the lived example of virtue in our lives.
Each of us has a role in making Jesus known in our time and place.
The next step
In the first step, we took time to be vigilant and identify those around us who may have fallen away from the practice of faith.
There are many people in our lives and spheres of influence who are estranged from the faith or may not know Christ at all.
After that first step of
careful prayer and discernment, we can move on to Step two: Interceding.
Begin by reflecting on the readings from the Second Sunday of Advent.
The first reading is from Baruch (Baruch 5:1-9).
We hear that the people of God are encouraged to “wear God’s eternal glory . . . God will reveal your splendor to the world.”
In the second reading (Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11), St. Paul is encouraging the early Church, “I joyfully pray for you, confident God will complete His work in you. I pray your love grows in
knowledge, so you can discern what is best and be righteous in Christ.”
Finally, in the Gospel (Luke 3: 1-6) we encounter John the Baptist as he fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy to prepare the way for the Lord.
The message is clear from the readings that we are to share God’s splendor in the world and pray to bring His work to completion in the “one” to whom He is calling us to accompany.
Bringing in prayer
After we have identified the person who God may be laying on our hearts as the “one,” we must begin our call to pray!
First, pray for God to remove whatever obstacles are making it difficult for this person to draw closer to Christ and his Church.
Commit to pray for them for a specific period of time.
Also, pray for God to provide opportunities and time to have conversations with this person.
Consider offering time in Adoration for this person or praying a novena for them.
Finally, pray for the grace to be able to accompany them well.
In this time of interceding, always keep in mind that this is a time of preparation for both our own hearts and the hearts of those for whom we pray.
God has made a promise of Salvation and longs to bring all people back to Him.
Rely on the voice of the Holy Spirit as you pray and God will be faithful in His guidance as He leads us to bring others to Him.
For more information about Walk with One or to see Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison’s weekly videos on the Walk with One Advent study, go to madisondiocese.org/walkwithone