On the second Sunday of Advent, the Scriptures speak to us with particularly rich images. According to the vision of the prophet Baruch, God “makes the high mountains low and fills the valleys” (Baruch 5:7), so that His people may walk safely beneath His glory. John the Baptist echoes the same message: “Prepare the way of the Lord! … let the crooked become straight, and the rough ways smooth!” (Luke 3:5b) And the Apostle Paul asks first of all: “May your love increase more and more in knowledge and full understanding, so that you may discern what is best.” (Philippians 1:9–10) These three messages point to the same truth: Advent is not a passive waiting, but a time of concrete inner work that requires effort, perseverance, and sincerity from us. “May your love grow in knowledge and understanding” (Philippians 1:9) With this, the Apostle Paul is not saying that we need more feelings or more enthusiasm – but that our love should grow in knowledge and understanding. Christian love is not naive goodwill, but vision, discernment, clarity, and maturity. Love is authentic when it can see rightly: myself, the other person, situations, and the consequences of decisions. One who grows in understanding does not drift but prepares consciously.“…so that you may discern what is right.” (Philippians 1:10) Our decisions shape our Advent—not our moods, not the busyness of our calendar, not our circumstances. When making decisions, let us examine: Do I give time to God? What do I say no to? Where do I place my heart? Do I ask for true conversion, or am I merely “doing a bit of Advent”? Right decisions are like mountains removed and valleys filled: you can move forward on them. Wrong decisions are rough and uneven: you always stumble over them. What does it mean today to “prepare the way of the Lord”? The images of Isaiah and John the Baptist confront us honestly: God’s way does not prepare itself. We also must work on it. To fill the valleys means to find within ourselves the roots of emptiness, unbelief, hopelessness, discouragement, and indifference. If there is too much pride, selfishness, excessive self-protection, stubbornness, or hurt in me, then these mountains must be removed from my life. If I walk on detours, if my life is not fully honest, then these crooked paths must be straightened. If disorder, distraction, haste, or lack of discipline rule within me, then these “rough places” must be smoothed out. All this is work. Not spectacular, but interior, quiet, and laborious work. Why is it not enough in Advent just to “pray a little”? Why is effort needed? Because it is possible to pray without anything changing in me, too fast a little while my heart remains hard, to wait for Christmas by changing only decorations but not my way of life. Advent is not a change of decoration, but a change of direction. Piety without effort does not transform us. God’s grace is everything, but God’s grace never supports inertia; instead, it gives strength for conversion: grace does not replace us, it mobilizes us. For all this, persistent, sincere, practical steps are needed. True Advent is not comfortable, but liberating. It is not easy, but deep. Not fast, but joyful. Because for true encounters—whether with God or with another person—we must prepare. The word of the prophet Baruch carries a beautiful promise: “God will lead His people with joy, in the light of His glory.” (Baruch 5:9) God desires to come, to find me, and seeks a path into my heart. But that the way may be passable – in that I also have my part. The labor of Advent is not a punishment but rather purification, liberation, and healing. It is worth working for, because at the end of Advent it will not be my own achievement that stands, but He Himself: Jesus Christ, who comes to make my life straight again.
Imre Edit SSS
