Advent 2
Preparing the Way:
God With Us in Justice and Peace
Readings
- Isaiah 11:1–10
- Psalm 72:1–7, 18–19
- Romans 15:4–13
- Matthew 3:1–12
Suggested Hymns
- On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry
Rejoice and Sing 134 / Complete Mission Praise 493 - Hark, a Herald Voice Is Calling
Rejoice and Sing 129 / Complete Mission Praise 231
Opening Prayer
God of peace and promise,
In every age You call Your people to prepare the way for Your coming.
Clear the paths of our hearts that we may welcome You with joy,
and share the light of Your justice with all.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reflection
John the Baptist’s voice rings out from the wilderness, calling people to prepare the way for the Lord. His cry is not only about repentance but about readiness — a willingness to change direction and clear away whatever obstructs the coming of God’s peace. Isaiah’s vision of the shoot from the stump of Jesse speaks of renewal springing from desolation: God’s justice and mercy taking root in unlikely soil.
Isaiah 11 speaks of a ruler coming from the Davidic line of Jesse upon whom the Spirit rests. This ruler brings a kingdom of justice, peace, and harmony. Paul, in Romans, emphasizes hope and endurance; Matthew tells of John the Baptist calling for repentance in preparation for the coming one. The promise of Emmanuel is linked to a just, Spirit-led reign.
To prepare the way is to make room — in your heart, your relationships, and your community — for God’s transforming presence. Repentance is not a burden of guilt but a movement of hope: a turning toward the light. In Advent, you are invited to create space within yourself for reconciliation and to listen again for the voice calling you back to God’s heart.
Discussion Questions
- What does it mean to “prepare the way” for God?
- How can repentance be understood as an act of hope rather than guilt?
- What obstacles might you need to remove to make room for God’s coming?
Artwork Meditation
The Visitation – Jacopo Pontormo (1528–29)
Pontormo’s The Visitation captures a sacred encounter between Mary and Elizabeth — two women meeting in joy, humility, and divine recognition. Painted during the turbulent Florence of the 1520s, the elongated figures and swirling drapery reveal the spiritual restlessness of the age. Amid this tension stands a profound moment of peace: two women carrying God’s promise within them, recognising God’s presence in the other.
Their embrace becomes an icon of reconciliation, a reminder that God often comes to us through human encounter — even in anxious or uncertain times. As you contemplate this painting, notice the yearning, the tenderness, and the hope that flows between them. Their meeting still speaks of love that overcomes division.
Spiritual Practice
Exercise: “Preparing the Way Within”
Preparation (2–3 minutes)
Take a few moments of silence before the image of The Visitation.
Allow yourself to notice the intimacy between Mary and Elizabeth — the shared recognition, the tenderness, the joy.
Breathe slowly, and imagine yourself standing in that sacred meeting, carrying your own mixture of expectation and uncertainty.
Guided Reflection (5–7 minutes)
In the quiet, reflect on these questions for yourself:
- What does it mean to “prepare the way” in your own heart for God’s coming?
- Is there a relationship, burden, or attitude that hinders peace within you?
- Where do you long to be met by grace — as Elizabeth met Mary, and Mary met Elizabeth?
Personal Response (5–10 minutes)
You are invited to take a small piece of paper and write a single word or phrase that represents something you wish to release or open before God — fear, resentment, weariness, or self-doubt.
When you are ready, fold the paper and place it before a candle as a symbol of God’s refining and welcoming light.
Closing Prayer (2–3 minutes)
Holy One,
You come to us in humility and joy.
Open our hearts to Your transforming peace.
Where there is fear, sow courage;
where there is division, plant mercy;
where there is weariness, kindle hope.
Prepare in us a place for Your dwelling.
Amen.
Invitation to Share (5 minutes)
You are invited to speak one word that expresses how you hope to “prepare the way” this Advent — not through grand actions, but through simple faithfulness and renewed trust in God’s presence.
Optional Extension — A Week of Reconciliation
During the week ahead, consider where reconciliation may be needed in your life.
You are encouraged to take one small step toward peace — perhaps a phone call, a note, a prayer, or even the quiet release of resentment. Notice how preparing the way for God often means preparing the way for others.
Closing Invitation
As you go from this space, carry with you the image of Mary and Elizabeth — two women who recognised God’s presence in one another. May you become a bearer of hope, meeting others with grace and preparing the way for Emmanuel in your world.