Dear People of God,

Isaiah gives hope to the people, and this hope comes from God. There will be a voice in the wilderness, referring to John the Baptist, who will tell the people to make straight the way of the Lord. The valleys and mountains and rugged land of course refer to the condition of the soul. The people, in order to receive the Messiah, will be encouraged to straighten out their lives. This encouragement will not come from the cities, or the places where there are distractions, but from the wilderness. It is a place away from the hustle and bustle of the day, so that people may put aside all distractions and be able to truly change their lives. Their souls afterwards will be able to receive the Messiah and accept Him. 

This is the true spirit of Advent. To prepare for the Messiah we need to eliminate many activities so that we can spend enough quiet time to prepare for the Lord. Advent is more an internal preparation than external. The main focus of the internal is to find ways that we can change our hearts so that we can walk closer with Jesus.

 The people did go out in the wilderness to see and hear John the Baptist. Indeed, he was there to transform people. He was the voice in the wilderness. But he was pointing to the one mightier than he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.  

The evangelist uses a quote from the prophet Isaiah referencing John’s prophet-like actions to show that the Baptist is the link between the Old and New Testaments. He is the last of the prophets, and the first witness to Christ. The Baptist’s austere lifestyle is very much in the line with his message---people need to repent, to be cleansed, so as to be able to receive the Messiah. John sows the greatness of Jesus, the Messiah, while regarding himself as unworthy to untie His sandal strap.  

Blessings in Jesus’ Name, 

Fr. Vincent