Gospel Passage
Luke 3:1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when
Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and
his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias
ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the
word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went
into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance
for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the
prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the
way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and
every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made
straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the
salvation of God.’”
Questions for Discussion:
1. Advent is a time to get ready for the day Jesus is born. We would get
ready for any baby by cleaning up. Because Jesus is so special, we need to
clean our hearts before he comes. What would make our hearts “dirty”? How
can we clean them? Are there any things you have done that you are sorry
for and wish to “clean” before Jesus comes? The Church always gives us the figure of St. John the Baptist, who preaches a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Why is repentance necessary to get ready to welcome the coming of the Lord Jesus?
2. St. John the Baptist said, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his
paths.” Is there anything in the way of Jesus in coming to you this Advent?
3. How can you help others this Advent prepare for the coming of Jesus? How
can you make straight the paths of Jesus to them? How can you help them get things out of the way for Jesus to come into their hearts and homes?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry
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