The Incarnation and the Exultation: An Advent Devotional - The Second Sunday of Advent

This short essay is taken from the devotional, The Incarnation and the Exultation: An Advent Devotional. This devotional reflects on the scriptures of incarnation and exaltation in order to take you on a journey of thoughtful self-reflection. It is meant to draw you more deeply into the mystery of Christ’s coming into the world to help you walk your own inner path toward the season of Christmas. As you celebrate the coming of Christ into your lives during Advent and spend time reflecting on the readings in this devotional, may the light and love that entered our world lead you to the cross in wonder and thanksgiving. May you find joy and discover strength as you walk this wondrous journey to Bethlehem, always holding within your heart the image of the Hill of Calvary and the hope of the Age to come when Christ will return to call his people home!

The Second Sunday of Advent

Theme for the Week: Repent! A Voice Cries Out for Restoration and Peace!

Incarnation – And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:20-21)

Exaltation – In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” (Matthew 3:1-3)

Advent is an exciting time – a time of expectation and a time of hope. As we light the second candle of the Advent wreath, we join our hearts to humanity’s longing for peace throughout the ages. We reflect on the power of the incarnation and the beauty and utter perfection of God’s plan in sending his Son to be our flesh-and-blood Savior. Like children waiting breathlessly for Christmas, we take hold of our restless souls and fix our eyes on the peace that is ours in Christ. But Advent also calls us to look deeply into our hearts and turn from those things which rob us of the joy of our salvation in Christ.

John the Baptist lived in the wilderness, calling the people to turn from sin and prepare for the coming of the Messiah. In ancient times, when a king visited a city, the people would go out to the roads, remove the rocks, and fill in the holes to make the way smooth and straight for the grand entry of the king. We are like those roads. We are called to straighten out the paths of our lives so that our King, Jesus Christ, may enter our hearts and make a way for us in the Kingdom of Heaven. We remove the obstacles of sin – pride, envy, selfishness, lust, anger, and fear – and fill in the holes in our hearts with truth from God’s word, humble prayer, and mountain-moving faith.

John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah the prophet. His calling was to prepare for the coming of the One whose sandal he was unworthy to untie. He spoke with passion about the judgment to come and the need to turn from the way of sin to the way of repentance. It is that spirit that will carry us all the way to Christmas. Let us be open to God’s promptings of love and his radical call to transformation so that Christmas may be an experience of rebirth and rest for us.

Prayer: Father, thank you for all the blessings that have come into my life through the incarnation of your Son. Teach me to bring my sins and struggles to Christ so that I may live more fully for you each and every day, in your peace…Amen!

In the wilderness preparing,

Way made straight and hill brought low,

Broken reed his life repairing,

Seed now planted, soon to grow.