Second Sunday in Advent 2017 (Cycle B)
Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
2 Peter 3:8-14
Mark 1:1-8
We hear today from what is known as Second Isaiah and it was composed around 539 BC, at the end of the exile in Babylon. This section of the scripture has also been called the Book of Consolation. Starting with chapter 40, we begin to hear words of hope and comfort meant for those who are in exile. Chapters 40-48 all have to do with the liberation from captivity, while chapters 49-55 talk of the restoration of Zion.
The author is telling the people that they Lord is going to do great things for them, and that they are to spread the word to the people that their punishment has come to an end. The Lord is going to lead them home, perform extraordinary deeds comparable to times of old. It is to remind them that when the Lord led them through the desert out of Egypt and he made the way fairly easy for them to move to the Promised Land and take control of it.
The passages speak to making the way easy for them to return, leveling mountains, filling in the valleys and making the path smooth for them to travel on. While these images are signs that an army or a great King would be returning and how they expect to return home. But, upon reading further, it will not be a powerful God who will be leading them, but will be one of a shepherd who will care for his flock, caring for the people under his control. The reading ends there with words of tenderness and compassion, just as the opening lines do.
2 Peter is thought by most scholars to be the last book of the New Testament to be written and accepted into the cannon of scripture. They estimate it was written late in the first century or early second century, but what is clear is that they Church has been waiting for over 50 years for the Christ to return. What the people expected was an immediate return, and they began to lose hope when it did not happen.
They knew from Mark's Gospel Jesus had been telling them to be attentive and watchful, but the author begins to explain to them that you cannot compare God's concept of time and human beings concept of time, paraphrasing Psalm 90:4. He is telling them that what most see as a delay in God acting, is really the Lord giving His people a chance to repent before the end time (Romans 2:4-5).
In verse 10 when he writes, "The day of the Lord will come like a thief.." we hear the same images from Matthew 24:43-44 and Luke 12:39. These are images that should help remind us that we do not know when the Lord will return, but that he will ultimately return for all who have been watching and waiting. Paul also uses the same image when he writes to the Thessalonians to allay their fears of the return of the Lord. All of this imagery is to not foretell, not to give a literal scenario of what will take place, what the end will be like, but rather of how they, and us today, need to be living our lives, how we should conduct ourselves with holiness, devotion and being at peace with one another.
The beginning of Mark's Gospel is very different than both Matthew and Luke. While Matthew's focus is on the genealogy of Jesus and the infancy narratives, and Luke on the infancy narratives, Mark starts right out with proclaiming that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. There is only one other place in Mark's Gospel where someone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, and that is the centurion who puts Jesus to death in Chapter 15:39. This powerful statement should draw us immediately into the life of Jesus. This simple message will lead us into seeing Jesus as one who lived among the people for 30 years, healing the sick, teaching them about the goodness of God, and finally, seeing Him crucified on the cross for our sins and proclaiming to us that Jesus is indeed alive as the risen Christ, Son of God.
Mark then immediately quotes the prophet Isaiah that we heard in our Old Testament reading today, and announces that the way of the Lord must be prepared and the pathways made straight. Again it is that royal sounding decree announcing that there is one who is coming as a King. But then Mark uses John the Baptist as the messenger who is to announce that there will be one mightier than he who is to come.
The description of John the Baptist is one that is similar to Elijah in 2 Kings 1:8, where he has been called to make ready the way of the Lord. John the Baptist is baptizing in the river, the people who wished to be cleansed from their sins. It is a reminder of the Jewish ritual cleansing or the ceremonial washing that symbolized conversion. John quickly points out that he is not the one they are waiting for, and that he is not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. His whole purpose, here in the beginning of Mark, and later in chapter 6:14-29 where he is put to death by King Herod, is to point to Jesus as the Messiah, the one they have been waiting for. John's death points to the death of Jesus and the symbolism of John baptizing is parallel with Jesus baptizing with the Holy Spirit after his death. The way of the Lord proclaimed by John is the discipleship we all need to follow, being disciples of Jesus Christ and proclaiming the Good New to all.