St. John's and Isaiah's Words and Advent - The Association of Mary, Queen of All Hearts

St. John’s and Isaiah’s Words and Advent

Fr. Hugh Gillespie, SMM

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A voice of one calling: "In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God..."
Isaiah: On Prophesizing About St. John the BaptistIsaiah: Chapter 40

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Behold, the Lamb of God! (Spoken by St. John the Baptist: prayer is also included as part of daily Mass)
St. John the BaptistFound in St. John's Gospel: 1:35

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I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John;
Jesus: On Speaking About St. John the BaptistLuke: 7:28

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for he will be great in the sight of the LORD. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.
Luke's Gospel 1:15

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The pictures are images of stain glass called Roundels. They are of St. John the Baptist, originally created in Europe around 1520 A.D.
The Roundels at the Left: The Met Museum of Modern ArtUsed with permission

St. John’s and Isaiah’s Words and Advent

On this second Sunday of Advent there are a remarkable set of readings.

The first reading (not included within this audio) is from the Book of Isaiah. The author of the reading is unknown, since it was written about two hundred years after Isaiah. But it was written in the spirit of other parts of the Book. When it was first read, it caused a shocking outburst.

Isaiah proclaimed, because of the disobedience of the people, the kingdom will come crashing down. And so, it was. The Temple came crashing down, the kingdom destroyed, and its people sent into exile. Some two hundred years later, a person in the same spirit of Isaiah, spoke to a crowd feeling the consequences of Isaiah’s prophecy.

Spoken to an exiled group of people who had little to no hope, the Book of Isaiah’s words says . . . Give comfort to My people. Hear more in the Homily as to the significance of this statement.

Make Straight the Path of the Lord

St. John the Baptist proclaims . . . Make straight the path of the Lord . . . these words have a double meaning. Make straight the pathways of your heart . . . toward the Lord. It also meant Make straight . . . your way back home. Hear more within the Homily.

St. John announces the Coming of the Lord. Hear what St. John’s and Isaiah’s words have to do with Advent. Understand why we honor St. John and his words during every Mass. Listen to St. John’s and Isaiah’s Words and Advent. Hear more within this Meditation Media.