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CYCLE C 2ND ADVENT

1. Engineering…is a Science, work or profession of an engineer— who plans, builds or oversees — engines, machines, roads, bridges, canals, railroads or forts etc.

2. Have you ever stopped to think of some the most important Engineering feats around us? Take for instance the FLOYD RIVER that was engineered in the middle sixties. I can remember in the early 60’s Standing on the 28th bridge filling sandbags to increase the Dike by 3-4 feet all the way to Leeds. The new Floyd river channel was Engineered shortly after that. Changing forever, a way of life that many people feared every spring. The dreaded Flood.

The PERRY CREEK project is a more recent endeavor. On the minds of many parishioners is the flood of 1990 that was the impetus for today’s channel changes. Prominent to both was how they STRAIGHTENED the channels to make water flow better. Engineers (Civil, Mechanical, Structural) put their skills to work because life and property are valuable.

One of great engineering feats that helps us to understand the Advent Readings today would be the American Railroad System. If there was any system that needed to FILL in VALLEYS or LOWER the HIGHER ELEVATIONS to make straight and level the path to get somewhere… Easily, Safely and securely… was the railroad.

3. “PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD!. Make straight His Paths, every valley shall be FILLED, every mountain and hill shall be made low”. These words or similar thoughts used in our BARUCH reading or Gospel from Luke, provide us with a Engineering Plan for a ‘Change of Heart’ that must come from each of us as we assess our perilous route to heaven.

4. The Prophets (Baruch, J Bap and Jesus) are the Engineers that came to deliver us from darkness. Darkness caused by MOUNTAINS of destructive behavior and deep VALLEY’S of distorted thinking. And important to this deliverance that Jesus brings is delivery not just from the guilt of our personal sin, but He also delivers us from the Mountains, Valley’s and Winding Roads that SET US UP to sin.

5. The setting of the book that bears Baruch’s name is the Babylonian community of exiles from Judah. The book begins shortly after the terrible news of the destruction of Jerusalem. And also after the Babylonian Soldiers had arrived in Babylon and shared that news among the exiles.

Baruch today delivers an oracle to Jerusalem itself, which finds itself now desolate and emptied among the mountains. But Baruch addresses Jerusalem like a mother informed that her kidnapped children have been freed. “UP JERUSALEM! Stand upon the heights: look to the east and see your children gathered from the east and west”. Just as eager as the exiles are to return is their city, now she should be joyful to welcome them home.

The leveling of the terrain—mountains lowered, valleys raised – all to hasten the exiles home under God’s protection is a familiar prophetic theme. It was Yahweh who ENGINEERED or oversaw their pilgrimage home. A journey EASY, SWIFT and SECURE.

6. The Baptism of repentance that John preached WAS NOT just regret for guilty acts. It was also a Baptism of Commitment, to set our feet on a whole New Path. Because the obstacles; VALLEY’S, MOUNTAINS or PATHS, which are potential opportunities to sin, will be FILLED, MADE LOW or ENGINEERED STRAIGHT.

We are all called to God, to Holiness, on the same path. But under Johns’ design to repentance or Jesus’ design of conversion, the journey of life will be easier. Their path, if taken, will avoid the destructiveness, distortion, mediocrity and meaninglessness, that is common to the journey of so many people.

7. We are a people in exile. Freed by Jesus and His life, death and Resurrection and our subsequent Baptism, to go home… to the empty heavenly Jerusalem awaiting our return.

Is Materialism is a mountain for you? Is selfishness and greed a Valley keeping us from a life worthy of God? Why don’t we see that all vice is a winding road to nowhere. Or that mindless entertainment is a desert wasteland devoid of meaning that many are trapped in?

The Church or body of Christ is our Prophetic Engineer today. The world seems DEAF to the call for repentance and conversion. It cannot be that way for us. Only in humility will we be able to follow the carefully crafted teachings of the church. Only when we act in hopefulness, will all Valley’s, all mountains, all winding roads or rough surfaces be altered. Our journey back home to God will be made EASY, SWIFT and SECURE.