Dear friends in Jesus Christ,

In the Gospel according to St Luke, we listen to the voice of the one (John the Baptist) crying out in the wilderness and calling us to prepare the way of the Lord. His call to repentance is an invitation for each of us to reflect on our lives and to consider how we might clear the paths of our hearts for Christ. The rough ways, the hills, the valleys, the mountains, and the crookedness that we encounter in our day-to-day lives are indeed our own chaotic cares or the commotions of this world. The cares of this life and our trespasses need to be shunned by the true repentance of heart. Thus, we may experience God’s forgiveness and love in our lives.

In the first reading, Baruch proclaims a vision of hope and restoration. Jerusalem is invited to cast off her mourning and be clothed in God's beauty and glory. The exile is ending, and God Himself will lead His people back in joy and safety. The promise of restoration is not just for the exiled Israelites but for all of us. We are invited to remove anything that hinders our relationship with God, trusting in His power to guide us.

In the Second reading, St Paul expresses his confidence that God, who had begun a good work in us, will bring it to completion. Paul is confident that God will bring this work to completion and encourages us not to lose heart, for God is always at work.

Therefore, all the readings in fact invite us to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. They inspire us to reflect on the faithfulness of God’s promises and examine our own readiness to welcome Jesus more fully into our lives.