Godzdogz

In today’s Gospel, we are told that it was John the Baptist whom the prophet Isaiah referred to when he said: "A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight." Advent is a time for reflecting on our lives in order to prepare for the coming of Jesus in the miracle of Christmas. It is a time for turning the direction of our whole life towards God.

This is no easy task. So often the paths of our lives are anything but straight. As we know, life can take many twists and turns, and we can feel pulled and drawn in so many different directions. Indeed, life today can seem so hectic and fast moving that even finding the time to reflect can seem like a tall order, never mind finding the energy to make big changes. When faced with the challenging call of the Gospel it is tempting to retreat into our comfort zone and just say "leave me alone". The challenge of Christ is to go beyond this comfort zone to find the deeper reality of who we are as children of God. Whatever crooked paths we have walked or are walking, there is always a new beginning with the Lord. We can always begin again.

As Christians we know that we do not do this alone. This is not some kind of self help course for success. We rely at each step on the boundless mercy and grace of God.

Someone once remarked to me that they didn't think that the doctrine made any difference to them and their lives. However, when we think about it carefully, we realise that it makes all the difference. A much loved brother of this Province, now deceased, has become famous for saying that without Our Lady we would be 'in a right pickle'! And the Dogma shows us how Mary, being 'full of grace', is the New Eve, who having been preserved from original sin through grace, can utter that fiat which signals her acceptance of God's call to be the mother of Christ. The Dogma thus presents us with the good news that God has heard our cries, and comes to us as man through the obedience of Mary, to get us out of our 'pickle'. Surely this makes all the difference ...