Second Sunday of Advent - PEACE

I sometimes wonder about the prophets. Why would God speak through human mouths instead of speaking for himself? The burning bush, the baptism of Jesus, the Transfiguration, and Saint Paul’s conversion were all unmediated divine messages resonating in the natural world. It’s a proven option. Yet God speaks through the prophets, time and time again. 
In today’s Gospel, we have a kind of double prophecy—the New Testament prophet, John the Baptist, proclaims a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, thus fulfilling Isaiah’s Old Testament prophecy: A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord.” John is that anticipated voice. 
 
But even John’s voice is a borrowed one. He shares the word of God [that] came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. We could speculate about why God gives his word to one person to share with another. But perhaps our focus should be to heed the “prophets” in our midst, trusting God’s design.
 
God spoke then, but he also speaks now—through ­homilies, the teaching of the Church, and, I believe, sometimes the mouths of our children, our parents, our family, and friends. Not everyone is a prophet, of course. But we know that God chooses to speak to us through the voices of others. This Advent season, may we be sure to listen.            
   
Heavenly Father, your Word is a source of strength, guidance, and joy. May I hear your voice speaking to me today, even from the most unexpected places.

Source:  Gina Loehr
               Magnificat