In this time of Advent, John the Baptist’s voice not only calls us to personal conversion but also to communal conversion. He cried in the desert, “Make straight the way of the Lord”. His message is a call to personal conversion, and he invites us to be agents of transformation in our society and country.
In a recent sermon by Fr. Arturo Sosa, the Superior General of the Jesuits, he said: “We understand the importance of making straight the paths of justice and healing, where the Light of Christ can shine and burn away the stains of corruption and injustice.”
Our Advent journey is an invitation not only to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ but also to prepare our
communities and our nation for the continued work of transformation and healing. We, as Christians, are called to be voices of hope, reconciliation, and justice.
If we scan the news headlines to see what is happening in the world, we can quickly think there is little hope, or that hope has been extinguished. Yet, Advent reminds us that we can never let go of the hope of Christ himself. Our hope is needed now in our
history more than ever. We must not lose hope and abandon ourselves to crooked paths John invites us to leave.
Take time to reflect on your call to personal conversion at this juncture in your life. In what way is that call also inviting you to be an agent of transformation and healing in your community – maybe even in your family? How can you incarnate hope at this time
when it may be easy to give up on hope?
Reflections by Russell Pollitt SJ
