For those with a fondness for music, the readings of Advent can be striking reminders of one of the great achievements of the Baroque Age, George Frideric Handel’s 1741 oratorio “The Messiah.”
The first reading for December 6 is immediately recognizable, for example, for its text from Isaiah (40:1-11) that Handel put hauntingly to music. Indeed, the oratorio’s first part, scene one begins with the promise of Salvation History:
“Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God…
A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!”
The text from Isaiah is a lesson for those who are in the midst of Advent and awaiting the coming of Christmas. How often do we speed through the days of Advent forgetting that this is a penitential time, a time of preparation when we look ahead to God’s comfort, to His mercy, in the Incarnation, the coming of His Son into the world. Isaiah tells us that God gives comfort to His people. Truly, God has promised not to abandon His people, but at the same time we must prepare ourselves properly and “Make straight the ways of the LORD!”
The Responsorial Psalm tells us one way we should prepare. Our God comes with power, and we should “Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all you lands…announce His salvation, day after day.”
And in the Gospel, we see that the Shepherd is filled with mercy and the promise of salvation for those who have gone astray. God searches for us, going into the hills – a place traditionally of danger – to find all of His sheep, even the one most astray. “It is not the will of your heavenly Father,” our Lord tells His disciples, “that one of these little ones be lost.”
In the simple readings of one day in Advent, we see a God who is coming in power, in mercy and in love for the most lost. Little wonder that Handel ended his first scene of the Messiah with the stunning fourth part, “And the Glory of the Lord.” He is glorious, and in Advent we see His coming glory. Are we preparing properly?
Dr. Matthew Bunson is a senior correspondent for Our Sunday Visitor and a Faculty Chair at Catholic Distance University (CDU). CDU provides faithful, fully online, undergraduate and graduate programs in our Catholic faith.
Thank God for seeking me out. Please curb me from the Evil One, O Lord our God.
st nicholas toghether with mama mary and jesus intercede for my grandson daughter and husband and son in law that this holiday season be blessed with love and peace healing and protection from satan and all the evil spirits roaming the earth.jesus help us we r desperately in need of your direction /guidance. .i give you praise and honor and glory and thanks in advance for answered prayers, ame amen and amen.
Sweet Blessed Mother and Divine Baby Jesus I come to you asking you to help a very special friend of mine to find his way back home to me. He is so much in need of your help and so am I. This is all I ask of you, if you would please help him to find what he needs to get back home before Christmas it would mean so much to the both of us. Thank you , thank you. You know how much I love you and I try so hard to give you all that you desire of me while I am here on this earthly planet. I love you both so very much.