Making straight (Advent A2)

"Make straight the way for the Lord!" John cries in the apocalyptic strain of Isaiah. For this to happen the mountains must be brought low, the valleys raised up, the rough ground leveled and the rugged places made a plain.

Apocalyptic inversions bring order to chaos and chaos to order. They bring justice for the poor and oppressed, and strengthen week arms. Righteousness and Justice rule in the one that brings order. They allow the lion to lie down with the lamb, for him to eat straw like the ox, for his brother snake to no longer terrorize the child. Peace reigns on the Holy Mountain.

HEB 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

At this mountain Righteousness must begin his reign. In the rod of Jesse, Jews and Gentiles alike may trust and join the joyful assembly. To do so means for us a Spirit of unity and acceptance. Can any less be required of God's elect if even the lion, the lamb, the ox and viper will be brought into unity by his power, power that slays the wicked with the breath of his lips.