Weekly HOMILY for December 6, 2009: Concerning Mountains and Valleys

2nd Sunday of Advent, Cycle C
Our Lady of Grace
December 6, 2009

Concerning Mountains and Valleys
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato



Sidling Mountain

Many of us have been to Garrett County in Western Maryland. The County has beautiful mountains, national forests, and the famous Deep Creek Lake.

To travel there, you take I-70 west to Hancock, Maryland. At Hancock you take Route 68 west. And here is where you see something amazing.

The first mountain that you encounter is called Sidling Mountain. Until about twenty years ago, you had to follow a windy and dangerous road over the southern side of Sidling Mountain in order to avoid its highest point.

Then there was a major highway project. They literally blasted off the top and created a passage right through the heart of Sidling Mountain.

The result is that the center part of the mountain is now much lower and the new road is much straighter. It is an easier, safer, and faster way to drive west toward Garrett County.


Gospel Images

What happened to Sidling Mountain helps us to appreciate the images in today’s Gospel.

John the Baptist is preparing for the coming of Christ. He is preaching repentance and the forgiveness of sins.

This gets expressed in graphic images from the Prophet Isaiah and the Prophet Baruch in today’s first reading. “Every valley shall be filled in and every mountain shall be made low.”

“The winding ways shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth.” These images express what we are to do during this Season of Advent.


Valleys and Mountains

“Every valley shall be filled in.” Might we look at ourselves to see if we have valleys that are caused or encouraged by our culture of consumerism?

Is there an emptiness in us that we try to fill by buying things we do not need and by being absorbed by those things or by money?

This Advent, is there a valley we have to fill through a person, not a thing; through an inner, prayerful relationship with God and not by the season’s chatter?

And then, as the prophets say, “Every mountain shall be made low.” Might we look within ourselves to see if we have mountains built by an exaggerated sense of our self-importance?

Do we try to project an unreal image of being more important or more competent or more knowledgeable or even holier than others?

This Advent, is there a mountain we need to level by just being ourselves, in other words, by simply being humble?


Winding and Rough Ways

After “valleys” come “winding roads.”

The prophets say, “The winding roads shall be made straight.” Might we look at ourselves to see if we have winding roads of half-truths and deception in our relating to certain persons?

Do we try to get through things by not owning up to what we did or even leading others to think we did not do something that we did do? This Advent, is there a winding way that we need to straighten by resolving to be truthful and honest about ourselves with others?

And finally, “the rough ways are to be made smooth.”

Might we look within ourselves to see if we have the “rough ways” of a bad temper or inappropriate anger?

Do we engage in angry stereotyping of certain nationalities or races or religions?

This Advent, is there a “rough way” that we need to smooth by talking with a counselor or simply allowing the love of the Lord to flow through us to others?


Conclusion

This then, is our charter, our commission, our work for these four weeks of Advent.

The result will be the last line of today’s gospel passage and, “All humanity will see the salvation of God.”

If we allow God to work within us, to “fill in the valleys” and “level the mountains,” to “straighten the winding ways” and “smooth the rough ways,” then God can emerge more fully in and through us.

The light and love of the Lord will be there for us and for others and the Kingdom of God will emerge more fully on this earth.

Yes, “All humanity will see the salvation of God.”