THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS

SCRUTATIO SCRIPTURAE

A Scrutatio for the 2^nd of the CHRISTIAN SEASON OF ADVENT

Readings from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer

Isaiah 40:1-11 / Psalm 85 / II Peter 3:8-15 and 18 / Mark 1:1-8

Readings for the Pauline/Vatican II Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Isaiah 40:1-5 and 9-11 / Psalm 85:9ab+10, 11-12 and 13-14 / II Peter 3:8-14 / Mark 1:1-8

Readings for the Tridentine Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

Introit: Isaiah 30:30 and Psalm 80:1 

Epistle: Romans 15:4-13 

Gradual and Alleluia: Psalm 50 (49): 2-3, 5 and Psalm 121 (122):1

Gospel 

Matthew 11:2-10

Offertory: Psalm 84 (85):6-7

Communion Antiphon: Baruch 5:5; 4:36 

For the 2^nd Sunday of Advent, let us meditate on this passage from the Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah by the distinguished Historian, Biblical Exegete, Theologian and the Bishop of Caesarea during the 4th Century A.D. , Eusebius Pamphili, entitled:

 

THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight the paths of our God." The prophecy makes clear that it is to be fulfilled, not in Jerusalem but in the wilderness: it is there that the glory of the Lord is to appear, and God’s salvation is to be made known to all mankind.

It was in the wilderness that God’s saving presence was proclaimed by John the Baptist, and there that God’s salvation was seen. The words of this prophecy were fulfilled when Christ and his glory were made manifest to all: after his baptism the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove rested on him, and the Father’s voice was heard, bearing witness to the Son: "This is my beloved Son, listen to him."

The prophecy meant that God was to come to a deserted place, inaccessible from the beginning. None of the pagans had any knowledge of God, since his holy servants and prophets were kept from approaching them. The voice commands that a way be prepared for the Word of God: the rough and trackless ground is to be made level, so that our God may find a highway when he comes. "Prepare the way of the Lord": the way is the preaching of the Gospel, the new message of consolation, ready to bring to all mankind the knowledge of God’s saving power.

"Climb on a high mountain, bearer of good news to Zion. Lift up your voice in strength, bearer of good news to Jerusalem." These words harmonise very well with the meaning of what has gone before. They refer opportunely to the evangelists and proclaim the coming of God to men, after speaking of the voice crying in the wilderness. Mention of the evangelists suitably follows the prophecy on John the Baptist.

What does Zion mean if not the city previously called Jerusalem? This is the mountain referred to in that passage from Scripture: Here is mount Zion, where you dwelt. The Apostle says: You have come to mount Zion. Does not this refer to the company of the apostles, chosen from the former people of the circumcision?

This is the Zion, the Jerusalem, that received God’s salvation. It stands aloft on the mountain of God, that is, it is raised high on the only-begotten Word of God. It is commanded to climb the high mountain and announce the word of salvation. Who is the bearer of the good news but the company of the evangelists? What does it mean to bear the good news but to preach to all nations, but first of all to the cities of Judah, the coming of Christ on earth?