Episode 3321: Course: Advent of Grace Preparing the Soul for the Coming of Christ - Week 2

Week 2: The Second Sunday of Advent
(December 7, 2024)
Theme: Faith: The Voice Crying in the Wilderness
Warm-Up
1. When you hear the word Advent, what emotions or
habits immediately come to mind peace, stress,
nostalgia, busyness?
2. Do you honestly approach Advent more as a spiritual
season or a holiday season?
3. What do you most need Christ to restore in your life
right now?
Advent Wreath
Lets start with the lighting of the advent Candle
The Second Week Then the eldest child lights not only the
first but a second purple candle. Both candles burn during
the evening meal as before. If you, do it at after dinner
and before bedtime then let the Candle burn for 15
minutes.
“O Lord, stir up our hearts that we may prepare for Thy
only begotten Son that through His coming we may be
made worthy to serve Thee with pure minds through
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Christ our Lord. Amen.” Advent Wreath Prayers 1 Our
Father, 1 Hail Mary
Holy Mary and 1 Glory Be
St Andrews Novena
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment
in which the Son of God was born
of the most pure Virgin Mary,
at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold.
In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God,
to hear my prayer and grant my desires,
through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ,
and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.
“Prepare the way of the Lord.”
Scripture


Isaiah 40:1–5
Luke 3:1–6
Core Focus



St. John the Baptist as the model of repentance and
preparation
Interior renewal through Confession and penance
Faith as trusting obedience to God’s promises
2
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

The Church’s call to “make straight the way of the
Lord”
Saint Reflection: St. Augustine of Hippo on humility
as the foundation of faith
Practice: Go to Confession; daily meditation on the
Gospel
COURSE STRUCTURE
Opening Prayer
O Lord Jesus Christ,
Who didst send Thy forerunner to prepare Thy way,
cleanse our hearts in this holy season of Advent.
Cast down every mountain of pride,
fill every valley of despair,
and straighten the crooked paths of our souls,
that we may receive Thee with living faith.
Amen.
Part I: The Prophetic Cry of Advent (Isaiah 40:1–5)
1. Be comforted, be comforted, my people, saith
your God.
2. Speak ye to the heart of Jerusalem, and call to
her: for her evil is at an end, her iniquity is
forgiven: she hath received of the hand of the
3
Lord double for all her sins.
3. The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in
the desert the paths of our God.
4. Every valley shall be exalted, and every
mountain and hill shall be made low: and the
crooked shall become straight, and the rough
ways plain.
5. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh together shall see it: for the mouth
of the Lord hath spoken it.
Isaiah’s prophecy is not only poetic it is apocalyptic in
meaning and personal in application. The “wilderness” is
not simply geographical; it is the interior desert of the
human soul after sin. Israel had grown cold through exile.
Modern man grows cold through comfort, excess,
distraction, and unbelief.
Key Images Explained



Valleys filled → wounded souls raised by grace
Mountains made low → pride humbled
Crooked made straight → moral disorder reset by
repentance
4

Rough places smoothed → habits of sin healed by
penance
Isaiah is announcing a restoration that only God can
perform, but which man must freely cooperate with.
Advent Faith is Not Sentiment - It Is Preparation for
Judgment.
Christ is coming:



As Child in Bethlehem
As Judge at the end of time
As King into every soul that repents
1. “Be comforted, My people” - A Prophecy of
Redemption
This passage marks a turn from judgment to mercy. After
punishment for sin, God promises consolation,
forgiveness, and restoration. Spiritually, this foreshadows:



The end of mankind’s exile through Christ
The reconciliation of sinners
The comfort brought by the Gospel
The phrase “double for all her sins” does not mean over
punishment it signifies that mercy will outweigh justice.
5
2. “The Voice Crying in the Wilderness” — St. John the
Baptist
This is one of the clearest prophecies of St. John the
Baptist, fulfilled directly in the Gospels. The “wilderness”
symbolizes:


The spiritual barrenness of Israel
The moral desolation of fallen humanity
John’s mission was not political—it was moral and
penitential:



Repentance
Confession of sins
Preparation for the Messiah
3. “Make Straight the Paths of Our God” — Interior
Conversion

This is not about physical roads—it is about the soul:
Valleys exalted → despair lifted by hope



Mountains made low → pride humbled
Crooked made straight → moral disorder corrected
Rough made smooth → hardness of heart softened
6
This is the core of Advent spirituality:
Christ does not enter a soul that refuses to be reformed.
4. “The Glory of the Lord Shall Be Revealed” — The
Incarnation

This is a direct prophecy of:
The Birth of Christ


The public ministry of Christ
And ultimately the Second Coming
“All flesh” seeing God is fulfilled:



First at Bethlehem
Then at Calvary
Finally at the Last Judgment
Advent Application

This passage teaches that:
Comfort follows repentance



Grace comes through conversion
Christ enters prepared souls
The Church is the voice still crying in the wilderness
today
7
Advent is not sentimental it is spiritual warfare against sin
in preparation for the King.
Questions:
The Wilderness, the Valleys, the Mountains
1. What does the “wilderness” represent in your own
soul right now?
o
2. Which image describes you most at this moment:
A valley in need of lifting?
o
o
o
A mountain of pride in need of lowering?
A crooked road needing straightening?
A rough place needing healing?
3. Why do you think God chooses to speak most
powerfully in the wilderness and not in comfort?
4. What prevents people today from hearing the
prophetic voice of God clearly?
5. If Christ were to come to you today, what would He
ask you to change first?
8
Part II: St. John the Baptist: The Model of Faith and
Repentance
Luke 3:1–6
1. Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar,
Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being
tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of
Iturea and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias
tetrarch of Abilina:
2. Under the high priests Annas and Caiphas, the word of
the Lord was made unto John, the son of Zachary, in the
desert.
3. And he came into all the country about the Jordan,
preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of
sins.
4. As it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the
prophet: A voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare ye
the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.
5. Every valley shall be filled: and every mountain and
hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made
straight, and the rough ways plain.
6. And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Traditional Catholic Commentary
1. God Enters History - Not Myth
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St. Luke deliberately grounds the Gospel in verifiable
world history naming pagan rulers, corrupt governors, and
compromised religious leaders. This teaches a critical
Catholic truth:
Christ did not come into a holy world—He entered a
fallen one.
Yet notice:



God does not speak to kings
God does not speak to priests
God speaks to St. John in the desert
This shows that:



Grace is given to the humble
Revelation is received in silence and separation from
the world
God bypasses worldly power and chooses penitential
souls
2. “The Word of the Lord Came to John” — The True
Prophet
St. John is the last prophet of the Old Covenant and the
first witness of the New. He is not a social reformer or
political revolutionary. His message is singular:
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“Do penance for the remission of sins.”

This is the same message Christ Himself will preach:
Confession before Communion


Penance before grace
Conversion before consolation
There is no salvation without repentance.

3. “The Baptism of Penance” Preparation for Christ
John’s baptism does not yet give sacramental grace like
Christian baptism, but it:
Awakens the conscience


Moves the will to conversion
Prepares the soul for Christ’s sanctifying grace
This is why Advent is penitential:




Purple vestments
Suppressed Gloria
Called to confession
Called to fasting and self-denial
We do not prepare for Christmas as consumers—but as
penitents.
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4. “Every Valley Shall Be Filled” — The Interior Terrain
of the Soul
This mirrors Isaiah 40 and describes the moral geography
of the heart:




Valleys filled → Despair healed by hope
Mountains humbled → Pride crushed
Crooked straightened → Disordered loves corrected
Rough made smooth → Hardened hearts softened
This is the work of penance, confession, and humility.
5. “All Flesh Shall See the Salvation of God”
This verse teaches:



The universality of Christ’s redemption
The future public judgment
The visible glory of Christ at the Second Coming
Christ comes:
1. First in Bethlehem
2. Daily in the Holy Eucharist
3. Finally in glory to judge the living and the dead
Advent prepares us for all three comings.
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Core Traditional Catholic Teaching from Luke 3:1–6

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God speaks to penitents, not politicians
Repentance is the gateway to grace
Advent is a spiritual battlefield
Confession is the true preparation for Christmas
Christ does not enter decorated homes, but purified
souls
St. John does not come with diplomacy. He comes with
authority. He does not console before he convicts. He
does not flatter; he awakens conscience.
Why St. John Is the Perfect Advent Saint



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He lives detached from the world
He speaks without fear of human opinion
He preaches conversion without compromise
He points away from himself toward Christ
“He must increase; I must decrease.”
This is the essence of faith:


Faith is not self-expression
Faith is self-surrender
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John’s Baptism of Repentance

It was:
Not sacramental yet


But deeply moral and spiritual
A call to:
o
o
o
Public repentance
Real amendment of life
Personal accountability
John reveals this truth:
You cannot meet Christ without first facing your sin.
Questions
“He Must Increase, I Must Decrease”
1. What qualities of St. John the Baptist stand out most
to you: courage, poverty, clarity, detachment,
humility?
2. Why do you think John’s message would be
considered “too harsh” in today’s culture?
3. What does it mean practically to “decrease” so that
Christ may increase?
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4. Are there areas in your life where you want Christ
but without deep change?
5. If John the Baptist were preaching today in your city,
what sins do you think he would confront most
directly?
Part III: Interior Renewal Through Confession and
Penance

Advent repentance is not symbolic. It is sacramental.
Why Confession Is the Central Act of Advent Faith
It restores:
o
o
o

Supernatural life
Interior peace
Clarity of conscience
It humbles the soul before truth

It prepares a clean manger for the King
True Penance Involves
1. Contrition – sorrow for sin
2. Confession – honest articulation
3. Absolution – divine forgiveness
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4. Satisfaction – real repair
Advent without Confession becomes a season of lights
without light.
Questions
The Clean Manger of the Soul
1. What emotions arise in you when you think about
Confession—peace, fear, embarrassment, avoidance?
2. Why do you think Confession is often delayed even
by faithful Catholics?
3. How does Confession differ from simply “saying
sorry to God in private”?
4. What does it mean to prepare a “clean manger” for
Christ?
5. How has Confession personally changed you in the
past when you approached it sincerely?
6. What is one excuse you tend to make when avoiding
Confession?
16
Part IV: Faith as Trusting Obedience to God’s
Promises
Faith is not mere belief that God exists.
Faith is:




Trust when you do not understand
Obedience when it costs
Perseverance when it hurts
Surrender when control is stripped away
Advent Faith Means



Believing Christ will come even when the world
mocks Him
Trusting God’s plan even in darkness
Obeying truth even when rejected
Just as Israel trusted the promise of the Messiah despite
centuries of silence, so we trust God’s word even when
the world denies eternity, judgment, sin, and salvation.
Questions
Faith That Costs Something
1. How would you define faith right now in one
sentence?
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o
2. What is the difference between:
Believing in God
o
and trusting God with your life?
3. In what area of your life is God currently asking for
deeper trust?
4. Have you ever obeyed God when it truly cost you
something? What happened?
5. Why is faith without sacrifice often weak or shallow?
Part V: The Church’s Call: “Make Straight the Way of
the Lord”
This is not only John’s mission. It is now the Church’s
mission and your personal mission.
How We “Make Straight the Way” Today


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

By moral clarity in a culture of confusion
By confession in a culture without guilt
By chastity in a culture of indulgence
By humility in a culture of pride
By truth in a culture of lies
The Church must not entertain the world during Advent.
She must summon the world to conversion.
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Questions
Personal Mission in a Confused World
1. How does the Church today struggle to “make
straight the way of the Lord” publicly?
2. Where do you see the greatest moral confusion in
society right now?
o
3. How can ordinary Catholics “prepare the way” in:
Their family?
o
o
Their workplace?
Their parish?
4. Why does silence in the face of sin become a form of
cooperation with evil?
5. What is one small but concrete way you could
witness to Christ this Advent?
Part VI: Saint Reflection: Humility as the Foundation
of Faith (St. Augustine)
St. Augustine of Hippo teaches:
“It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility
that makes men as angels.”
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Why Humility Is the Root of Faith

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Pride says:
o
“I decide truth.”
Humility says:
o
“God reveals truth.”
Pride resists grace
Humility receives grace
Mary’s humility made her the Mother of God.
John’s humility made him the greatest of prophets.
Our humility makes room for Christ.
Questions
Why is pride so dangerous to the spiritual life?
How does pride disguise itself as “independence,”
“confidence,” or “self-expression”?
Why is humility necessary for true faith to exist at all?
How does Mary’s humility contrast with modern ideas of
success and power?
In what situations do you personally struggle most with
pride:

Being corrected?
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Being ignored?



Being misunderstood?
Being dependent on others?
Guided Spiritual Application & Practice
This Week’s Concrete Practices
1. Go to Confession
Make a serious examination of conscience. Confess
without excuses. Leave nothing hidden.
2. Daily Gospel Meditation (5 Minutes Per Day)

Read Luke 3:1–6 slowly each day. Ask:
Where is my wilderness?


What crooked pathways need straightening?
What sin delays Christ’s reign in my soul?
3. One Act of Penance Per Day
Choose one:

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Fast from something you love
Give intentionally to the poor
Keep silence for 10 minutes
Perform an act of hidden charity
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Final Reflection & Closing Prayer
Advent is not about waiting for a holiday.
It is about preparing for a King.
Christ is not asking for decoration.
He is asking for conversion.
St. John is not asking for applause.
He is asking for repentance.
Faith is not comfort.
Faith is obedient trust in the living God.
Closing Prayer
O God, who didst raise up St. John the Baptist to prepare
the way for Thy Son, grant that we may imitate his
humility, his courage, and his burning faith. Cleanse us
through holy Confession, strengthen us through penance,
and awaken in us a faith that obeys without fear. May this
Advent truly prepare us for the coming of Thy Son in
glory.
Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
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Answer Key
1. What emotions or habits come to mind with
Advent?
Most people associate Advent with busyness, stress,
shopping, decorations, and social pressure, rather than
silence, repentance, and spiritual vigilance. This reveals
how the season has been largely secularized.
2. Is Advent treated as spiritual or as a holiday season?
For most, it is treated as a holiday season, not a
penitential preparation for the coming of Christ as Judge
and King. Spiritually, this weakens the soul’s readiness to
receive grace.
3. What do I most need Christ to restore?

Common answers include:
Peace of conscience

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

Hope
Purity
Order in family life
Trust in God
All of these flow from conversion and sacramental
grace.
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Part I Isaiah 40:1–5 The Wilderness
1. What is the wilderness of the soul?

The wilderness represents:
Spiritual dryness




Separation from God through sin
Confusion
Indifference
Loss of prayer
It is the interior exile caused by Original and personal
sin.
2. Valley, mountain, crooked, rough what do these
mean?




Valley = Despair, discouragement
Mountain = Pride, arrogance
Crooked = Moral disorder, double life
Rough = Hardness of heart, habitual sin
3. Why does God speak in the wilderness?
Because silence removes distractions, pride is stripped
away, and the soul becomes dependent on God alone.
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4. What prevents people from hearing God today?
Noise, constant stimulation, sin, pride, moral relativism,
addictions, and rejection of objective truth.
5. What would Christ ask us to change first?

Almost always:
A habitual sin



Pride
Disordered attachments
Neglect of prayer and sacraments
Part II — St. John the Baptist — Model of Faith
1. What virtues stand out in John?





Courage
Detachment
Poverty of spirit
Fearlessness
Total obedience
2. Why is John’s message “too harsh” today?

Because modern culture:
Rejects sin
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Avoids guilt



Despises judgment
Prefers affirmation over conversion
3. What does it mean to “decrease”?
To:



Let go of ego
Submit to God’s will
Seek Christ’s glory, not personal recognition
4. Do people want Christ without change?
Yes. Many want:



Comfort without repentance
Grace without sacrifice
Heaven without conversion
5. What sins would John confront today?

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

Sexual immorality
Abortion
Pride
Gender ideology
Greed
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Indifference to God

Part III — Confession & Penance
1. Common emotions about Confession?
Fear, embarrassment, avoidance—but also peace and
relief afterward.
2. Why is Confession delayed?




Pride
Shame
Rationalizing sin
Fear of humility
3. Why not just confess privately to God?
Because Christ instituted the sacrament:
“Whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven.”

Forgiveness requires:
Priest


Absolution
Sacramental authority
4. What is the “clean manger”?
A soul free from mortal sin, prepared to receive Christ
with dignity.
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5. How does Confession change us?
It restores:




Supernatural life
Interior peace
Moral clarity
Strength against future sin
6. Common excuses?



“I’ll go later”
“It’s not that serious”
“The priest will judge me”
Part IV — Faith as Trusting Obedience
1. Definition of faith?
Faith is the supernatural virtue by which we believe all
that God has revealed because God Himself is Truth.
2. Belief vs. Trust?


Belief = intellectual assent
Trust = total surrender of will and life
3. Area where God asks for trust?
Often finances, health, family, vocation, suffering, or
moral choices.
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4. Example of costly obedience?
Conversions, leaving sinful relationships, public defense
of truth, sacrifice of worldly success.
5. Why is sacrifice essential?
Because Christ Himself saved us by the Cross. Faith
without the Cross is not Christian faith.
Part V — Making Straight the Way Today
1. How does the Church struggle publicly?



Silence on sin
Fear of controversy
Moral compromise
2. Greatest moral confusion today?





Marriage
Gender
Sanctity of life
Sexual morality
Truth vs. feelings
3. How do Catholics prepare the way?
By:

Living visibly Catholic lives
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


Teaching truth
Practicing virtue
Defending the faith calmly but firmly
4. Why is silence cooperation with evil?
Because unopposed evil spreads and falsehood hardens
into culture.
5. One concrete witness?
Examples:




Wearing sacramentals
Speaking truth charitably
Inviting someone to Confession
Public prayer
Part VI — Humility & Faith (St. Augustine)
With St. Augustine of Hippo
1. Why is pride dangerous?

Because it:
Blocks grace


Rejects authority
Makes the soul self-reliant instead of God-reliant
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2. How does pride disguise itself?
As:




“Self-confidence”
“Authenticity”
“Personal truth”
“Independence”
3. Why is humility essential for faith?
Because faith requires the soul to submit to divine truth
rather than invent its own.
4. Mary vs. modern power?
Mary’s humility shows that true greatness is obedience,
not domination.
5. Where is pride most active?




Resistance to correction
Needing recognition
Resenting authority
Refusing dependency on God