With Opened Bible
Second Sunday of Advent
“For God will show all the earth your splendor:
you will be named by God forever
the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship.”
The second Sunday of Advent, a time of preparation and anticipation for the birth of Jesus Christ, brings us into the presence of the Holy City of Jerusalem. It is the spiritual center and capital of the kingdom of David before the division of the tribes. The prophet Baruch invites Jerusalem to take of its robe of sadness and put on that of joy and justice. What is the meaning of this invitation?
Jerusalem, despite falling under the weight of neighboring peoples after its sin of idolatry and injustice, remained resilient. The Babylonians reduced it to dust, destroyed the Temple, and took all the healthy men into exile. (Cf. Jeremiah 39)
This event remained grave in the prophets' hearts as a sign of divine justice, punishing the Holy City for having rejected the truth of his Word. But God is compassionate and faithful. (Joel 2:13) He loves Jerusalem as a lover, his beloved. He could not let her fall and forget his promises. A time will come when the city of David will put on a garment of joy and celebration. It is this time that Baruch announced in the first reading on Sunday. "For God will show all the earth your splendor: You will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God's worship."
This phrase encapsulates the spiritual state of Jerusalem when it is in alignment with God's will and justice prevails. The prophet Isaiah, who also experienced the pain of Jerusalem in exile, sang the same hope: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who lived in a land of gloom, a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing; They rejoice before you as people rejoice at harvest, as they exult when dividing the spoilers." (Isaiah 9,1-2) The daughter of Zion (another title given to the holy city) will rejoice in her Lord, who remembered her by making her shine with a dazzling light: "Exult greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem!"
(Zechariah 9:9). Justice will return within its walls because of the birth of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, whose life and teachings embody the essence of justice and peace.
