Salesian Sunday Reflection
Second Sunday of Advent
December 10, 2023
In today’s Gospel, we experience “A voice in the desert” crying out to us to make straight God’s paths. St. Francis de Sales tells us how to do this:
Roads that twist and turn only weary and mislead travelers. To make straight God’s path in our hearts, we must have as our only goal to please God. We ought to be like the mariner who, in steering his vessel, always keeps his eye on the needle of the compass. We too must have our eyes fixed on acquiring an even disposition, the most pleasing virtue in the spiritual life. We need to consistently lead our feelings, emotions, and inclinations to God’s love, which transforms them so that we possess an even disposition.
When our heart struggles constantly between our love of God and our self-centered love, we find ourselves in a state of fear, anxiety, and confusion. The sight of our great faults can bring with it a certain unhealthy fear that unnerves the heart and often leads to discouragement. For this reason, throughout our whole life, we must exercise ourselves in trusting God and confiding ourselves to the goodness of God, who loves us.
Yet, a holy fear leads us to take proper means to avoid trouble. Holy fear and hope ought never to be without one another. Hope encourages us to expect holy enjoyment in God’s supreme goodness. God uses both virtues to work spiritual cures in us.
Our life contains many tortuous paths that can be put right only by a change of heart. When we orient our hearts towards God’s love, we experience true self-love. When divine love reigns in our hearts, it tames all other loves. Divine love subjects all our natural emotions and affections to God’s plan and service. All one’s movements are at rest in this holy love. Those who have an abundance of sacred love have hearts full of confidence and hope, for they are on the straight path to wholeness in God.
(Adapted from the writing of St. Francis de Sales, especially, Sermons, L. Fiorelli, Ed.)
