DeSales Reflection on Advent

This past Sunday we began the Advent Season and we will hear proclaimed in the Gospel this coming week that “John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea.” John’s purpose was to prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. To make ‘Him who was to come’ known to the whole world.”

St. Francis de Sales, in the Advent sermon he gave, December 6, 1620 reflected:

John the Baptist had already spent time preaching His coming, His miracles, and His greatness to his disciples. Now he wanted them to see Him whom he had announced to them. Surely, to make God known should be the principle aim of all. We ought neither to seek nor obtain anything but this: that He may be known to everyone.

The only sign by which God may be found and known is God Himself. At our Savior’s birth the angels sought out the shepherds and announced to them His coming, singing in a wonderfully pleasing melody these sacred and oft-repeated words: Gloria in excelsis Deo. But to confirm the miracle they had made known to them, they said: Go see Him, and then you will believe and hold for certain what we announce to you. (Lk. 2:10-14).

Therefore our glorious saint, John the Baptist, after having long preached to his disciples the coming of our Lord, now sends them to Him not only that they may know Him, but still more that they make Him known to others.

• The Sermons of St. Francis de Sales for Advent and Christmas, pages 5 & 6