Journeying Through the Desert of Life
Pastor’s Column
2nd Sunday of Advent
December 8, 2024
“Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight and the rough ways made smooth,
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God!”
Luke 3:5-6
The first and third readings today sound like a big construction project: valleys being filled in, mountains leveled, roads straightened, rough roads paved. Going through my “laryngitis journey” this week has made for a real the desert experience, and let’s face it, we all have challenging moments and sudden reversals when we find ourselves on a desert road.
The desert: A place of testing, of trial and deprivation, one of hunger and stark beauty, life and death. God often speaks in the desert places of our lives, when we have an opportunity to be purified by suffering or by having experienced a loss, or a deep hunger for God.
Valleys and mountains: Highs and lows. On the mountain we see clearly; we are exhilarated; we have achieved something; our path seems clear; the road ahead optimistic. A mountain also indicates that the road to the top may be arduous and steep, difficult to climb and full of dangers and difficulties. We may be tempted to give up, but this is part of the journey too.
The valley: During such times as these we are often sliding downhill (or seem to be). The view is limited; the way gets darker; the path is unknown; we may be in sin or depression or suffering. The valley often means suffering in scripture. Yes, we have been here too.
The winding road: What does this represent? Many switchbacks, goals that must be altered, the way seems unsure; we seem to be making little progress, we may get discouraged, we must travel slower than we wanted, life has brought us confusion. We may not know where we are going or if we are even on the right road at all: yet, through it all, we keep going.
The rough road: Our life is anything but smooth; it may seem that everything is coming apart. Gone is the smooth well-marked freeway. This bumpy back road is challenging and we would like it not to be so, but here also our greatest growth moments can occur.
God’s light will cut through all of this: All of these things are only a part of the journey. It is precisely in these kinds of difficulties: arduous climbs, depressing descents, confusing switchbacks in our progress, rough patches...... desert experiences...... that we find that God is most active. Our journey of life is not meant to be a freeway, so much as a hike; not easy, but challenging. We have the Holy Spirit as our guide and the Church, through whom he speaks, to lead us until we reach our home. Such is our life’s journey. He is always with us.
Father Gary
