What would you feel and how would you react if you knew everything that is waiting for you? David Whyte’s poetic lines - ‘To feel abandoned is to deny the intimacy of your surroundings. Surely, even you, at times, have felt the grand array; the swelling presence, and the chorus, crowding out your solo voice.’ Could this be John the Baptist's experience too? His solo voice soon became the chorus of voices of the Church, to prepare the Way of the Lord by straightening our paths of hospitality and loyalty.

Advent is closely associated with “Prepare well.” This theme runs through the readings of Prophet Baruch and St Paul’s letter to the Philipians. Despite the exiles’ mourning and destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem the prophet Baruch extols the exiles to prepare for their return in glory since God has named them “Peace through integrity and honour through devotedness.” Then St Paul further exhorts, “the One who began this work in you will see it is finished when the Day of Jesus Christ comes.”

As we respond to the voice of John in the wilderness, let us remember that repentance and forgiveness are part of the preparation. Only with this interior disposition in us would the resounding voices of joy of the carols at the malls and homes be meaningful and awaken people from “their slumber that the salvation of God is at hand.” Everything resounds with joy to one who prepares well.