Reflection for the Second Sunday of Advent and Preparatory Catechesis for the Jubilee Year 2025 with Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati by Br. Karlo Cruz, Council Moderator of Frassati Society Philippines

As we light the second candle of Advent, the readings remind us of the call to renewal and repentance. True repentance goes beyond mere words of apology; it demands a sincere willingness to align our lives with God’s will.

In the Gospel, we encounter John the Baptist, who began his mission by preparing the way for the Lord. He challenges us today to do the same—to prepare our hearts for Jesus. What obstacles block Christ’s path into our lives? Perhaps sin, distractions, or spiritual laziness have created roadblocks. Advent invites us to remove these barriers, allowing God’s grace to flow freely.

Clearing the path for Christ involves a twofold effort: within ourselves and in our way of life. We need to address the sins and attitudes that impede God’s work — pride, bitterness, self-centeredness, lust, and more. These are not just personal faults; they are spiritual barricades that hinder the flow of grace. The more we allow these obstacles to remain, the less receptive we are to God’s transforming presence.

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati offers us a powerful example of how to prepare the way for the Lord. He began each day with his “appointment with the Lord,” prioritizing prayer and the sacraments. Only after strengthening his bond with Christ did he serve others—his friends, the poor, and the marginalized —bringing them not just material aid but also the presence of Jesus.

In 1921, during the Pax Romana Convention, Pier Giorgio significantly urged Catholic students to unite in the mission of universal peace, rooted in Christ. His faith extended beyond personal devotion to embody a life of active charity and evangelization. During the Holy Year of 1925, Pier Giorgio encouraged his sister Luciana to join him in making sacrifices, reminding her that even small acts of self-denial draw us closer to the Lord. In his final days, Pier Giorgio epitomized the Gospel’s call to love by ensuring a sick friend’s medical needs were met, despite his own suffering.

What can we learn from Pier Giorgio? Preparing the way for the Lord begins with preparing ourselves—cleansing our hearts and minds so our lives reflect God’s love and truth. Pier Giorgio’s life shows that holiness is not an abstract ideal but a daily journey of aligning ourselves with God’s will, sustained by His grace.

As we journey through Advent and look toward the Jubilee Year 2025, let us heed the call to be “pilgrims of hope.” Like Pier Giorgio, let us allow the beatitudes to guide our path, remembering that Christ comes not only in glory but in the ordinary moments of our lives. With every act of humility, every sacrifice, and every gesture of love, we echo the Baptist’s cry: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths” (Lk 3:4).

May we, like Pier Giorgio, live Advent in joyful anticipation, preparing not only for the coming of the Christ Child but for His transformative presence in every aspect of our lives.

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