In today’s liturgy we hear again the lonely voice of John the Baptism calling us to prepare a way for the Lord.
The First Reading (Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11). The people are urged to prepare a way for the Lord who is coming to save them.
The Second Reading (2 Peter 3:8-14). If the Lord appears to be slow in coming, it is to give people an opportunity to be ready to meet him when he comes.
Gospel (Mark 1:1-8). John the Baptist urges the people to prepare for the imminent coming of the Saviour.

The First Reading is a message of hope and consolation addressed to the exiles in Babylon. Humanly speaking, at that time there was little ground for hope. Yet the prophet assures his people that God is about to come to their aid, and will lead them back to their own land in a new exodus. Even though the actual return from exile fell far short of the glowing picture painted here, Isaiah’s words point the way to the messianic era.

This leads into the Gospel. Like a new Elijah, John appears in the desert and announces the coming of the redeemer – Jesus, the Christ and Son of God (two Christological titles with which Mark begins his Gospel). Both readings issue a call to repentance: ‘Prepare a way for the Lord.’

In the Second Reading Peter is talking about the second coming. The reason for the Lord’s delay is to give everybody an opportunity to repent.