John the Baptist’s cry echoes through Advent: “Make straight his paths.” It is a summons not only to prepare for the Lord’s coming but to reform our lives so that nothing hinders His presence.
But reform is never easy. Even when I recognize what needs to change, the question quickly arises: How am I going to change it? Too often, I reach for my own resources—self-help strategies, resolutions, or sheer willpower. Yet the Gospel reminds me that true reform is not a project of self-improvement. It is a work of grace.
Jesus does not ask me to rely on myself. He asks me to rely on Him. Grace is His gift, and it is powerful. I encounter that grace in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. I receive it in prayer, in acts of love, in sacrifices offered for others. Grace flows in countless ways because God is that generous.
With His help, the crooked places in my life can be straightened. With His help, the rough paths can be made smooth. Reform is not about what I can achieve alone—it is about what Christ accomplishes in me when I open my heart to Him.
This Advent, may we turn not to self-help plans but to the Lord Himself, trusting that His grace is enough to make straight the path.
Smitten With Goodness 