The readings for the Second Week of Advent offer us both encouragement and challenge during this brief but important season of the liturgical year. Recall from last week that the purpose of this season is reflection on and preparation for the two “comings” of Christ — His coming as a baby on the great feast of Christmas, and the anticipation of His second coming at the end of time. The Lord has done great things for us we are filled with joy.  Today we focus on the greatest gift of all.  The advent school of John the Baptist.  The voice, “of one crying out…  In the ancient world the bridges and roads were a mess.  Anytime a dignitary would come to town they would have to fix the roads and more or less rebuild them. So it was easy to make a parallel to rough roads, hills and valleys.