Fourth Sunday of Advent - Straighten Up

As it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet: A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.
Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be brought low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways plain.
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. 
Luke 3:4-6

Methinks I see a message here... ! Better straighten up before the straightening up is done for us... !

St. John the Baptist so often carries a reed cross in reference to Christ's words:
And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: What went you out into the desert to see? a reed shaken with the wind?
Matthew 11:7

Our Lord is saying that St. John the Baptist is no weak, ordinary man who is so easily shaken as most men are. (men as in mankind)

On the reed cross is often a banner that reads:
Ecce Agnus Dei... Behold the Lamb of God

The unshakable reed is made straight, made strong through the Lamb of God, through His Sacrifice.  It is the only Way to be made straight and strong... through the Lamb... the Victim of Sacrifice.... The One Who would sacrifice Himself for our sins.