My Sisters and Brothers:
These days, many of us are doing a lot of preparing; we are cleaning our living rooms and rearranging the furniture in order to find the perfect spot for our Christmas trees, we are taking boxes of decorations out of storage and we are putting up colorful holiday displays around the house and yard, we are making trips to the mall and shopping for gifts, we are making lists of friends and relatives and we are writing greetings and mailing Christmas cards to them, we are planning menus and making arrangements for family get-togethers and holiday parties, etc., etc. There are so many things to do in order to get ready for all of the holiday activities and festivities in which we are engaged.
Most of the time, it seems to me, these “preparatory activities” before the actual celebration of Christmas are filled with a lot of fun and great pleasure and joy! Sometimes, unfortunately, it also seems to me that the things we need to do in preparation for the holidays can also cause us a lot of stress!
These days, in the midst of all of these activities in which we are involved, we also have the opportunity to hear the story of Saint John the Baptist, and about his special role in preparing people for the coming of the Lord. Today and next Sunday, our Gospel readings tell us about his prophetic role as the precursor to the Messiah. Echoing words from the Old Testament prophets, Saint John the Baptist proclaims in today’s Gospel: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths!” (see Mark 1:3b)
As we go about our business of preparing and doing everything that we must in order to get ready for the celebration of Christmas, may we also use these activities as a kind of reminder of a greater reality pressed upon us who are people of faith: We are called to “prepare the way of the Lord” in our own lives. As Christians, may the things we do at this time of the year, all things, great and small, always remind us of the true preparatory meaning of this season.
Let us make ready our hearts and minds, indeed our very lives, for the coming of the Lord! May we heed the cry of John the Baptist, and prepare well. Of course, as we do this, let’s not forget to turn away from sin, to change our hearts, and to be completely open to receiving the presence of God in our lives, both today and forever. Stay focused my friends!
Praise God! Friar Timothy
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These days, many of us are doing a lot of preparing; we are cleaning our living rooms and rearranging the furniture in order to find the perfect spot for our Christmas trees, we are taking boxes of decorations out of storage and we are putting up colorful holiday displays around the house and yard, we are making trips to the mall and shopping for gifts, we are making lists of friends and relatives and we are writing greetings and mailing Christmas cards to them, we are planning menus and making arrangements for family get-togethers and holiday parties, etc., etc. There are so many things to do in order to get ready for all of the holiday activities and festivities in which we are engaged.
Most of the time, it seems to me, these “preparatory activities” before the actual celebration of Christmas are filled with a lot of fun and great pleasure and joy! Sometimes, unfortunately, it also seems to me that the things we need to do in preparation for the holidays can also cause us a lot of stress!
These days, in the midst of all of these activities in which we are involved, we also have the opportunity to hear the story of Saint John the Baptist, and about his special role in preparing people for the coming of the Lord. Today and next Sunday, our Gospel readings tell us about his prophetic role as the precursor to the Messiah. Echoing words from the Old Testament prophets, Saint John the Baptist proclaims in today’s Gospel: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths!” (see Mark 1:3b)
As we go about our business of preparing and doing everything that we must in order to get ready for the celebration of Christmas, may we also use these activities as a kind of reminder of a greater reality pressed upon us who are people of faith: We are called to “prepare the way of the Lord” in our own lives. As Christians, may the things we do at this time of the year, all things, great and small, always remind us of the true preparatory meaning of this season.
Let us make ready our hearts and minds, indeed our very lives, for the coming of the Lord! May we heed the cry of John the Baptist, and prepare well. Of course, as we do this, let’s not forget to turn away from sin, to change our hearts, and to be completely open to receiving the presence of God in our lives, both today and forever. Stay focused my friends!
Praise God! Friar Timothy
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