Advent is often described as a time of waiting for the arrival of Christ in the manger on Christmas Eve, celebrated each year in Christ's Mass -- Christmas.
Last week on the first Sunday in Advent, we were told of signs of something yet to come, signs of something spectacular, signs of the bold presence of God among us.
Every second Sunday in Advent, like a crazy uncle (sorry, Mom) come early for the holidays, we get John the Baptist,
wild-eyed and intent on delivering the word of God that has come to him in the wilderness.
John tells us to prepare the way for the Lord. He even offers a few helpful tips: repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. He foretells of the one who will come to baptize not with water but with the Holy Spirit.
But what is our response to that grace? How do we prepare ourselves not just for the arrival of Christ at Christmas but for the presence of Emmanuel -- God among us -- every day?
We'll also hear from the prophet Malachi and we may even spend some time with the prophetic song of Zechariah.
What are your thoughts?
1 comment:
I suspect we're not supposed to think we know what to look for too much--and certainly not supposed to let Christmas become too "pretty." Ol' John B keeps us guessing, and reminds us that God's spirit is powerful and crazy and just might shake us up (in, ultimately, a good way...)
So, how do we get ready for something that we won't expect? (Or, how do we live in expectation of something we couldn't even really imagine?)
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