There’s Still Time To Prepare for the Lord
Friends,
The theme of today, the fourth and last Sunday of Advent, could use the words of one of our hymns: “Soon and Very Soon, We Are Going to See the King.” The Gospel tells the story of the Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary and the real beginning of the birth narrative of Jesus. The first three weeks have come and gone, and we have only a few more days to prepare the way of the Lord. Some people say that the last two days before Christmas are very busy days to do last-minute shopping. It is not too late to DO SOMETHING … especially something for the poor or something for one of our alienated relatives or to reach out to some lonely neighbor. The secret is to really DO SOMETHING.
Christmas is a relational celebration. Jesus becomes one of us. That is relational. We give presents, and that is relational. We gather to praise and worship our Savior, and that is relational. We reach out to family and others, and that is relational. We join with our sisters and brothers in St. John’s at one of our Christmas Masses, and that too is relational.
May the Christ Child and Mary and Joseph smile on us and bless us during these last few days before Christmas.
Peace,
Fr. John Maxwell
