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?
3 comments:
Good ponderings, Karen. Not to mention that Advent is also waiting on the second coming...don't hear many rousing sermons about that these days, do ya? We get so focused on the baby (we LOVE babies, don't we?) and gifts (we LOVE to give and receive them), we miss John's message for the everyday. Advent at its best is waiting to experience God with us everyday! Thanks....
Thanks, Erika.
I'm preaching Sunday and this was my test post before I published this over on the Virtual Cove. I was planning to take it down from here, but since you commented so kindly...
And over your way I posted this:
At least you get the Song of Zechariah on Sunday!
I actually did the Song of Zechariah on Nov. 26th...we started Advent a week early and plan to do Xmas eve both in the morning & evening here. I talked about Elizabeth & Zechariah as an important prequel (like the Hobbit to LOTR) that often gets left out of the Nativity story....and by the way, in the morning prayer liturgy, did you know that the Canticle of Zechariah is sung everyday in hope and anticipation, or dare I say preparation for Emmanuel, God with us? A sign of things to come!
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