Introductory Prayer: Lord, help me to understand the depth of the love you showed for me by being born a man. Open my heart to allow your love to come in and guide all the actions of my life. When you come, may you find me eagerly watching in joyful prayer. 

Petition: Lord, you became man out of love for me. You have humbly made yourself like me in order to reach my cold heart. Help me to prepare for your arrival this Christmas. Help me to be ready and watchful. 

Gospel: Lk 3:1-6 

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. He went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'" 

1. Salvation Is Coming.

This Gospel passage places us squarely in the middle of the crowd hearing John's words. The Israel of New Testament times was hungering for a Messiah, chafing under the harsh peace imposed by the Roman Empire and unable to find real justification and forgiveness of sins in the Torah. We share this sense of expectation and preparation, waiting in these last days of Advent for the Savior promised by God. 

We are waiting, watching and anxious for the Messiah. "Watch therefore for you know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of Man comes.

The excitement and tension were overflowing at the banks of the Jordan as the Pharisees asked John if he was the one to come, or if they should look for another. "Who are you? Are you Elijah? Are you the Prophet? Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?"

It reinforces our sense of humility. We are waiting for God to act, and no mere human can give us what we are thirsting for from him. The millennia have passed, and many "messiahs" have come and gone with greater or lesser successes and greater or lesser fanfare, but only Christ satisfies the longing of our hearts. 

We are longing for the prophecies of Isaiah to be fulfilled, longing like a drought-stricken field for rain, longing like a prisoner for freedom. We are longing to see God face-to-face, hoping to have the veil of the Old Testament tabernacle removed. 

John speaks to our hearts and gives us new hope for the Messiah. The striking prophecies that every valley would be filled and that every mountain and hill would be made low ring in our ears. Did not the Psalmist write "Send forth your Spirit... and you will renew the face of the earth"? Just think how this long-awaited power of God can reshape our hearts, bring us peace and forgiveness, bring resolution to conflict and love to all people. 

2. "Prepare the Way of the Lord." 

John fills this longing and answers our questions in an unexpected way. "His ways are not our ways": God knew that we needed a preparation for Christ's coming that would cleanse us from our false perceptions of him. 

Some Jews were hoping for a brilliant political-military Messiah to bring freedom from Rome. Today, we more often hope for a cotton-candy Jesus who makes us feel good and doesn't make any demands on us. 

"Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths!" If we continue reading John's exhortation, he continues, "Produce good fruits as evidence of your repentance; even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire... Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise." 

He doesn't want a warm and misty Advent. "His ways are not our ways." The surreal figure of this man clad in camel's hair and leather belt preaching from his desert calls us to radical repentance. What is there in my life that he is speaking about? What are the obstacles that separate me from God? Advent offers us the time to turn over these questions slowly and deeply. 

In less than two weeks Mary and Joseph are going to be looking for a room in Bethlehem. Christ needs a place to stay in the inn. Will the door of my heart be open to him? Will he find my heart already warm with charity and spacious with generosity, or is it cold and sealed off? 

It is a time of anticipation, and no one quite knows what to expect. Already our perceptions have been jarred by the ascetic prophet in the desert, and my life seems a little less comfortable and a little unsure now. What is there in my life that he wants to make smooth and straighten out? 

Thanks to John the Baptizer, we know a little bit more how to prepare. Christ, the "salvation of God," is coming. 

Will I be ready? 

Questionnaire: This optional questionnaire is intended to help you examine your life in the light of the inspirations God just gave you in these moments you shared with him in prayer.

1.  In what way do I reflect in my preparations for Christmas the excited Christian expectation for the coming of our Savior? How do my preparations go beyond the externals, presents, parties of the feast? 

2.  Do I realize the size of the gift that God wants to give me: Christ who wants to come again as a Child in my heart? 

3.  What light does Christ's generosity shed on the direction I should give to my life?