I think every parent has heard this quote - "Are we there yet?" - more times than they can count. Right now, everyone is extremely busy with the "holiday season" - shopping for Christmas presents, attending Christmas parties and plays, putting up Christmas lights and trees, and all sorts of other things. There's nothing wrong with those things - and yet, sometimes we have a tendency to "do Christmas" so much it's almost like Christmas is here!
Holy Mother Church is very wise. In the middle of all of the hustle and bustle, she says, "Wait. We're not there yet." She gives us a period of Advent before Christmas, a time to watch and wait, to anticipate the coming of the Christ Child. She also tells us about a vision of what will be - when the fullness of times comes and peace and justice are truly here: "Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall walk together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra's den, and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair. There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the water covers the sea." (Isiah 11:5-10)
Imagine! Think about this with people. Families who have hated each other for generations will sit down and eat together. Gangs that have tried to kill each other will set down their guns and weapons and play together. Bullies will carry the lunch trays of the children they have bullied. Young children will play outside in the inner cities with no fear of being killed by stray bullets. Co-workers who have not been able to even speak to each other will be able to accomplish the greatest of things by working together. Imagine! Isn't this a wonderful world to look forward to?
John the Baptist, Jesus' cousin, spoke out in the Judean desert over 2,000 years ago. He told people, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths!" (Matthew 3:1) What is one small thing that we can do to help make this vision of peace a reality? Can we apologize to someone we have hurt? Can we forgive someone who has hurt us? Can we help support ministries that help provide shelter and care for those who are suffering? It doesn't have to be a big gesture. Mother Theresa always said she simply "did small things with great love". Her impact is still felt today. Maybe, in the middle of this Advent season, in the middle of all the shopping and "do-ing", we can take time out in our day to do our part to "prepare the way of the Lord"
Have a Blessed Advent!
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