PREPARING TO PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS - One Bread, One Body, 12/14/2024

Saturday, December 14, 2024, St. John of the Cross

Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11
Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
Matthew 17:9-13

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PREPARING TO PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS
"Elijah has already come, but they did not recognize him." —Matthew 17:12

The prophetic ministry of Elijah prepared the way for the prophetic ministry of St. John the Baptizer. John prophesied “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Lk 1:17). Jesus even stated that John the Baptizer “is Elijah” (Mt 11:14). Elijah prepared the way for John, who came to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Mt 3:3). God prepared the way for His Son’s coming for centuries. He sent prophet after prophet. He gave visions, warnings, and encouragements. In fact, the entire Old Testament points to the coming of Jesus, the Messiah.

If God, Who is all-knowing and always ready, spent centuries preparing “a people well-disposed” (Lk 1:17), then we, who know so little and are often unprepared for the future, surely need at least four weeks of Advent to prepare for Christ’s Christmas coming. We need Elijah’s ministry of fire (Sir 48:1, 3) to burn away the “holiday” distractions and fill us with the fire of the Holy Spirit. We need to be immersed in repentance this Advent (Mk 1:4). Our sincere Advent Confession removes both mountains as well as “speed bumps” of sin (see Lk 3:5), which prevent us from being quick to welcome Jesus. Instead of preparing for the “holidays” by attending Christmas parties, we need to prepare for “Christ-Mass” by attending Advent banquets, that is, Masses, Eucharistic banquets of the Lamb. “Prepare the way of the Lord” this Advent and have the Christmas of a lifetime.

Prayer: Father, this Advent may I "learn to value the things that really matter" in life (Phil 1:10). I devote my life to seeking Jesus.

Promise: "Give us new life, and we will call upon Your name." —Ps 80:19

Praise: St. John of the Cross taught that someone who seeks happiness in the world is like "a famished person who opens his mouth to satisfy himself with air."

(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

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