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The Baptist’s cry is familiar to us all: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at
hand! His is the voice crying out in
the desert of two thousand years of longing: prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths – for he is
very near! Very many in John’s time did heed
his voice, and come to him for the baptism of repentance, but many did not heed his voice, and did not prepare the way and when the Lord
finally came they did not even notice
– except to count him an impostor.
For
us, two thousand years from the time of John the Baptist and the
historical Jesus – we still need to be reminded to prepare the way of the Lord, and to make straight his paths as we take
our turn to watch spiritually for his first
coming – so that we can enter more deeply into it this year; and as we wait
for his future coming when he will come to inaugurate the new heaven and the
new earth as he said he would; but we must also prepare ourselves for Jesus
to come to us every day as we pray, as we attend Mass, as we study holy things,
as we help one another out in his name.
In
living from day to day we must judge wisely the things of earth and use and engage in only those
things that will advance the coming of the Kingdom of God in its fullness. We must produce the fruits of good works
as evidence of our desire to repent and
change our lives for the better.
If
we live “advent lives” day in and day out, then it matters not
what day the Lord does comes again, for
we shall be ready! And all those who believe in him and can prove it by
works of love will be greatly rewarded!
Prepare the way of the Lord; for all flesh shall see the salvation of
God!
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