Nov. 28 "Behold, I am bringing you good news of great joy"

Monday, November 28 | Matthew 3:1-6

There is so much preparation that our society expects this time of year. Prepare the Christmas list, prepare the house, prepare the tree, and prepare for the family to visit. It’s easy to mishear John the Baptist’s words, “prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight” as a call to “Prepare for Christmas.” As if John the Baptist, eating his locusts and wearing his camel-skin clothing, calls out in the wilderness to be sure we have selected the perfect gifts for each person on our Christmas list, have prepared an elegant feast for twelve, and have our home perfectly decorated with twinkle lights aglow and chestnuts roasting on the fire.

Perhaps we mishear John the Baptist’s call to “prepare the way of the Lord” because wrapping a gift and preparing a pie feels easier than the work of repentance. John the Baptist calls us to “prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.” This type of preparation requires us to consider how, and if, our lives reflect the grace and mercy of God. This type of preparation requires us to repent of the ways that we have fallen short in our love of God and neighbor and then reconcile ourselves with God and others. This type of preparation goes well beyond the trappings of a beautiful Christmas dinner and into our daily habits and practices.

Amid the preparation of the Christmas list and the Christmas meal, let us prayerfully prepare our hearts and lives for the gift of Christ. As we pray this Advent season, ask God to increase our love for others. May we prayerfully repent of our sins against God and neighbor so that our hearts are ready to receive the joyous gift of Christ this Christmas and prepared to live as those who share his love and mercy in this and every season.

Amen.

– Rev. Dr. Sarah Allen (MDiv’07, DMin’19) Director of Ministerial Formation and Advanced Studies