December 24/Christmas Eve
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way. ~ Luke 1.76
Our Advent preparations end with a poem of praise. Curiously, though, the praise is directed not to the Christ whose birth we celebrate tomorrow, but to Zechariah’s child, John the Baptist, the one who shall be called “the prophet of the Most High.” The final attainment of joy thus remains just beyond our reach. We are left on this eve of Christmas in a place of anticipation, certainly specific to the Advent season of expectation, but also applicable to all times in our lives. We wait for God’s kingdom to come even as we join hands with John and our fellow followers of Christ to start to bring that kingdom about in our own little corner of the world. Each of us has a role to play in the history of salvation, each of us is called to prepare the way for God and God’s glorious kingdom. The end of Advent always brings us full circle to a new beginning. Soon we must ready ourselves to follow in Christ’s footsteps as he traverses Galilee and makes his way to Jerusalem, to Calvary, and to the cross, ultimately arriving in that shining city where every tear will be wiped away. For the moment, however, we await tomorrow’s joy with keen anticipation, knowing that the Christmas dawn will surely break forth upon us with its beauteous, heavenly light.
Compassionate and generous God, shine on us as we grope in the darkness, and guide our feet in the way of peace – today, tomorrow, and forevermore. Amen.
For today’s readings, click here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122419.cfm
To hear the King’s College Choir (Cambridge) sing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcIIZpnZPgo
Here ends Keeping Advent 2019. Merry Christmas to all!
