Writing these reflections can sometimes seem anachronistic, since we write at least a couple weeks ahead. When I’m writing this it’s before Christmas in the middle of Advent, but when you’re reading it, it’s after Epiphany. During Ordinary Time it’s not so bad, but sometimes I feel a little seasonally out of sorts. In real time now, I’m trying to finish the semester and get ready for Christmas, and I’m sort of in holiday panic mode. But I have to write like it’s all over and almost time to go back to school again. I’m trying to get through the next day while ‘pretending’ it’s three weeks in the future. But the readings today help me out a little. We get a quote from Isaiah’s Advent passages as Jesus fulfills the prophecies. During Advent we’re all about the preparations, preparing the way for the Lord, getting everything ready for Christmas. But it can be easy to get caught up and overwhelmed by the preparations themselves. Right now I’m trying to finish grades, get the house ready for family gatherings for Christmas, and get my shopping done. There’s so much to get done and so little time. Grades have to be in tomorrow. The family will be here Christmas eve. It can be easy to get caught up in all the stuff and forget the real purpose. Looking ahead to January 7, it’s next year already. The holidays are over. School starts this week. And this is what all that advent preparation was all about. The Kingdom of heaven is at hand. We have prepared a way for the Lord, and he has come. We are the people who were in darkness, but now we have seen the great light. Our preparations were appropriate and successful, and the Lord is here. |