Advent is such a hopeful time!  We adults understand preparing space for the graces of the coming Christ, making room in our hearts for peace and promise of Christmas.  I love the mindful effort, particularly in the midst of all the other preparations that seem to draw our attention from this more sacred task.

For the children among us (or for those of us with childlike spirits!) folklore and the "possibilities" of a Santa gifting only to "good" children looms large!  Do you remember as a child hearing admonitions to be "good" because Santa was watching??  I certainly do!  And in a family with five siblings, we worked a bit to hold each other accountable to the impossible expectation of perfect behavior.  Or, we may have occasionally tattled out of childish jealousy, thinking we'd set ourselves apart as most deserving!  But at the end of each holiday, I recall that we all knew we were lucky, and grateful for what we had received (although I'm confident we lacked the perspective to know just how privileged we were).

On reading Isaiah for today's reflection, my mind went temporarily back to those joyful childhood days.  While there is no longer need for any of us to behave in a particular fashion to gain a red-suited Santa's favor, Isaiah reminds us that the LORD wants to teach us the way we should go in the world.  Who we should strive to be.  And in this case, we DO know just how privileged we are to have this invitation!  If we are to keep God's commandments, the LORD promises us prosperity.  Isaiah's wording ensures that we won't confuse prosperity to be worldly wealth; rather, we understand it to be the prosperity of God's presence, not just with us as individuals, but with our descendants as many as grains of sand: each of us and our own, for now and into eternity.  Oh, I pray that it can be so!  

From today's Responsorial Psalm: 

Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked...
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

Thank you, LORD, for giving these readers and all of your children the light of life, and being ever-present with us.  Throughout Advent and in preparation for Christmas, may we all be aware and give thanks to you for your light, your presence, and all of our blessings.  For those who may lack awareness of these gifts, we ask that you grant them your peace and your grace.  Amen.