Is 40:1-11 Ps 96:1-2, 3 and 10ac, 11-12, 13 Mt 18:12-14

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

“A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!” Isaiah 40:3

This is likely one of the most common Biblical references to the season of Advent. This is indeed a season of anticipation and reflection as millions around the world prepare to once again receive the Christ child into their lives. Each candle of the Advent wreath reminds us that Christmas is near. There are fifteen days remaining in the season. Young children will be eagerly counting the days through Advent calendars. What will we do to “prepare the way” for Christ? For college students, this can be a difficult question to answer. In the midst of finals and term papers, the spirit and hope of advent may be buried somewhere in our backpacks. Adults will be entrenched in the business of their own lives. We must remember, however, that there is much to be done to truly make a path for Jesus in our world.

“Though the grass withers and the flower wilts, the word of our God stands forever.”

The solution to our task comes from the passage above. We hear every year that we must keep the focus of Advent on Christ, not on material possessions. This is an important point. However, there are actions of equal importance, including service to the homeless, companionship with the elderly, and protection of the vulnerable. These actions speak volumes about our Christian mission. While Advent may be a time for reflection and anticipation, it is also a time to act upon our beliefs. Let us be the fire for others in the world just as Christ is the fire for our own lives.