Jesus is the Light of the World, and if we look around us with our eyes of faith, everything should look different. We should recognize the blessings of the Lord and give thanks for them. We should acknowledge that Christ came for ALL of us - not just a select few who believe they follow the rules more and are holier than others. And we have been blessed, so we are called to present our gifts to Christ - to use our gifts and talents to help others understand the Gospel message. We are called to share the Word and use our gifts to help others see with THEIR eyes of faith and to join the Kingdom on Earth!

Families truly can be the building blocks of a strong and just society - but they absolutely must be founded on love because, as St. Paul tells us, love is the glue that binds us together in perfect harmony. And if God is love and love is our ultimate goal, then the members of any family - regardless of what that family looks like or how complicated it is or what sort of adversity they’ve faced - the members of that family can clothe themselves in love - doing it all in the name of Jesus - and, in doing so, truly give thanks to God!

The Old Testament is littered with all the clues we need to solve the mystery of the Incarnation. Piece these clues together and we can show the world that Christ was the Lord’s only begotten son. It had been foretold 1,000 years before Jesus’ birth and we’ve had 2,000 years since that time to consider what it truly means to us and to the world! And just like Mary, we’re all being called to serve the Lord. As Christians, what we need to decide is whether or not we have the courage to say “yes!”

Far too many “devout Catholics” spend waaaay too much time arguing over the rules and nowhere near enough time performing service or ministering to the poor and the marginalized. Oh they’ll study about it and argue about it - but what are they DOing about it? During Advent, we need to remember that preparing for the coming of Christ includes reflecting back on the Incarnation but it’s also very much about accepting Jesus into our hearts and into our lives TODAY!

The season of Advent challenges us to focus on the coming of the Lord, which can seem like something in the distant future. But this week we see that the call from Isaiah - and the call of John the Baptist - is the call of Advent. It's a call from the past, present, and future. It’s a call to change. It’s a call to a true conversion of the heart. And it’s a call for all of us to prepare ourselves and then wait patiently, but confidently, for the coming of the Lord!

Seneca said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” The idea, of course, is that luck doesn’t just happen on its own. We appear to get "lucky" because we were actually well-prepared. During this season of Advent, no matter how far we may have “strayed,” we have the grace to prepare ourselves. And whether we’re preparing for the Incarnation or the end times, our God is ready and willing to give us a hand!