One of the common sights of the Christmas season is the poinsettia plant with its red leaves. However, perhaps you did not know that the leaves are not red when the plant grows, but green. The green leaves will not turn red unless the plant is subjected to a controlled sequence of light and darkness for an entire month. So the timing is perfected to have poinsettia with red leaves for Christmas!
The church sets aside the month before Christmas for the season of Advent to prepare for the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We know that this year’s Advent season is even shorter, with the start of Advent on December 1st. We see that the poinsettia will not be ready for Christmas, unless there’s intervention, action taken. In a similar way, we must take action to be ready for the birth of Jesus. You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand. We are invited in the Letter of St. James not be swept away by the current of anxiety that often comes with the Christmas season’s preparations. We make our hearts firm, steadfast and focused on Jesus Christ. As the saying goes: “Jesus is the reason for the season.” Jesus will take care of all that we truly need.
Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. The first reading from Isaiah reminds us that Jesus came to save us. Yes, Jesus saved us from sin and death, but we must freely choose to live in the freedom that Jesus won for us – to live free of sin. Then we can experience joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.
St. John the Baptist pointed the people to the Messiah. Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare the way before you. We too are called to lead others to Jesus Christ, through our loving words and actions.
We pray in the words of our Psalm response: Lord, come and save us.
God bless us all always!
Deacon Mike