At Mass today on the third Sunday of Advent the rose coloured candle is illuminated on our Advent wreath and the priest wears rose vestments. The change of colour and the joyful message of the liturgy indicate that the coming of the Messiah is drawing near – prompting us to prepare with expectant hearts to welcome the child Jesus with love and joy into our lives this Christmas.
Perhaps it is an opportune time to reflect & contemplate on what the Christmas season really means to me. Will I rejoice, “shout for joy”, and exalt with all my heart in anticipation of the coming of our Saviour and King as the message of the prophet Zephaniah suggests in today’s First Reading? How well have I prepared to welcome the Messiah? Have I made time to quieten my mind to listen for his gentle voice prompting me to prepare the way?
Often we can best encounter God’s loving presence in the silence of our hearts. The coming of God into the world as a child reminds us of the real treasures of our faith. Faith is a gift freely given to us by God the Father, who wants us to rejoice because he is always with us. Moreover he sends Jesus into the world as our loving Saviour and redeemer who reveals to us the plan of salvation and eternal happiness with him in heaven.
Receiving a gift usually brings us joy and the gift of faith is not unlike any other gift – we can use it or leave it aside. Consider the example of young children opening their Christmas presents. Imagine their wonder and awe, their sense of joy and gratitude as they receive their gifts. Children have a natural dependency on others and respond with openness, simplicity and trust in forming loving relationships with those closest to them. Maybe we can try to adapt the psyche of little children as we wait and prepare to welcome the child Jesus this Christmas.
In small ways we can witness to the presence of Christ in our own lives by showing a similar eagerness as the people to whom John the Baptist is preaching to in today’s Gospel. They were looking forward to the coming of the Messiah so much that they wondered whether John himself could be the Christ. We too can rejoice and welcome Jesus who comes eagerly to meet us, dancing with joy, as the prophet Zephaniah reminds us: – “He will exult with joy over you, he will renew you by his love; he will dance with shouts of joy for you”.
In my prayer today I acknowledge God’s loving presence in my life, and consider what I can do this week to help prepare the way for Jesus. I thank Yahweh for guiding me on this Advent journey and pray that inspired by faith, hope & love I may be ready to welcome the child Jesus into my heart and into my home on Christmas day. Amen.
