December is a time of planning – often the planning starts in September or October. Typically, we spent a lot of time in this season planning for all the celebrations: Christmas, New Year, and Epiphany. We seem to be experts on planning parties and fun. After all the planning comes the actual celebrations or parties. And of course, we are even better experts on fun. Then it is all over. Nothing has really changed in our world or in us.
Advent is a time of preparation for our encounter with the Prince of Peace. The preparation is meant to cause a real change in us. Today Isaiah tells us God’s plan; he explains to us how we are to prepare for the coming of the Prince of Peace: “observe what is just and do what is right”. One Spanish translation changes the “observe what is just” to “be just and impartial with others” or “protect the justice of others”. Peace is produced when we live treating others justly – that is putting other people’s rights and justice first above our own.
John the Baptist’s teachings are a foundation for our encounter with Jesus. Even though the Baptist’s call the conversion is uncomfortable for us, he is part of planning a new way to experience God in our daily life. Today Jesus says he has a testimony that is greater than John’s. A lifestyle rooted in living justly with others produces in us a real encounter, a real communion with the Prince of Peace.
It is time for us to put more time and effort into planning our encounter with the Prince of Peace than we do in planning celebrations, feasts, and parties.
Image: https://www.regnumchristi.org/en/august-16-2020-ask-and-you-shall-receive/.