THE WORD IN ADVENT
December 23, 2021: Fourth Thursday in Advent
Malachi 3:1-4,23-24; Luke 1:57-66
I send you a prophet, to prepare the way before the One who is to come - John was prefigured by Elijah and so many other prophets. Another way of saying is, John brought to climax and completion, the work that was entrusted to the numerous prophets sent to the people of Israel - to call people's attention to the path of life that lies before them.
Behold I place before you, life and death, it depends on you what you choose! This has been the warning that the Lord has been giving us, right from the beginning, to remind us of the great gift of personal freedom that we possess and of the important task entrusted to us.
The Rising Dawn is a great symbol of the enlightenment that the Lord offers for our life and life choices. We are called to see clearly, choose rightly and live freely, our faith and all that pertains to our Christian faith. Prophets abound even today: they could be around us, just beside us, working with us in our work places, living with us in our homes, walking with us on our daily journey... anyone could be sent to bring God's light into your lives: just pay attention - his or her name could be John!