Advent: Catholic ReflectionsMuestra

Our Bible readings today focus once again on John the Baptist. As we have read before, John is the prophet foretold; he is Elijah come again; he is the hinge point between the Old Testament prophets and the Messiah; he is the one who prepares the way for Christ and proclaims the coming of the kingdom. John the Baptist constantly points us toward Jesus; 'look at him,' John cries, 'see him for who he really is,' 'make yourself ready to receive him,' - this is John's message. And so with such a short time left till we celebrate the Incarnation, we make ourselves ready; we repent of our sins; and we too, like John, proclaim the coming of the kingdom and that the Lord is close at hand.