A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
    make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
⁴ Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
⁵ Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together,
    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:3-5)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace to you from God our heavenly Father and Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. Amen.

As Autumn moves into full swing, sometimes events more closely resemble a stampeding mob than moments of enjoyment. As a society (at least according to our retail shops) we are always looking for the next big thing. Today’s holiday is tomorrow’s clearance deal. At times it can seem like we are rushing so fast toward the next event, we miss the joy of the present moment.

The season of Advent is designed to slow us down to prepare us for the greatest gift – the coming of the Messiah. This year we do run into a bit of an issue with the fourth Sunday of Advent falling on December 24^th, but we still have a few weeks to prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of the Christ. During this time, we call our attention to the amazing gift God gives the world in revealing His glory to us in the form of His Son. We call our attention to God making a new covenant with humanity.

“And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) We are witnesses to this amazing blessing. We have heard the good news. We have seen the glory. God took on human form to facilitate reconciliation. God mends the brokenness in our lives with grace and love. Jesus comes to repair the cracks and chasms between the world and God.

We prepare by declaring the works of God and proclaiming Christ in our words and actions. God calls us to help prepare not only ourselves, but the world, for His coming. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”” (Isaiah 52:7).

We join our voices and actions with those of the angels, the shepherds, Anna, Simeon, the magi, John the Baptist, the disciples, and all the saints to “Sing a new song to the Lord, who has done  marvelous things” (Psalm 98:1a). This is part and parcel of preparing ourselves and the world for the coming of the kingdom. We share the Good News we have received. We shout it from the mountains and the plains, “Jesus Christ is come!”

The grace and peace which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.