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It is Gaudete Sunday! We light the ROSE colored candle and wear ROSE colored vestments. (NOT pink!)
You guys don’t need a long homily this week. This one is only 439 more words.
Last week, I spoke about John the Baptist in his role as prophet calling people back to fidelity to the covenant. In that role, he reminds us of our need to repent and make way for the Lord in our hearts. This is especially apt for us in Advent since it is a season of penitential preparation. The best way is for us to avail ourselves of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Kingdom of God is at hand!
This week, I will concentrate on John’s role as Herald of the Messiah. In ancient and medieval times, a herald had a very specific role in the life of the kingdom. Unlike today, where all we have to do is turn on our TV to see the leaders of government, in ancient and medieval times, the King traveled around the kingdom so people could physically see him and interact with him. Often people would only see their king once in their lifetime. The herald arrived several weeks ahead of time to prepare the people and the town to receive the king. He would announce the king’s coming, instruct them in questions of etiquette, and help them clean up and decorate the town. Travel being what it was in those days, the exact time of arrival was somewhat flexible. Thus, the people had to be ready at a moment’s notice for the king’s arrival. John is very much the herald of the Christ, preparing the people to receive him when he manifested himself.
In a similar way, we need to prepare our hearts and our homes for the coming of the Lord. There are some very practical ways to do this. Clutter is bad! Get rid of stuff you don’t need. Is there a coat or other article of clothing you haven’t worn in a while? Give it to the clothing drive!
What about spiritual clutter? Get rid of your sins in Confession. Clear some time in your schedule for prayer, perhaps in the One Percent Challenge!
As prophet, John’s example exhorts us to turn from our sins and return to the Lord in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As herald, John reminds us that Christ will come in glory at the end of the age. Let us prepare ourselves well as we await the coming of the Lord. Let us make a highway to our hearts for the coming of our God.