REFLECTION

Gospel

The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.

Luke 3: 10-18

Reflection

Sometimes in our adult lives we may get a little cynical this time of year. All the craziness of the lights, the extra items on the “to do” list, and the overemphasis on consumerism draws us in the opposite direction from feelings of peace and joy. 

It is easy to get caught up in the craziness and it's even easier to get a little grumpy, it seems. But, thinking about ourselves as a young child makes us think that the Christmas craziness is not all bad. I’m sure that part of the excitement all those years ago came from being excited for Santa Claus. I know that the Christmas lights that hung in my home and my neighbour’s homes touched me in a special way. Perhaps God is not just touching us through Midnight Mass, but also through the Christmas crazies. Christ is present and available to us through everything we experience in the lead up to Christmas Eve. Even in the craziness, let us hope to be present to as much as we are able this Christmas season so that we can experience the Reality that is the Season. There is good reason to “Rejoice!” because “The Lord is near.”