My Dear Friends,

Very shortly it will be Christmas and I think it's important for us to understand how to really get ready for Christmas. "As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, 'Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert; Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.' " (Mk 1:2-3) This reference to John the Baptist and the message of John is as timely today as it was then because we all have the responsibility to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ. Be ready! Be prepared! Occupy until I return! We have this kind of word from Jesus Himself. 

Handel's "Messiah", a beautiful classic, often performed at Christmas exclaims, "A voice cries out in the wilderness; prepare the way of the Lord." I think we need to address ourselves to this very idea of "wilderness." Where is this "wilderness"? Today we may find the "wilderness" downtown, in a shopping center. It may be filled with all kinds of supposedly Christmas ideas and gifts and decorations, but it may be true "wilderness" because the Lord is not there. 

People flocked from all around, from Jerusalem, from Judea, from Galilee, from the tent cities all over, coming to John. They came to him by the river Jordan to confess their sins and to hear the word proclaimed by John the Baptist who was clothed in camel's hair; who wore a leather belt around his waist; whose food was grasshoppers and wild honey. 

John's special theme was "One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals." (Mk 1-...7) God was made present by the preaching of John the Baptist. In the wilderness the salvation of God was clearly seen. So as we say or sing today, "A voice cries out in the wilderness, let us again ask, Where is this "wilderness"? 

Could it be in our streets, in the minds and conversations of those persons walking along whose souls are in darkness, notwithstanding the fact that there may be decorations with all kinds of Christmas lights and Christmas symbols? Could the "wilderness" also be in our homes? Our homes may be "wildernesses" if the word of the Lord has not been heard; if the presence of God is not felt; if the salvation of God is not accepted and received with thanksgiving. When I was a little boy my father would take the family for a drive to see the decorations of the homes. We'd just be in awe as we'd go from one home to another. Occasionally we would find a home with nothing; black, pitch black or just a plain light in a kitchen window or a living room window. What a contrast against the homes shining with bright lights! Homes may be in "wilderness" whether or not they are decorated for Christmas. 

"Wilderness" may be in our hearts if God is not there. In our hearts there may be some particular area(s) of difficulty where God is not the Lord; some aspect(s) of our lives; some problem(s) that have not been turned over to the Lord. Those areas may still be in the "wilderness"; still need to feel the presence of God and to really be sanctified by the saving power of Jesus Christ. We need to be aware of that because it is in the "wilderness" that the glory of God was seen, was made manifest. 

Think of the "wilderness" of Bethlehem. How much "wilderness" there was at the coming of Jesus Christ! "He was in the world and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own but his own people did not accept him." (Jn 1:10-11) There was no room in the inn for Mary and Joseph. There in the "wilderness" of a grotto, Mary gave birth to the Son of God. "The light shines in darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. (Jn 1:5) He was not accepted because of the "wilderness" in the minds and hearts of persons living during those times. They had not heard the good news that had been prophesied: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, As they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as men make merry when dividing spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, And the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian." (Is 9: 1-3) 

Why was it that people who walk in darkness have seen a great light? "For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Price of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful." (Is 9:5-6) Deep richness of life has come into the "wilderness" of the world because the Lord has come for His people. 

The first step, then, in our preparation for Christmas is to listen to a voice crying out in the "wilderness" and the second step is to prepare the way of the Lord, make straight the path of our God. This Christmas will your hearts be filled with joy, peace and contentment; filled with the love of God; filled with the presence of God? It will be if you have lived in expectation of the birthday of Jesus Christ; if you are in love with God; looking for God; preparing for God; seeking the presence of God. As you hear the words: "And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth." (Jn 1:14) Christmas for you will be great; will be a source of joy; a source of blessing; tremendously fulfilling because God will fill your hearts. You will see once again ever more deeply the glory of God. This is possible, possible for you and for me. Possible for everyone. If we just say "yes"; if we understand what Christmas is about, then Jesus will want to come into our hearts. We must prepare the way of the Lord. 

It was customary in Old Testament history that whenever important persons would come, a town crier would go around and say, "Prepare the way." This is the word of John the Baptist: Prepare the way to your heart, to your soul, to your mind so that the Lord can come. I believe we all have a special responsibility to take a good look at ourselves, at our lives, at our thoughts, and at our hearts to be sure that the way to our hearts does not include an obstacle course which might prevent the Lord from coming to us this Christmas. An invitation is being extended to you: "A voice cries out in the "wilderness", prepare the way of the Lord, make straight the path of our God to your own heart." Accept that invitation. Prepare your hearts for the coming of Jesus so that He may easily find you and enter in. 

In spite of all the Christmas preparations you may consider and succeed in doing, nothing will be as important as preparing your hearts for the coming of Jesus. All else is just frills; it's all the extras. If all you will have done are frills, incidentals and extras, then you will not have the real meaning of Christmas. It will not be a good Christmas. The preparations would not have been done correctly and the celebration will not run smoothly; it will not be as fulfilling as it should have been. 

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8) . Our task then becomes not only to prepare ourselves, but also to help others to understand the meaning of preparing for Christmas. God wants His presence to come in that "wilderness" which we find all around us; to bring His glory in that "wilderness"; to bring His salvation in that "wilderness". Christmas has become so busy, so commercial, so material that it has become our responsibility in this new modern-day "wilderness" to bring the presence and the salvation and the glory of our God to others. Will you accept the responsibility to accept God's calling to become His witnesses? 

"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (Jn 1:1) "and the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth." (Jn 1:14) Who has seen the glory of the Lord? Are we able to see the glory and beauty of the Lord in the crib? Can we feel His presence and express our gratitude for His coming to save us? Do we have a desire to witness to others who may be walking in the "wilderness"? Seeing the crib downtown at the city hall or on the church lawn, or on your neighbor's porch should excite in us such feelings and emotions that we can answer "Yes". We should not only see the crib but reflect upon its significance and meaning. We should see the glory of God in the crib. He who is called Emmanuel, God with us, has been sent by the Father not to condemn, but to save the world. He becomes present to us in the "wilderness" settling all around us giving us His grace which inspires us to proclaim the Good News to others; to prepare the way; to proclaim a new message of consolation to the world. 

When the angel appeared to the shepherds at Jesus' birth, "Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly hosts with the angel praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests'." (Lk 2:13-14) We are called to proclaim this peace which comes from Jesus who takes away our sins, nails them on the cross, washes them in His blood and destroys the record. 

The departing words of Jesus as He commissioned the disciples to "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Mt 28:19-20) This message also applies to us. If we consider ourselves to be His disciples then we too will prepare the way, preach the Good News and bring the message to all who may be in the "wilderness". Prepare the way! Climb to the highest mountain! Lift your voices! Tell everyone! Go tell it to the mountains! Tell everyone that the Savior is born! 

We must remove from ourselves and others to the degree that we can remove those obstacles that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy. Are you receiving Jesus with joy? Is it joy to you as it is joy to the world because the Lord has come? Our advent prayer should be a petition to God to give us His Wisdom so that we can be one with Him in glory. Jesus Himself offered to His Father such a prayer for unity. Let us pray that "When the glory of your Son will be radiant, the night will make radiant the night of the waiting world." (Advent prayer) 

In the "wilderness" of the world there are people who are waiting; empty hearts; people craving for meaning; people who really have lost the sense of life; people who have lost the sense of sin or grace. The Lord wants to come. We must pray and offer sacrifices for them. He said to them: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Mk 16: 15-16) We must invoke the Holy Spirit to fall on us so that we may become people of Good News; people whom others would like to meet and be around. We will then be witnesses to others by the way we live. We must follow the example of the eleven apostles, who, after the ascension of Jesus, "went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs." (Mk 16:20) 

In talking about the Incarnation the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II tried to give his audience an understanding of the coming of Jesus Christ into the world as man. He referred to a scriptural passage; "Then Paul stood up at the Areopagus and said, 'You Athenians, I see that in every respect you are very religious. For as I walked around looking carefully at your shrines, I even discovered an altar inscribed, "To an Unknown God." What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you'." (Act 17: 22-23) What a strange selection the pope chooses to explain the Incarnation! "What you are thus worshipping in ignorance, I intend to make known to you." We must ask ourselves: "Are we worshipping in ignorance? Do we know what Christmas is about, the real depth of Christmas?

Naturally, Christmas was unknown in the Old Testament, but with the coming of Jesus Christ in the New Testament three great secrets, three mysteries of our faith were revealed. The first is that God would become man (the Incarnation); the second, that Jesus would die on the cross and rise from the dead (the Redemption); and third, that there are three persons in one God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (the Blessed Trinity).

It is appropriate at Christmas to reflect on the mystery of the Incarnation. This reflection leads us to one of the attributes of God, that of his great goodness. In His desire to expand this goodness He created the world and all that is in it. His ultimate goodness was manifested in creating man; creating man not in the manner of other animal creatures, but in God's own image and likeness. (Gn 1:26) "God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good." (Gn 2:31) 

Having been created in God's own image and likeness places great responsibility upon us. We must be aware of the great plan God has for us. In his goodness, God gave man "dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all living things that move on the earth." (Gn 2:28) In other words God has placed His creation in our charge. This responsibility placed upon man by God Himself must be taken seriously. Those of us who go through one identity crisis after another cannot possibly know the God who has created man in His likeness. Understanding of self results only after we know and understand God. 

Who is God? God is Love! "Behold, let us love one another because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love doesn't know God, for God is love." (Jn 4:7-8) If we have been made in the image of God and God is love, then we should be bundles of love. With so much love, so much goodness inside us as in God it has to spread. That love has to spread! That goodness has to spread! In addition to God's goodness and His love, He is also free. In His likeness we are born free." (Vatican Council, The Church in the Modern World, Par. 17) If we get tangled up if we become enslaved by something in a particular area of our lives we lose our freedom. Some lose their freedom because of smoking, alcoholism, drugs, or rebelling against lawful authority. There are so many obstacles to freedom! The more we are free the more we begin to look like God! We must be filled with love and we must be free! 

Why did Jesus come? He came to restore us; to reshape the image of God in the depth of our beings. Upon self-examination we must always ask ourselves whether we are living according to God's plan. How much love is missing from our hearts? How many obstacles are in the way of our freedom? What changes must we make in our lives which will help us to become images of God?

It is appropriate to recall the story of the fall of man. God created Adam and Eve. The devil moved in quickly and promptly. In Genesis, chapter 3 we learn that the devil came in and he lied. He lied to Eve making her believe that God's plan was not that good; that she was not going to die if she disobeyed God; telling her that she was going to be like God. When she said "Yes" to Satan, she got exactly the opposite of what he had promised. She passed that on to Adam and we could say that both of them got robbed badly. 

"A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly," said Jesus (Jn 10:10) Jesus wants to give us back what Satan has taken away. "Now since the children share in blood and flesh, he likewise shared in them that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life." (Heb 2:14-15) Jesus has come to restore what was lost. As Satan robbed us through the fall of Adam and Eve, so Jesus robs us back, so to speak, for Satan. This is Christmas! 

We learn from the second Vatican Council that after the sin of Adam and Eve man was split inside; split between his intelligence and his will; split between his body and his soul. We recognize that split inside of us, don't we? There was a split between man and his neighbor; between man and woman; between man and God. The council further states that the struggle was on. Yes, God made man so beautifully and the devil came to mess up everything and to rob Adam and Eve and all their descendants of all the gifts that God had given them. 

Consider the shame of Adam and Eve upon hearing the voice of God as He entered the garden. Ordinarily, they would have been pleased to see God and become filled with joy in the presence of their Creator. Instead they hid themselves in their shame. It still goes on. People still hide from God; forget God; don't bother with God. It still goes on. Some people find themselves with so much clutter in their thinking, in their hearts, in their souls, that their hearts become obstacles preventing God's coming in. When you prepare the way of the Lord you don't hide. You're interested! You care! You look into it! You make the necessary arrangements! You must not follow the example of Adam and Eve by going into hiding at the Lord's coming. John the Baptist tells us the way: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make ready the way of the Lord, clear Him a straight path." This, then, is our obligation. 

When all the hectic experiences of preparing for Christmas are over: the parties; the shopping; the gift-wrapping; will we remember the deep meaning of Christmas? Will we remember that it is a manifestation of God's great love for us in sending His Son to redeem us; to reestablish harmony between Himself and His people; to unite us to Himself and Himself to us?

How sad it is that many are still like Adam and Eve going into hiding; that they don't bother. Jesus wants to give all mankind His peace. At His birth there was a multitude of the heavenly hosts with the angels, praising God and saying; 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests'." (Lk 2: 13-14) Jesus describes this peace as not like the world gives; the peace He gives us is a peace that surpasses all understanding; a peace that comes only from God. The peace that Jesus comes to bring us is peace with God; peace inside of us; peace with our fellow-man; peace with our enemies; peace with everyone. He came not only to restore harmony and to give us peace but also to assure us that even as sinners we might return to God the Father. We were created for God; yet unfortunately, for many people, the way to God is blocked. Jesus Christ came to open the way. Understanding the real meaning of Christmas; the reason for His coming; submitting to His will; following the inspirations of the Holy Spirit as Mary did; being open to God will bring us the peace and joy of Christmas. We will be filled with His Love and goodness. 

There is a passage in scripture which is often referred to as "the little gospel" or "the great promise". This promise was made after God met Adam and Eve in hiding. "I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel." (Gn 4:15) God was on the side of mankind. He declared war between Satan and the woman; between Satan's offspring and the offspring of the woman. That war continues. The battle was won by Jesus Christ at His coming. In our lives the devil loses when Jesus comes in. 

The peace and harmony and our restored relationship with God was purchased at a great price. Old Testament prophesies about Jesus the Messiah indicated that He would be a Suffering Servant. As we look at the crib and reflect on Christmas, we must also see the cross in the shadows. We cannot see Christmas and exclude Calvary. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem was only the first step of our redemption. 

At His trial "Pilate said to him, 'Then you are a king?' Jesus answered, 'You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.' " (Jn 19:37) The Suffering Servant indeed paid a great price for our redemption. He was scorned like a worm and jeered at. His hands and feet were tied. They cast dice for His clothes. He was falsely accused. His hands, feet and side were pierced. He was betrayed by a friend and hated for no reason. He was offered vinegar to drink; was rejected; was hit and spit upon; was crowned with thorns; carried the weight of the sins of the world; was crushed by those sins; was like a lamb led to the slaughter without opening His mouth; was taken by force; had a grave with the wicked; surrendered Himself to his enemies; wore blood-stained garments; was mourned like an only Son. So much had been said about Him before He came! 

The Jewish people must have been most impressed by the prophesy that He would be a king because for centuries they had been oppressed and under the domination of other countries and powers. They could not exercise their freedom so the promise of a Messiah King appealed to them. They envisioned a king that would deliver them from Roman domination. They did not understand that His kingdom is not of this world. It had been said of Him that He would be a king forever; He would be the Star of Jacob; He would be a king in David's line; He would be a king of peace; His kingdom would never end; He would come in seated on a donkey. Symbolically, a man riding on a horse would indicate an attack or war. Jesus' coming in humbly sitting on a donkey was considered a sign of peace. Jesus came to bring peace into the world; restore the image of God in the depths of our beings; to establish harmony between God and mankind. 

Are we in harmony with God? If not, we must ask God to remove the obstacles so that Jesus can enter our hearts to bring us His peace. 

Heavenly Father, I beg you in the name of Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, to grant a very holy Christmas to all who read this message; to all who are sincere by searching for you. Give them the peace that Jesus Christ brought to the world, that the angels proclaim.