How early do you get ready for Christmas? In our house, preparations for the next Christmas begin almost as soon as Christmas is over, as we buy wrapping paper and other supplies on sale for next year. We also look throughout the year for things that would make nice Christmas presents, and on the weekend after Thanksgiving our Christmas lights go up. Sometimes we might complain that preparations for Christmas are so long and elaborate, and that Christmas carols are heard in stores months in advance.
But today's readings make it clear that God was getting ready for Christmas for thousands of years--first through Psalms and prophecies, and then by sending John the Baptist to prepare the way. Christmas was not a "last minute" event; it was carefully planned for and happened at exactly the right moment in time. So, we should be planning for Christmas--looking for opportunities for Christ to come into our lives--all the time, not just on December 25.
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