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Friday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Today's Lectionary Readings
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The celebration of Christmas is almost upon us, and in today's
scriptures we're given lots of hints about what we might
expect.  From my reading, seems we're being told to expect
the unexpected. 

First, there's the covenant messenger whose appearance might be
hard to take.  While this close to the holiday we might be hoping
for light, peace and joy, we are promised "the refiner's
fire" or the "fuller's lye" - a process
of purification that sounds somewhat painful.  Then Elijah makes
an appearance to make sure that we have our priorities straight; that
our hearts are in the right place.

Finally, as we stand with the neighbors and relatives of Elizabeth, we
witness the wonder of the naming of John and the "cure" of
Zechariah: signs that God is active in our world.

Are you wondering what this all means for us?  I think we are
being advised to open ourselves to discover the Messiah in unexpected
places:

* In the home of the frail elderly woman to whom we are delivering
meals;
* In the bus shelter inhabited by the homeless man;
* On the highway median where the young woman is panhandling;
* In the office break room where our co-workers are gearing up to
face the desperation of their clients.

Are you ready to submit to the purification that prepares you to meet
Emmanuel - "God with us"?  Have you taken the time to
make sure you have your priorities straight?  Is your heart in
the right place?  Lift up your heads and see: your God is near at
hand.

Jean Beil, rounding out a long career in Catholic Charities, now
serves as the regional coordinator for Caritas North America. 
She lives in the Mount Vernon area of Alexandria with her husband and
two cats and is active in her parish music and funeral planning
ministries.




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