Third Friday in Advent

He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.

This is the mission of John the Baptist as foretold by the angel Gabriel and it is a similar mission to the one we are called to undertake in our own lives. We are asked to turn hearts, to bring understanding of righteousness, and prepare a people fit for the Lord. We do this by our thoughts, words, and works and by living out our prophetic mission as Christians. Not forcing our faith on others, but rather being a model of Christian love, mercy, and grace for those we meet along the way. We should pray each day to be more prophetic in our actions, living sacramental signs of God’s Will. When we do this we too will have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at our birth.

What are we willing to do today to live out our prophetic mission of bearing the Gospel to others? Do we live up to our Christian names when we are given the opportunity to go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah? Why is it so easy for us to talk about the mundane world and its distractions, but when it comes to giving voice to our faith we are silent?

O Lord, grant us the voice to speak your Words and do your Works so you might be known by our family, friends, and neighbors through our love of them.

Amen.