Prepare the Way

December 23, 2008

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner's fire, or like the fuller's lye. He will sit refining and purifying (silver), and he will purify the sons of Levi, Refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD. Malachi 3:2-3

Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, "What, then, will this child be?" For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. Luke 1:65-66

Piety

Make known to me your ways, LORD; teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior. For you I wait all the long day, because of your goodness, LORD. Remember your compassion and love, O LORD; for they are ages old. Remember no more the sins of my youth; remember me only in light of your love. Good and upright is the LORD, who shows sinners the way, guides the humble rightly, and teaches the humble the way. All the paths of the LORD are faithful love toward those who honor the covenant demands. For the sake of your name, LORD, pardon my guilt, though it is great. Who are those who fear the LORD? God shows them the way to choose. They live well and prosper, and their descendants inherit the land. The counsel of the LORD belongs to the faithful; the covenant instructs them. (Psalm 25:4-14)

Study

Our time of waiting is almost over. The time to draw near is upon us. The fire is lit. How much closer to the purifying fire of God’s love can we get than the refiner’s fire? The donkey approaches Bethlehem with its carpenter in the lead and its precious Blessed Virgin passenger aboard…

The ways of God are not known to us mere mortals, mere Christians. The ways of God are as foreign to us as the language of a distant people. Before we can understand what these actions mean in our life, we need an interpreter. We need a docent to know the way, go the way and show the way.

We are God’s prized friends. We are God’s shining silver. As Malachai tells us, “We are God’s special possession.” God wants to care for us with his utmost love. First, God sent Elijah to prepare the way. Then, the Lord sent John to prepare the way and to show us what happens when the Lord is with us.

John the Baptist tried to polish the silver of our friendship in water. However, that does not work so the Lord takes the next step.

Everyone who has experience the Cursillo weekend has that little yellow button with the red letters. Remember it…the one which reads, “I’m Loveable. God Don’t Make Junk.” No matter what society says to us about our value as a worker, as a helper, as a kindred spirit, it can never take away God’s love for each of us. Unemployment can not take it away. Dwindling retirement accounts can not wipe away God’s love. The lack of adequate medical insurance is immaterial. No bounced check or failed credit application can take us from the love of our Lord.

Action

We are God’s special possession. In two days (or less depending on when you read this) he will send his son, not to judge us but to save us. On December 25, we will realize that God loved each and every one of us so much that he sent his ONLY son to be our friend. He wants to be close to us. Let’s get close to him and feel the warmth of the refiner’s fire.