3rd Week of Advent 2022 - Friday - A burning and shining lamp

 Tomorrow, December 17, begins what is often called “Late Advent” or “Deep Advent”; the Scripture readings and orations begin to take on slightly different tones and themes. Where the first part of Advent proclaims joyfully that the Christ is coming, this last part of Advent begins to focus on who is coming, the identity of the Christ child. 

The O Antiphons of “Late Advent”, for example, each ascribe Old Testament names and titles to the one who is born on Christmas Day. Jesus is the fulfillment of all of those Old Testament prophesies: He is the Rod of Jesse, He is the Key of David, He is the Rising Star from the East, He is Adonai in the Flesh, He is Emmanuel—God With Us. These ancient prayers of the Church show how the Old Testament pointed forward to Jesus; how God prepared the human race for His own coming in the flesh.

In the same vein, John the Baptist is a lot like those O Antiphons. He dresses and acts and speaks like a prophet from the Old Testament speaking about the one who is to come. He helps Israel transition from the shadows of prophecy to the reality of God-in-the-flesh.

Because John witnessed to the truth of his identity, Jesus called John in the Gospel today “a burning and shining lamp”. Could he say the same about us? We are to be lamps, spotlights, the point others to Jesus.

Isaiah gives us wonderful instructions in the first reading for becoming burning lamps for Christ: “observe what is right, do what is just”. 

Observing what is right, doing what is just, performing good deeds, engaging in acts of mercy, these works are not for the purpose of gaining honor for ourselves, but to point to the one who has set us on our way. 

The Lord Jesus himself urges us that our choices can point others to God. He says, “Thus let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and they should glorify your Father in the heavens.”

As the light of the sun is seen less and less during these late December days, let us shine forth with the light of the Son of God by praying a little harder, giving a little more, striving to walk in the ways of righteousness and justice for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We raise up our prayers of petition, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That Advent repentance and good works may prepare us rightly for Christmas joy.

That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with justice, honesty, and respect for the dignity of every human life.  

That all those who wander in the darkness of error, far from the Gospel of Christ, may be led through the preaching and example of the Christian people to the fullness of the light of faith. 

That Christ may heal every disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and bring peace to the suffering.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Almighty ever-living God, who brings salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.