John the Baptist proclaimed, ’Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ (Matt 3:2)

Advent prepares us for the coming of Christ at Christmas by reminding us of what we should know, but forget: ’the kingdom of heaven has come near’. It’s like the parallel universes that are spoken of in science (fiction). We are so very close but the way we live our lives, how we treat others, what we value, may mean that we are closer to what the evangelist John refers to – we are living in ’the world’. We must choose to order our lives in such a way that we can greet the Christ-child at Christmas – and glimpse the Christ in each person.

As another school year winds down, may we encourage our young people to give of themselves to those in need – rather than giving so that they can get. Christmas will come – with its finery and shininess – but by re-ordering their lives, just a little, they might glimpse that ’the kingdom of heaven has come near’.

Have a great week!

Patrick