I like to think of St Luke, at this stage of his gospel, leading us with the camera like a movie director. He starts with the wide lens that takes in the Roman Empire. Then he zooms in on Judea and its provinces. Finally, he arrives at the striking figure of John the Baptist, wild eyed, dressed in camel skin with shaggy hair preaching by the River Jordan in the wilderness. The stage is now set for the public proclamation of the Good News that the plan of salvation, prefigured in the prophets, is being brought to fulfilment! The annunciation made to Our Lady is about to be revealed to an unsuspecting world. We, too, are recipients of this Good News and it is designed to bring about a renewal in us so that we yield the harvest of the Kingdom in our lives. The prospect of this renewal also brings about a harvest of joy as we see in St Paul's letter to the Philippians. Just like St Luke, Paul can see the big picture and this gives him optimism that his ministry will not be futile in their midst. On the contrary, he is able to write: "I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ." (Phil 1: 8) Let that optimism fill our hearts, too, ith joy even as we are surrounded by commercialism and materialism this Advent.
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