From Fr. Tom,
Most important dates and special events such as New Year’s Day, wedding dates, birthdays, rocket launches all have one thing in common, they all have a countdown. What would happen if someone “officially” declared Christmas will be tomorrow? It would be ruined because there was no time to prepare. That’s why we have the Gospel reading about John the Baptist, the one who is to tell the people to prepare for Jesus’ coming. Actually, some thought HE was the messiah but no, someone mightier than he was to come. As we count down to Christmas, use the time wisely to clean our spiritual homes so Jesus may find in us a nice place to stay.
