Make Ready, O Bethlehem! Prepare, O Ephratha!
Make Ready, O Bethlehem! Prepare, O Ephratha!
Category: Homilies
Last updated: 2012-06-10 23:38:29

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,  

            We need to make ourselves ready for Him who comes to save us.  Preparing for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ has nothing to do with getting a tree and buying presents, or getting the latest toy.  The world, under the influence of the prince of this world and the enemy of our salvation, would suffocate our spirits with petty and meaningless material wants.  We desperately need to escape from the spiritually corrosive materialism that surrounds us.  We need to seek the Kingdom that is the reason our Savior became an infant.  He comes to us to bring us to Him.

            Let us be wise and ready, like the wise virgins of the parable, having filled our lamps with the oil of heartfelt prayer and desire for Him and His will. He is spoken of as the Bridegroom in the parable because He would make Himself one with our soul, more strongly than even the most devoted friend or spouse.  In fact, it is His love that makes all love possible.  “We love Him because He first loved us and gave Himself for us.”

Let us be conscious and devoted followers of and seekers after Him.  His devotion to us is complete.  We cannot match His gift with any gift of our own; but it is possible for us to receive his gift of Himself to us with gladness and joy.

Father George

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