Advent Journey

There is no Advent journey that does not confront John the Baptist.  I like this contemporary picture with a man dressed up like the Baptist --instead of the classical images that seem to remove him from us. John the Baptist walks right into our lives in every generation and asks us if we are ready to meet the Christ.  Nobody is, of course, but the Christ which John could not foresee came with the love and grace of God.  Thomas Merton penned the poem of which the III section is so very poignant. 

III
St. John, strong Baptist,
Angel before the face of the Messiah
Desert-dweller, knowing the solitudes that lie
Beyond anxiety and doubt,
Eagle whose flight is higher than our atmosphere
Of hesitation and surmise,
You are the first Cistercian and the greatest Trappist:
Never abandon us, your few but faithful children,
For we remember your amazing life,
Where you laid down for us the form and pattern of
Our love for Christ,
Being so close to Him you were His twin.
Oh buy us, by your intercession, in your mighty heaven,
Not your great name, St. John, or ministry,
But oh, your solitude and death:
And most of all, gain us your great command of graces,
Making our poor hands also fountains full of life and wonder
Spending, in endless rivers, to the universe,
Christ, in secret, and His Father, and His sanctifying Spirit.