The daily Mass readings on this last day before the season of Advent and the new Church year offer another opportunity to reflect on the Advent retreat that focused on the Annunciation ( Luke 1:26-45). 

In this Saturday's readings, The Angel of the LORD grants John a vision of the fulfillment of God’s plan for His followers who are faithful, prepared, and clothed in righteous deeds - ‘Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy’ ( Revelation 22:7).  They will be in a new garden of Eden, free from the Fall, free from time or season, free to adore God and the Lamb.  We adore our Eucharistic Lord during this Holy Hour in sacramental sign. We look forward to the promise of John’s vision, when we will be able to look upon the face of our Lord. 

During our Advent retreat, we prayed over the Gospel of Luke account of the Annunciation, of the Angel Gabriel’s announcement of God’s plan to Mary.
This was also in fulfillment of prophecy, bringing our Emmanual, God-with-us, our Messiah Christ the King, whose Kingdom shall have no end.
Mary, to be overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, becomes the Ark of the Covenant ( Luke 1:35).
Mary, who has been graced, is prepared. Mary and Jesus are the ultimate fulfillment of prophecy.
Yet all this awaits Mary’s fiat, her righteous act:  ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word’ ( Luke 1:38).

 ‘Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy’ ( Revelation 22:7).
Called, invited, we must make sure God’s name remains written on our foreheads ( Revelation 1:6 ;5:10).
As we heard from Matthew’s Gospel at Thanksgiving, to remain in the presence of the Lord in His wedding banquet, we must be wearing our garment of ‘righteous deeds’ of the saints in light ( Matthew 22:11-14; Revelation 19:8). We must undertake repentance.  We must ‘prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight’ ( Mark 1:1-8).

John’s Revelation gives us a glimpse of our being with God. Advent is a time of preparation for God’s being with us. O Come Emmanuel.  Let us prepare ourselves to be with God, clothed in deeds of righteousness.


Jan van Eyck, Adoration of the Mystic Lamb - Ghent Altarpiece