John's preaching of the coming of the Lord in the Gospel reading of today is a key theme of this Advent season. As John's message prepared the way for Jesus in the first century, we, too, are called to prepare ourselves for Jesus' coming. We respond to John's message by our repentance and reform of our lives. We are also called to be prophets of Christ, who announce by our lives, as John did, the coming of the Lord.  Are we really preparing a way for the Lord by our words and deeds? May the Lord find us always prepared when he visits us. May our short comings, and inadequacies not hinder our meeting the Lord.  May we be heralds of his coming to all we encounter.