Brothers and sisters, the season of Advent is upon us again -  a time of expectation, a time of anticipation, preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas. This Sunday’s readings encapsulate the Christmas spirit: the spirit of peace.

In today’s first reading Isaiah presents his grand vision of the Kingdom of God. In this peaceable kingdom, the poor will be judged with justice and violence will end. Wild animals will coexist peacefully with domestic animals. The lion will lay down with the lamb. calf and lion will feed together,... The infant will play over the cobra’s hole;

Isaiah’s peaceful kingdom is very different from the world in which we live. In our world the poor are often judged unjustly and violence erupts in the wars of many nations, Ukrain, Congo, Cameroon, Syria,  our streets & communities and sometimes in our homes. St. John the Baptist, has a message for us. It is - “Repent,” he says “for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.” Best way to do this is to be reconciled to those with whom we are not at peace with.

Brothers and sisters, let us pray that during this Advent season we will work tooth and nail to be reconciled with everyone around us. But first, let us try hard to identify and correct the faults in ourselves which make it difficult for others to get on with us. Amen