This week’s Reflections was written by the Rev. Rod Farke, retired pastor at St. Thomas More Catholic Church

Even as we are enjoying our Thanksgiving turkey and trimmings, the pre-Christmas rush is upon us.

Christmas trees, Christmas lights, Christmas music, Christmas cards and gifts, Christmas food, and countless other “Christmas” events seem to be on everyone’s mind these days. In the midst of this Christmas rush, many of the Christian churches are celebrating a beautiful little season of preparation for Christmas called Advent.

In this four-week season, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus in that Bethlehem crib so long ago, we are challenged to “prepare the way of the Lord”, in our hearts, our community, and our world.

In our Advent Scriptures we meet such colorful characters as Isaiah and the other Old Testament prophets, and the especially colorful character, John the Baptist, who, in his rough-hewn way, called people to repent in preparation for the coming of the long-awaited Messiah. John’ harsh words contrast with the poetic words of Isaiah, “Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth.”

Though Jesus entered into our world over 2000 years ago, and Isaiah another thousand years earlier, the vision and values they came to present still haven’t completely come to birth in our world.

Valleys of neglect, and abuse of certain persons or groups, still need to be filled in; mountains of pride, greed, hatred and prejudice still need to be leveled down; crooked ways of various forms of dishonesty still need to be made straight, and rough ways still need to be smoothed.

But as we look around we see beautiful examples of Jesus’ values being lived, in our families, our churches, and our community! The many local examples of attempts toward feeding the poor, of visiting the lonely, of reaching out in kindness to those in special need — these are all signs of Isaiah’s vision being fulfilled.

As we enjoy the music, the lights, the food, and the fellowship of this beautiful season, may we keep the vision of Isaiah, John the Baptist, and Jesus in our hearts, and do what we can to bring the true meaning of Christmas to birth in our own hearts, our families, and our communities.