“God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only son into the world so that we might live through him.

|First John 4.9, NRSV

Love is on the way.  It won’t be easily recognizable.  Hollywood has romanticized it. Not on the big screen, love won’t come in the way that we are used to seeing it.  Love will be wrapped in milk rags and placed in a feeding trough.  Love will come small, sticky and unstable.

The Advent season is one of preparation.  It reminds us that we don’t have to look for love because love will come looking for us in the face of Jesus the Christ.  We didn’t have to ask for it or even desire it.  We didn’t even have to be in the mood for it.  Still, God will come in Jesus the Christ with the open arms of an infant, wanting to be picked up and carried around, needing to be hugged and coddled.  Jesus is love- dependent. 

Grown up Jesus gets a lot of attention but sweet baby Jesus an honorable mention.  The little one can get lost under the Christmas tree or nearly trampled on in the holiday rush for more things to stuff in stockings and in our closets.  We don’t have to wait in line for him.  His salvation will not go on sale at midnight. 

Love will cost us nothing and him everything. 

And what’s not to love about a baby and baby Jesus no less.  He comes ready to be Love and to love us as God does.  Sadly, we’re still not ready for him, unable to comprehend an unconditional, no strings attached, nothing in it for me kind of love. 

John the Baptist prepares the way, asking that he not be confused with this Love.  He is just the messenger (Mark 1.1-8).  The angels will declare it too.  Heaven and earth are in agreement, Jesus is coming. 

The savior of the world will be here.  They will pass the message on to Mary and she will pass it on to Joseph.  The word will spread.  “Love is on the way.  Jesus is coming!” Love is coming and wants to live with us.

May we prepare the way for Love in our hearts, make room to receive Jesus into our lives, certain to spread the love throughout the world: “Jesus is coming!” Amen.