Journeying With Christ: The Coptic Month of Kiahk of the Nativity FastSýnishorn

Week 1 Theme: Preparing for the Birth of St. John the Forerunner (Luke 1:1-25)

Day 1: The Call to Prepare

As we embark on this journey of preparing for the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we along the way prepare for the birth of St. John the Forerunner (also known as St. John the Baptist). As we do so, we are reminded of the prophet Malachi's words: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers" (Malachi 4:5-6).

These prophetic words speak of the arrival of St. John the Forerunner, who would herald the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. St. John the Forerunner’s mission was to prepare the hearts of the people for the arrival of the Savior, calling them to repentance and pointing them to the One who would bring salvation and he did so by his preaching and by his baptizing.

In our own lives, we are also called to prepare our hearts for the journey with Christ by repenting (and confessing our sins to God in the presence of the priest) and by preaching (opening our hearts to God’s word and heeding His voice/Scripture). We are invited to turn our hearts back to God, aligning ourselves with His will and purpose. As St. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 7:1, “let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Preparing our hearts involves a process of self-examination, repentance, and surrender. It requires us to let go of any hindrances or distractions that keep us from fully experiencing the presence of Christ. Just as St. John the Forerunner called the people to repentance, we too must examine our lives, seeking forgiveness for our wrongdoings and turning away from sin.

In this journey of preparation, it is essential to remember that we are not alone. God's grace is available to guide us every step of the way. St. Clement of Rome says, “Let us therefore approach Him in holiness of soul, lifting up pure and undefiled hands unto Him, with love towards our gentle and compassionate Father who made us an elect portion unto Himself.” The Early Church Fathers with one accord encourage us to purify ourselves and prepare our hearts to receive the Word of God, reminding us that if we are purified by the grace of God and live in the grace of the Holy Spirit, then we will be ready to meet Christ when He comes.

As we reflect on the call to prepare, let us ask ourselves: Are there areas in our lives that need repentance and renewal? Are there attitudes, habits, or sins that we need to lay at the feet of Jesus? Let us take this time to seek God's forgiveness and ask for His transforming power to work within us.

In preparing our hearts, we also anticipate the coming of Christ into our lives in a deeper and more profound way. Just as St. John the Forerunner prepared the way for Jesus by making a way for the remnant to Jesus the Messiah, we too can prepare the way for Him in our hearts by opening a path in our hearts to Him. Let us open our hearts to receive Him fully, embracing His love, mercy, and grace.

During this week, as we meditate on the call to prepare, let us seek the intercession of St. John the Forerunner, who faithfully fulfilled his role in preparing the way for Christ. His life serves as an example of humility, repentance, and wholehearted devotion to God.

As we continue our journey, may we be inspired by the words of St. Paul in Ephesians 3:17 that we travel along this journey so “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith”. Let us prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. Let us empty our hearts of every worldly care so that Christ may enter in them and dwell (tabernacle) there.