This week we continue in the season of Advent, the season of preparation for the Incarnation. The gospel text for this week reminds us of all the divinely-laid groundwork that paved the road to redemption.

Matthew concludes with Jesus’ words to his own disciples as he sends them out on their missionary travels. But surprisingly, Matthew’s text returns to the figure of John the Baptist. For those of us already longing to hear the familiar Bethlehem narrative donkeys and oxen, sheep and shepherds, stars and magi this rehashing of the relationship between John and Jesus may seem strangely out-of-context liked an unasked curtain call. What this discourse does remind readers, however, is that the season of Advent is not just about preparing for the birth of a baby. Advent is the preparation of…