We get carried away with decorations. The second Advent candle reminds us of the coming of Christmas, a renewal. The candles remind us to work harder. The names in the gospel help us to understand the story happened. John the Baptist existed. To help us, is not a madeup story, christ walked with us. The context is traceable. Today is about John the Baptist. The church provides us examples of how to prepare, today is John the Baptist. These normal people like us prepare us. Many people thought John was the Messiah, he did not accept the glory. He prepared people to be ready for the one after him. We get carried away, but the gospel helps us to prepare. I hear people tell me that no one speaks of Christ at Christmas and I ask what you do about it. Who is st. Nicholas? He gave gifts to feel Christ. My friend in Australia knows I preach about preparing every year. She is upset her children stop believing. She inspired me not to step back. The decorations need to tell the Christmas story. We go to mass as a family, to hear it is about christ. In her home she has about forty something nativity scenes to let you know it is about christ. What warms my heart is for kids to ask about the nativity scenes. She looks for cards showing the Christmas story. Prepare the way for the lord. What are you doing? Let us tell the true story, Christ needs us to bring Christ back to Christmas. We need to be like John the Baptist. How are you preparing? We cannot just go with the flow. We need to give thanks again. Look around and say I tried my best for my family. Little ways to evangelize. So my dear friends let us pray to be proud Christians and prepare like John the Baptist, to spread the word.