Before the majestic revelation of Himself on Mount Sinai, God calls upon the people to prepare themselves. He said to Moses, “Go to the people and have them sanctify themselves today and tomorrow. Make them wash their garments and be ready for the third day; for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai before the eyes of all the people.” (Exodus 19:10-11) Just as a couple gets ready before their wedding (and we would all be rather surprised if the groom walked into the church in jeans and a tee-shirt with unkempt hair), so too those who are going to meet the LORD who chooses to enter into a covenant with them must get ready. Thus Christ washed the feet of the Apostles, and then bathed the Church in the water and blood which flowed from His side on the Cross: preparing them for His coming to them on the third day.
Our Lord gives Isaiah’s warning about not preparing before the Lord comes. He quotes the prophet who speaks of those who hear but do not understand, those who look but do not see. What a tragedy, to have what prophets and kings longed for right in front of one’s eyes, and not to be able to see! And so we ask for the Lord to remind us of the preparation He has given us in our Baptism, we seek to renew that gift of forgiveness in the healing sacrament of Reconciliation which softens our hearts and readies us to receive Christ’s Presence more fully. We ask the Lord to help us long for His coming as the prophets and kings of old, so that we may truly welcome Him: welcome His words with understanding, welcome His gaze with spiritual sight.