Mark 1:1-8
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”—
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”
4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
We begin the Second week of Advent (already!) leaving us this year just two weeks before Christmas! Isaiah's messages have been promising us a better world when peace reigns and God is acknowledged as Lord of All. We are still a far cry from that! John the Baptist calls us to repent, have our sins forgiven, forgive others, be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Hopefully, our readers received this Baptism as babies, but if not, "now is the hour". All of us can renew our baptismal promises in our hearts and translate them into the way we live our lives, with self-restraint, prayer and good deeds. May we take advantage of the Second Week of Advent to shore up our faith and prayer lives with action.
Bro. Rene
Dear God help me to prepare my heart for he coming of Jesus by putting into practice what St. John the Baptist recommends. Amen.
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