A Voice in the Wilderness
John the Baptist, the Herald of Jesus’ Coming appears this week as “A voice of one crying out in the desert, prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” During this Second Week of Advent we ask ourselves:
What are our desert places?Where is that place of solitude where God speaks to our heart?What is the pathway, the ‘going away from and going towards’ we are being called to?
Advent is a time of pregnant new life waiting to be born in and through us. The rough places in our lives need to be soften so that Jesus takes on flesh in us and in our world.
Reading (Lectio)
Read the following Scripture a few times - Luke 3: 4,6
John the Baptist Preaches
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, 2 in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance [a]for the forgiveness of sins; 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“THE VOICE OF ONE CALLING OUT IN THE WILDERNESS,
‘PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD,
MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!
EVERY RAVINE WILL BE FILLED,
AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL WILL BE LOWERED;
THE CROOKED WILL BECOME STRAIGHT,
AND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH;
AND ALL FLESH WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD!’”
‘PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD,
MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!
EVERY RAVINE WILL BE FILLED,
AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL WILL BE LOWERED;
THE CROOKED WILL BECOME STRAIGHT,
AND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH;
AND ALL FLESH WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD!’”
Meditation (Meditatio)
After the reading, take some time to reflect in silence on one or more of the following questions:
- What word or words in this passage caught your attention?
- What in this passage comforted you?
- What in this passage challenged you?
Contemplation (Contemplatio)
Read the Scripture again, followed by this reflection: What conversion of mind, heart, and life is the Lord asking of me?
John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan. Where is God calling me to go? To what regions of my neighborhood, parish, workplace can I bring compassion and loving service?
A voice of one crying out in the desert. When have I felt like a voice crying out in the desert? When have I failed to use my voice when I should have?
All flesh shall see the salvation of God. How can I be more open to encountering Jesus? Whom can I help to encounter Jesus?
Living the Word
How can I make my life a gift for others?
Invite someone to join you at Mass or parish Advent prayer service.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Listen to the Advent Hymn
A Voice Cries Out
Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Listen to the Advent Hymn
A Voice Cries Out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBG_uNYVzRQ
Light the second candle of your Advent Wreathe and ‘cry out’
in prayer to our God… Send us the Promised One…
Prince of Peace and Son of Justice and Truth
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