Isaiah 40:3 A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God."
Mark 1:4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins... He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Last week we read and considered scripture about the second coming in our first Sunday of this Advent season. This week, the gospel lesson is as old as Isaiah, and as new as today, as we study the one who was sent to prepare the way of the Lord, this week, John the Baptist and his message of repentance. What does it mean to repent? The Greek word is μετανοια. (metanoia), which means change of mind(set). What in our mindset are we called to change to prepare and receive God's most precious gift?
What can we do to prepare for the Lord's coming this year? How will he come?
The Rev. Dr. Russell Levinson, Jr., "Making Straight the Way," sums up John the Baptist's mission of preparing the way of the Lord:"At least one way of preparing for Christmas is this two-fold call of John - first to repent and turn to the Lord Christ with all that we are, and second, to begin a life of living that reflects our love for others. In the end, the call seems to say our lives were not created to be our own. They were created as a glorious celebration to be shared with our parents, children, intimate friends, spouses, and our Lord. John the Baptist spent his entire life preparing for the coming of Another, and we are called to do the same."
The Rev. Dr. Russell Levinson, Jr., "Making Straight the Way," sums up John the Baptist's mission of preparing the way of the Lord:"At least one way of preparing for Christmas is this two-fold call of John - first to repent and turn to the Lord Christ with all that we are, and second, to begin a life of living that reflects our love for others. In the end, the call seems to say our lives were not created to be our own. They were created as a glorious celebration to be shared with our parents, children, intimate friends, spouses, and our Lord. John the Baptist spent his entire life preparing for the coming of Another, and we are called to do the same."
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