Image from agnusday.org
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” ’ (Luke 3:1-6)
Good day dear Friend! Praying God's wonderful blessings be upon you today and all days. As we prepare for Christ's birth and His return, may our hearts be ready and filled to the brim with God's love and compassion for all people is my prayer!
I was led on Friday to share how the birth of John the Baptist was revealed to his mother and father, not knowing that this coming Sunday's gospel lesson is on the start of John's ministry. John has had preachers and teachers enjoying his "wild man" status of living in the desert, eating locust and honey, and dressed in camel's hair; being raised as a Nazarite, we can imagine he had long hair and a beard. His appearance in today's church would have the ushers and security people questioning him and asking him why he chose to come to "our" church. His outward appearance reminded some of that day, of the prophets from Old Testament days, and so they wondered if perhaps he wasn't one. Others simply dismissed him as being out of touch with reality. The truth is that he was very much in touch with God. While praying and readying himself for his ministry, God's word came to him in the desert and God's Spirit led him out of the desert and into "all the region around the Jordan, where his ministry began with a call to repentance from all people, especially his own. This was most unheard of, since baptism of repentance was reserved for those born Gentile (non-Jews); yet as we know from other passages about his ministry, great was the response from all people, who did present themselves as needing forgiveness of sins. His message from today's passage is a powerful one. It comes from the prophet Isaiah who said, "The voice one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make HIs paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"
When we came to faith in God through Jesus Christ, for many of us we could say, "It all makes sense now!" The valleys of despair were filled with hope. The mountains of challenge were leveled by the promise of God's power and peace. The uncertain and crooked path of our future suddenly became more straight; the rough ways of life were made smooth by the presence of God; and as more and more believers came into our lives we could see that there was salvation being offered to many, including us. John's voice was the start of the proclamation that started "the salvation parade" as The Message shares, and all from the "thunder in the desert," the loud voice of John the Baptist calling all people to come to faith.
Yes, we still will pass through some valleys of despair and sadness, but we walk through them with the hope of Jesus being with us and having all authority and power to overcome them. The mountains of challenge and illness may still pop up in our path, but we know they too, can be made low, low enough tow all right over in victory with God by our side. The decisions that we need to make may seem numerous and impossible to choose, but these are the "crooked" being made "straight" and again, with the Lord's peace in our hearts and minds handling that work for us. We invite "rough ways" to come because with God all things can be made smooth. May that be our prayer for today, dear one, and whatever it is that you may be personally facing. Victory is yours today!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, in Christ Jesus' strong name, I pray a victory in the life of this dear reader and all that is presenting themselves; I pray that the valleys of despair disappear and be filled in with hope and peace. I pray that the mountains and hills of challenge of whatever nature, be made low; bring healing and comfort to those in our lives that need it. I pray that whatever great decisions facing us be made straight and easy to understand so that our path no longer be crooked, but straight in the path that leads to the fullness of life in You, dear Jesus. May today be a day of salvation for those in our lives for whom we have been praying. Be glorified in us and all for whom this prayer is blessing we pray; in Christ Jesus our Lord, amen!
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share this email with someone you know who needs it!
Eradio Valverde
