Prepare the way of the Lord
"a voice crying in the wilderness"
What does it mean?
"John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ ”
Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins."
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ ”
Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins."
Before that coming
.. {John} prepares us for the coming of Jesus. Before that coming, there are many
pioneers/heralds:
- Many times {often times} suffering comes before him and prepares the way for the coming of Jesus, on the way, as the plough-sower ploughs the field before he sows the earth.
- The ground of our life is very often prepared by an ordeal. This ploughed by tests, probes.
- Very often the judgment of God goes before Jesus, through the Word, through a quickened conscience, when he reminds us of old things and makes us uneasy and makes us restless.
All of this is the word of John the Baptist, through the word of the judging God.*
- Many times {often times} suffering comes before him and prepares the way for the coming of Jesus, on the way, as the plough-sower ploughs the field before he sows the earth.
- The ground of our life is very often prepared by an ordeal. This ploughed by tests, probes.
- Very often the judgment of God goes before Jesus, through the Word, through a quickened conscience, when he reminds us of old things and makes us uneasy and makes us restless.
All of this is the word of John the Baptist, through the word of the judging God.*
Never look at the man. Look at Gd!
Today the Spirit says: a word cries out in the wilderness. This is the word of God. Let us always listen to the Word, in such a way that
God is speaking to us. Never listen to the man!
It's worth to mention that same vision/warning can be found in Peter's teaching: the judgement starts first on the Church.
For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1Pt 4:17
What few words the apostolic writer says about John the Baptist! Just that he is clothed in camel's hair, a leather belt, his food is locusts and honey. That is all a man is. And yet we are very often interested in man. "Who is he, where does he come from, why does he speak?"
When John the Baptist was asked who he is, he said:
A crying word in the wilderness. Never mind me. I'm not important, it's the Message that's important. Now let's try to listen as if you don't care who talks. But only one thing is important "that to my soul the living God is speaking. The same God by whose creator-word: "shall be" the Heavens and the Earth were made.
When John the Baptist was asked who he is, he said:
A crying word in the wilderness. Never mind me. I'm not important, it's the Message that's important. Now let's try to listen as if you don't care who talks. But only one thing is important "that to my soul the living God is speaking. The same God by whose creator-word: "shall be" the Heavens and the Earth were made.
On the first page of the Bible we read.
“God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3).
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