We Are Like Our Own John the Baptist

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We are at the top of the year and the message from the Church is to prepare the way of the Lord. The Lord Jesus has come into the world and He wants to come into our hearts and minds and families and work, vacation, finances, entertainment, free time – everything we are, everywhere we go, and every relationship we share.

We are like our own John the Baptist. John the Baptist called out to the people of Jerusalem, he cried “prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” But we are crying out to our own hearts, minds and souls. “Hey Soul, prepare the way of the Lord!”

We know that what is necessary for reconciliation is that we realize where we are. We know that we are far from the Lord and so are others. We know that we need the Lord.  Confession is not a duty that must be fulfilled 4 times a year out of some kind of empty obligation. It is more like:

• a soldier coming from the field to have wounds dressed and healed
• a mountain climber unloading their burdens and taking refreshment
• a turning around and getting back to the right path
• a snake going through a small space shedding its skin so that maturity can happen

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes He Who is mightier than I, the strap of Whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” St. Mark. 1:1-8