Voice in the Wilderness

Today’s Gospel Text:  In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiber'i-us Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturae'a and Trachoni'tis, and Lysa'ni-as tetrarch of Abile'ne, 2 in the high-priesthood of Annas and Ca'iaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechari'ah in the wilderness; 3 and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." Luke 3:1-6

Reflection: In our times there are plenty of avenues open to us to entertain ourselves about many things of life. Yet very often people still complain about the boredom of life and grumble about it.

Boredom and loneliness are serious issues and is a profound problem in our times. There are many new inventions and media entertainments to keep us occupied and busy.

We so easily walk into these entrapment's of pleasure and entertainments that we rarely have time to take stock of the reason for our boredom and loneliness, the wilderness of our life.

Many a times we do go through a struggle in the absence of family, relatives and friends who could sort out our urgent issues. Some not being able to cope up end up in depression or are led on to suicides.

The gospel of today spells hope for those who are struggling with the wilderness of life by a great personality who had opted for the wilderness; a forsaken place which the many shun because it kills.

It is hope that the gospel communicates a voice crying in the wilderness in the reign of various personalities in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, in a reign of extravagance. 

It is a word of hope communicated in the vacuum of the wilderness and resounding through the city down to this age:

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." (Vss. 4-6)

 

These words of his are profound, loaded with rich meaning and above all assurances for all who are willing to take it; whether men in authority or kings or governors or the common men or women on the street.

Only a fool can ignore such a voice that cries in the wilderness and not pause, reflect and respond to this call.

Prayer: Lord, help me to reflect and respond to these words and accept your way as my own.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us