December 7th Reflection by Bill Lynch

Luke 3:1-6
The Proclamation of John the Baptist

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.” ’

Reflection
He wandered around us in those days. It's almost as if he started to become one of us. All of my brothers and sisters saw him at one time or another. He began to take on our characteristics and lived a simple life. Depending on the gifts God gave for survival. And then he began to make noise. A noise that seemed to penetrate all of us and proceed out into the sky. I'm sure his voice is being heard somewhere right now in the universe and beyond.

"Get ready! Prepare yourself!" He would shout and cry out. Then he wandered around even more and people started to come and hear and listen to what he had to say. He began to use the streams of water and people came to repent of their sins and be baptized, all in preparation for another person. I wonder if we will see this "other" person wander among us at some time or another?

He told of someone coming that would bring salvation to all flesh. Well, this guy did come out here with us eventually. He was tested by evil among us and overcame that evil. In the end one of my friends gave their life for him as he gave his life for all flesh.

I guess that's the message. Prepare yourself people, repent, get ready, your Savior will return again. Give your life to him and you will live in him instead of dying. I can't help to remember the day they came to cut my friend down. He gave his life and became a symbol of torture changed to a symbol of life.

Prayer
May I hear the message through your Word and prepare myself through repentance, through living my baptism daily and through loving you and all you give to me. I give my life to you. Come. Lord Jesus, come... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen