The Cry In The Desert

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2015 11:46 am Post subject: The Cry In The Desert

The Cry In The Desert

Scripture:

Put off, O Jerusalem, the garment of your mourning, and affliction: and put on the beauty, and honor of that everlasting glory which you have from God. God will clothe you with the double garment of justice, and will set a crown on your head of everlasting honor. For God will show his brightness in you, to every one under heaven. For your name shall be named to you by God for ever: the peace of justice, and honor of piety. Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high: and look about towards the east, and behold you children gathered together from the rising to the setting sun, by the word of the Holy One rejoicing in the remembrance of God.

For they went out from you on foot, led by the enemies: but the Lord will bring them to you exalted with honor as children of the kingdom. For God has appointed to bring down every high mountain, and the everlasting rocks, and to fill up the valleys to make them even with the ground: that Israel may walk diligently to the honor of God. Moreover the woods, and every sweet-smelling tree have overshadowed Israel by the commandment of God. For God will bring Israel with joy in the light of his majesty, with mercy, and justice, that comes from him. (Baruch 5:1-9)

Always in all my prayers making supplication for you all, with joy; for your communication in the gospel of Christ from the first day until now. Being confident of this very thing, that he, who has begun a good work in you, will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus.

For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the depths of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your charity may more and more abound in knowledge, and in all understanding: That you may approve the better things, that you may be sincere and without offense unto the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11)

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea, and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina; under the high priests Annas and Caiphas; the word of the Lord was made unto John, the son of Zachary, in the desert. And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins; as it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet: A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. 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 plain; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Luke 3:1-6)

Reflection:

It is our choice as to whether we approach the world on our own or whether we shall seek to take His hand by which to guide us. In times of trial and tribulation, we are tempted to cry out, why has God turned His back on us, why has He allowed such calamities to befall us? In such times, we are tempted to remember selectively; we fail to see how it is us who so often turn our backs upon Him through our sin.

Like a patient Father, faced with an unruly child while attempting to guide them away from trouble, He awaits for us to learn the lessons which must be learned. When we see what we are able to do with our hands, we are tempted to believe we do not need His. If, however, we trust in Him, He will wipe away our tears and smooth the rough waters before us. He will grant us the strength to endure. He will embolden our hearts with love so we may share in mercy, forgiveness, charity and love. This is what awaits those who turn to Him, who trust in Him and who seek to walk together with Him.

Like a patient Father, He allows us to learn, but we must be careful we do not become confused in our learning. We are tempted to become wise by our own observation of the world, but if we do not reach out to Him, we cannot see that which can only be revealed to us through Him. We may study the world, but that will only reveal a small portion of the mysteries of His creation. If we are to understand the fullness of His purpose for us, we must seek Him in prayer and seek to receive Him within our hearts.

If we walk with Him, He will guide us past the deceptions of the world and those of the evil one. Many will profess to know truth from what they observe, but only He can reveal to us what cannot be observed through our perceptions of the world. It is for this reason He sent His only begotten Son, so that the Word made flesh might testify to the truth (John 18:37). It is through Him we shall find the path to a better way. It is through Him, we shall discover the blessings of civility and charity. It is through Him, we shall understand His love for us and the forgiveness and hope He offers all who come to Him.

And so it was prophesied by Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3) and so it came to pass that a voice would cry out in the desert, heralding the way of the Lord (Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:3, Luke 3:4, John 1:23). It is through the One of which the prophet proclaims that all shall see the salvation of God.

If we are sometimes left in despair, tempted away from hope, we must take a moment to reflect that He is there to guide us through. It is by our choice we may take His hand. It is by our choice we may ask for His embrace. He will not deny the contrite heart which comes to Him, for His love for us knows no bounds. If we seek His truth, it will come to us so that we may comprehend what is beyond the world and so we may prepare for the day He will gather us in to the blessings of His kingdom.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier