A Single Voice Calls to the World

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2018 8:18 pm Post subject: A Single Voice Calls to the World

A Single Voice Calls to the World

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:

The design of God is for all the children of His creation to share in the joys of peace and the blessings of love. When the children of His creation turn to Him, they are led in ways of humility, civility, compassion, charity, and love. When they turn away from Him, they walk haughty paths of selfishness, envy, indifference, animosity, and malevolence.

We might wonder, how is it so many choose the path of darkness? What joy do we find in anger? What blessing is found in taking what is not ours? What fulfillment is found in envy and lust? What accomplishment do we find in our indifference to those who suffer? Indeed, we must ask, why do we seek the temporary pleasures which harm and divide us over the eternal happiness to which we are brought as we follow the loving path which God teaches?

The desire of God is for us to use the gifts and talents He placed within us for the purposes of fulfilling His greatest of commandments; the commandments to love. (cf. Matthew 22:36-40) Each of us has a set of gifts and talents He has placed within our stewardship. The question for each of us is whether we will put them to the purpose of God's will?

It is the evil one which seduces us to waste what God has given us, but it is our choice to fall to the temptation. We may choose to remain silent. We may choose to remain indifferent. We may choose to allow anger to lead us. We may choose to stir the power of hatred. The evil one cares not how we waste the gifts of God, only that we do so we may not share in the blessings to which God calls us.

We know in our hearts what is right and just, and yet so many spurn the path. Evil seems too often to have its way. Violence rages and anguish surrounds us. The news of our day is filled with voices of incivility and suffering souls.

We are tempted to look upon the world with hopelessness. We know there is a better path, but we fail to see what we can do, for we believe we are but one person against the world. This is how evil wins; snuffing out hope, but we must realize, all hope is not lost. There is still the hand which reaches to us, the voice which calls us to the path of truth and light.

Perhaps it is true, we cannot hope to turn the world from evil by ourselves, but the choices we make will be a force within the tide. Will we choose to listen to the voice in the desert? Will we choose to find another hand which seeks to do what is right and just? Will we choose to reach out in humility, civility, compassion, charity, and love? Will we take the hand of God and allow Him to lead us in His ways? Will we ask God for the wisdom, courage, and strength by which we may help spread His light?

There is a voice in the desert, calling out to all who will hear. Let us follow that voice and respond to the call to help make straight His paths. Let us open our hearts to the One who knocks at its door; the One who offers the blessings of mercy and love. Let us invite Him in, so He may teach us and guide us in how we may share the fullness of faith and the blessings of His Word.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways may we put off the garments of our mourning and affliction?

In what ways may we allow God to do good works through us?

In what ways may we respond to the voice calling us to the path made for us by God?

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