A Voice Cries Out

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2017 6:37 pm Post subject: A Voice Cries Out

A Voice Cries Out

Scripture:

Be comforted, be comforted, my people, says your God. Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, and call to her: for her evil is come to an end, her iniquity is forgiven: she has received of the hand of the Lord double for all her sins. The voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the wilderness the paths of our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough ways plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh together shall see, that the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Get you up upon a high mountain, you that brings good tidings to Sion: lift up your voice with strength, you that brings good tidings to Jerusalem: lift it up, fear not. Say to the cities of Juda: Behold your God: Behold the Lord God shall come with strength, and his arm shall rule: Behold his reward is with him and his work is before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather together the lambs with his arm, and shall take them up in his bosom, and he himself shall carry them that are with young.
(Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11)

But of this one thing be not ignorant, my beloved, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord delays not his promise, as some imagine, but delays patiently for your sake, not willing that any should perish, but that all should return to penance. But the day of the Lord shall come as a thief, in which the heavens shall pass away with great violence and the elements shall be melted with heat and the earth and the works which are in it shall be burnt up. Seeing then that all these things are to be dissolved, what manner of people ought you to be in holy conversation and godliness? Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of the Lord, by which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with the burning heat? But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to his promises, in which justice dwells. Wherefore, dearly beloved, waiting for these things, be diligent that you may be found before him unspotted and blameless in peace.
(2 Peter 3:8-14)

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Behold I send my angel before your face, who shall prepare the way before you. A voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare you the way of the Lord; make straight his paths. John was in the desert, baptizing and preaching the baptism of penance, unto remission of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea and all they of Jerusalem and were baptized by him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. And John was clothed in hair of the camel, and a leather girdle about his loins: and he ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying: There comes after me one mightier than I, the latches of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
( Mark 1:1-8 )

Reflection:

If we examine the history related to us in the Bible, we see how people, tribes, and nations have strayed from the ways of their Creator. It is the lowly and the remnant few through whom God works to encourage the generations to return to the ways of the Lord. So it was, that to herald the way for His only begotten Son, God raised up a voice; one who cries out from the wilderness, one who encourages every ear which may hear to prepare and make straight the paths for our Lord.

As we look to the heavens with anticipation, we are tempted to wonder, when will the time come? When will the Lord put an end to the evil? When will He gather in the faithful? When will He sweep away the corrupt and wicked who bring forth misery and strife to the meek and innocent?

Scripture tells us of times where evil cities and wicked peoples were placed under the ban, but in this day, evil is rampant. Corruption rules many government leaders and their minions. The unscrupulous of commerce prey upon the poor. The wickedness of tyrants and criminals battle for the rule of the streets. The arrogant and corrupt do not hide their contempt for the Lord and those of faith are persecuted.

Though the people say they value truth, honesty, integrity, and justice; what so many say is not what they do. We might wonder, with all the lessons learned across the generations, how is it we have not turned aside the evils which harm so many? How is it parents have not taught their children? How is it children have not learned from their parents?

We lift up our prayers for peace within the world, but among the nations, saber rattling appears to be constant. Terrorists value ideology over life. The joy of peace is robbed from us by ideologues who do not comprehend the evil they spawn. As we pick up any newspaper or listen to any news broadcast, the stories of evil sap our hope. So many political leaders have no interest in common ground or solutions which may yield safety, security, or prosperity for the people; for their interest is solely for gaining, maintaining, and wielding power. The elite profess they will care for the people, but their words are only for purposes of manipulation. Within the darkness, many souls wither.

In despair, we can only ask, who will turn this tide? We might expect God to respond, ?and what will begin with you?? He has given us gifts of love. He has worked to teach us His ways. He has given us His commandments by which we may share in love of Him and one another. Indeed, what will we allow to begin with us?

God works with every generation to help them open their eyes to His light. He has sent His angels, His prophets, and His only begotten Son. He has sent forth those who will spread His Word, but so many choose to remain blind to His ways. His desire is that every child may open their eyes to see. He works with each generation, but if their eyes are not opened by the end of their time, He must begin again with the next generation to come.

The people watch, wondering as to the moment the world will end. They strive to predict dates, but none know the hour, nor is it possible that they can stop the demise of the world when its time shall arrive. Writings and conversations warn of the last day, but they do not know who will live to see it. It is not the end of the world of which we should be concerned, it is the end of our time within it, for the question will be for us, what have we done to prepare for the day we will face our judge, the One who will look upon our life and ask, ?Do you believe in me and do you love me?? What will the way we have chosen to lead our life reveal?

So it has been, the people have strayed, and so it has been that a voice in the wilderness cries out. The question before us is, shall we listen, shall we respond, shall we make straight the path for the Lord? Let us let God work through us. Let us allow Him to open the eyes of our hearts to see the blessings of His way. Let us allow Him to work through us to turn away the evil one who seeks the ruin of souls.

Let it be this day, let it be now, that we shall turn away from the temptations of evil. Let it be this day, let it be now, that we shall turn to one another in civility. Let it be this day, let it be now, that we shall turn to the less fortunate with compassion and charity. Let it be this day, let it be now, that we shall join hands and encourage one another to share in the blessings of His peace. Let it be this day, let it be now, that we shall help one another to open the eyes of our hearts to see the blessings of His love. Let it be this day, let it be now, that we stand together to fulfill His commandments to love Him and one another.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways may we hear the voice which cries out in the wilderness?

In what ways may we encourage one another in the ways of God?

In what ways may we respond as we recognize His voice speaking to us within our hearts?

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