The Voice Which Cries from the Wilderness

[Prayer-Soldier]

The Voice Which Cries from the Wilderness

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 your 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. A copy of the epistle that Jeremias sent to them that were to be led away captives into Babylon, by the king of Babylon, to declare to them according to what was commanded him by God. (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 unto 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 Anna 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 ye 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 children of Israel are His chosen. As they walk in faith, they walk with His blessing; but when people seek their own paths, their ways become difficult. What He offers for His chosen, He offers for all the children of His creation, for all are the generations of the first. Those who seek to live according to His Word shall find the blessings of love. He will welcome the faithful and encourage those who have walked astray to turn back to His path.

Time belongs to Him and He waits with patience as the children of His creation make their choices. The ways of the people determines their path. Those who exalt Him and seek His mercy shall find blessings which cannot be received through the ways of the world. He will reward faith with everlasting life and a place in His eternal kingdom. He will lift up the nation which follows Him. He will bring justice to those who oppress and He will bring rejoicing to those who live according to His commandments of love.

He seeks to build in us the grace of selflessness and love. He seeks to reinforce in our hearts the blessings of charity. As we invite the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we shall be guided by His Word. Blessed are those who allow themselves to be filled with the love of God and the love of the children of His creation for through such love His commandments are fulfilled. As they reflect upon Him, He will grow in them and guide them to His kingdom. In prayer we should ask that He guides us away from evil. In prayer, we should ask that He guides our hands to do the blessings of His work.

The children of His creation yield generation upon generation. Each walks a journey between their creator and the one who seeks to turn them from Him. Some find blessings and others find strife. Though sorrow flows from the ways of evil, He is the justice to come. Left to their ways, the people will wander in grief and strife, and so He sends His prophets to share the news of hope. The prophet heralds His ways and heralds His coming. Blessed are those who hear and heed, for the blessings of the Lord shall be theirs.

And so it was, a voice cried out in the wilderness to prepare for the coming of the Lord. He warns of the path of evil and the blessings of the One to come. Blessed are those who were not there, yet hear in their hearts the voice of the one crying in the wilderness, the voice telling us to prepare the way.

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