This rather grand announcement of the ministry of John the Baptist, given in the Gospel for today, I imagine, is like a movie camera, directed by St Luke, zooming in from a wide angle, through the clouds. It starts with the whole of the Roman Empire and continues moving to focus on the Middle East, then Israel until finally on the person of John the Baptist preaching by the Jordan River. This is the drama of salvation. The fullness of time has come and the Messiah is about to be revealed to the people. This does not happen in the glittering grandeur of Rome or the Temple but in the wilderness. it is in the desert that a road is to be prepared for the Messiah to "make his paths straight." (Luke 3: 4) Where and how can I find God in my life this Advent and Christmas? Is it in the hustle and bustle of festive preparation? Is it in the cheery greetings of friends? Is it in the giving of gifts? Rather, I suspect, it is in the desert - those quiet moments of reflection and sometimes grief and sadness. The Holy Spirit prompts us to prepare the way of the Lord through reflection, repentance and reconciliation. Let us open our hearts to the Holy Spirit so that we may allow God's love to strengthen and heal us in ways beyond our power.
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