A reflection from Is 40,
1-5, 9-11; 2Pt 3, 8-14; Mk 1, 1-8
These
texts invite us to prepare the way for the Lord through a journey of
conversion, announcing with our life the good news of the salvation of God. For
that we are invited to do intense experience of the Word of God in order to
become his witnesses as it happened with the prophets, faithful messengers of
God.
The
prophet Isaiah speaks to the people who were suffering in the Babylon’s exile,
announcing a new time, time of liberation. The situation in Babylon and the
future liberation was considered a new exodus. The aim of the message of the
prophet is to give comfort and hope for the people, motivating them to start
the journey of conversion in order to prepare the way for the action of the
Lord, welcoming his merciful love and experiencing a new life. In the second
reading, the words of Peter are advice to the people to wait for the coming of
the Lord very watchful, giving the best of themselves for the good of the
community. According to Peter, God is patient and merciful. He doesn’t want
anyone to be destroyed, but wait for the conversion of all in order to save
them.
Both
the prophetic message of Isaiah and the motivator words of Peter prepare the
heart of the people for the action of the Lord. They don’t speak about their
ideas, but what God has inspired them to speak. The fidelity to the Word of God lived
in a radical way gave to them the sure that they speak the truth. The one who speaks
in the name of the Lord, considers himself able to interpret the events, helping the people to walk in
the sight of the Lord, remaining faithful to his plans. Just as happened with Isaiah
and Peter, it is invitation to us to stay attentive in order to capture, to internalise and
witness the appeals from the Word of God.
Mark
is the unique evangelist who introduces his gospel using the expression Good
news when he speaks about Jesus. In this text, He invites us to reflect concern
John the Baptist, the greatest prophet, according to Jesus. John is presented as a
model for all, because spent all his forces so that the salvation of God
revealed in Jesus Christ should be welcomed by the people. In
his message, John announces the God’s mercy: “convert to the Lord! God will
forgive your sins”. So, John is the prophet of the conversion. Besides these
words, John realised also some concrete gestures of welcome to the people,
reviving their hope in the mercy of God. John lived in the loneliness of the
desert, totally opened to God’s inspiration. In that place he learned from the
Word of God, how to be witness of the good news of the salvation. The greatness
of John was to recognise the greatness of the Lord, considering himself as mere
voice who prepares the paths of the one who was to come.
The
reason of the credibility of the message of John wasn’t only his words, but his
simplicity, spirit of sacrifice and humility, expression of a life lived with
intensity. For that the people felt attracted and accepted the proposal of
conversion. It remains as challenges for all of us who are called to announce
the good news of the salvation through the testimony of life more than with
words. In
order our testimony should be true as of John, it is necessary that the
experience of the Word of God becomes life in us. The more intense is this experience the most
effective will be the witness. Like this the conversion takes place,
making us able to give to the Lord the welcome He deserves.
Fr. Ndega
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