Today's readings tell us that now is the time for spiritual renewal. The Gospel reading from Saint Luke begins with a "who's who" of Palestine at the time: Ceasar the Emperor, Pilate the governor, Herod the tetrarch, Annas and Caiphas the high priests--the whole power structure of the area. However, the Word does not come to any of them. The Word of God, instead, comes to John the Baptist. He was nobody in the political or social heirarchy of the time, but we know that he is indeed somebody that is great--a man devoted to prayer, a man with a genuine desire for the spiritual rebirth of the people. So, Saint John the Baptist calls to us:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
(Lk 3, 4-6). So too, let us join our prayer with the Prayer of Saint Paul, recounted for us today, in the second reading, in the Letter to the Philippians:
That [our] love may increase ever more and more
in knowledge and every kind of perception,
to discern what is of value,
so that [we] may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ
for the glory and praise of God.
Amen.
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