Cry out in the Wilderness – Reflection on Luke 3:1-6
For John the Baptist to cry out in the wilderness, he had to prepare spiritually. Likewise, if we pursue an interior prayer life, we can hear the same spiritual voice the John the Baptist did. Without our path becoming straightened, our low and highs leveled out, and our rough edges smoothed, there is no way to speak to others about the Lord being present. An obvious sign of being sufficiently prepared is an awareness of interior and exterior forces that do not want us to succeed. These signs can become emotional and physical. The sense of the Lord participating in our awakening is the true meaning of bearing the Cross.
The Voice in the Desert, James Tissot, Brooklyn Museum
Luke 3:1-6
The Proclamation of John the Baptist
3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth;
6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this daily Gospel reading and considering this Lectio Divina reflection on Luke 3:1-6 – Cry out in the Wilderness.
This site has written permission from New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) to use the Luke 3 Bible passage.
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Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.