Mark 1:1-8
MK 1:1-8
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Get Busy
I recently saw a meme that features an image of Jesus and his Sacred Heart and the following caption: “Jesus is coming. Look busy.”
Much as we might snicker at that sentiment, we realize that looking busy isn’t enough if Jesus is coming a second time into human history. We need to not just look busy; we need to actually be busy. But, busy about what? Busy about helping God’s kingdom come about. Busy about working for the peace we long for. Busy about healing the broken, busy about finding the lost, busy about tending to those who hunger and thirst not just for food and water, but even more for love and attention.
“Comfort, give comfort to my people,” is the prophet Isaiah’s cry in today’s first reading (Is 40:1), calling people to actively relieve the suffering of others. “Prepare the way of the Lord” is John the Baptist’s cry, calling people not merely to stand still and be passive, but to actively forge a path to holiness of life.
How can I more actively respond to God’s call to action?
—Fr. Ray Guiao, SJ, is the president and chief mission officer at Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland.
Prayer
Lord, as I prepare my heart to celebrate your birth at Christmas, help me to get busy about the work of building your kingdom here on earth, today and every day. Amen.
—Jesuit Prayer team