Prepare the Way

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'” Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Matthew 3:1-6

When my  daughters were young, I tried at night to prepare all they needed for the next day.  Mornings in most households, ours included, were chaotic and harried. There were many times we were late just looking for shoes or a hairbrush. As they got older, I tried to insist they get everything ready for the next day by laying things out and having it all in place. We were rarely good at this, no matter how hard we tried, but it did help when it happened. A sense of calm was present on those rare days.

John the Baptist comes among the people and proclaims it is time to prepare for the arrival of God's presence among them. The people came out in droves to be baptized, preparing for what they couldn't imagine. John evoked the words of the prophet Isaiah, and they responded, despite not knowing what the future would truly bring. We are invited by God to prepare ourselves in a new way for the coming of God's presence among us. We may not know what is ahead, but we can count on the promise that the Creator will give the spirit and strength for the coming days.

Today, I ask God to help me open my heart to the movement of the Holy Spirit. May we all prepare for our lives to be transformed by God's renewing presence among us.