Crying in the Wilderness

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. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:1-12

Great Creator, you send us prophets

who still today call out in the wilderness

holy men and women who walk your ways

and who are here to remind us of your love.

We find ourselves stranded in the wilderness

yet we do not listen to their sacred words

the cry out for us to turn and seek you

to open our hearts to all nations and people.

The world is broken asunder by war

aching on the anniversaries of terrorism

voices call to us from the earth's four corners

to turn from selfishness and to your path.

Help us to shift our feet to the holy road

let love and compassion guide our every step

may we listen to the voices of reason and love

so that we might draw all to your loving arms. Amen.