Prepare the Way

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way,  the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ” John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Mark 1:2–8
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Prepare the Way
Mark begins by telling of John’s call to repentance, Baptism, and eager expectation of the Messiah’s coming. The prophecies are fulfilled in John as He bridges the gap between the Old and New Testaments. That is why John was sent, to prepare the people of his day and us as well to receive the Christ through the working of the Holy Spirit. The way has been prepared and the hope of mankind is here. John warns us not to adopt worldly values and expectations. Advice we would do well to remember and live by. Happily, all of us who are Baptized have received the promised Holy Spirit, who continually forgives us, restores us, and prepares the way for us to rejoice in the splendor of Jesus’ second coming. May our Lord ever remind us of the washing we received in our Baptism, for through it His Holy Spirit was poured into our hearts. May He keep us steadfast in the hope of His glory.