This week, St. Mark takes us to the beginning of the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, Son of God—the good news about Jesus, the promised, anointed Saviour. The good news is about the Son of God, who is also God the Son.
We encounter John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea. His is the voice that announces the
coming of the Lord. He is the messenger preparing the way of Jesus and urges everybody to be ready. John the Baptist fulfils the prophecy in Isaiah 40:3, “A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’” Jesus is the Messiah; Jesus is Lord.
Isaiah 40:3, as Mark quotes, calls us to make the path of Jesus straight. We should build a road, make it smooth without
potholes, remove any obstacles, clear the litter, and make it suitable for a king. An engineer needs to be consulted to build a road; this is a precise and expensive project.
John the Baptist refers to a preparation of our hearts for the Lord to journey through. We need to make space for Jesus, clear the way for him, remove obstacles and ensure that we are ready for the coming of the Lord.
Today, reflect on what it is that needs preparing in your life. What space needs to be cleared? What obstacles need to be removed?
Reflections by Gillian Hugo
