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John the Baptist Prepares the Way

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for him.’”

 

I have trained for three half marathons in my life. I have always said I really enjoy a half because it is a decent challenge, but with the proper training and preparation it is an attainable goal. When I am training for a half marathon, I have a strict schedule that I follow that gradually prepares my body for what’s to come. Half marathon training is time consuming and forces me to make several changes to my daily life, but all the hard work and sacrifices are worth it when you cross that finish line! Without proper preparation you risk major injury, but when you put in the work you are set up for success!

I always love Advent because this is our chance to pause and reflect to prepare our hearts for the birth of our Lord. This is our “training time.” John the Baptist calls us to repent to prepare the way for the Lord. I am guilty of thinking that repentance simply meant acknowledging and feeling sorry for our sins, but it is more than that. True repentance is reviewing our actions, feeling contrition or regret for wrongdoings, and making a change in our actions and behavior. This is where the rubber meets the road.

Consider this season of Advent your training schedule. Set aside time every day to reflect and make the changes necessary to prepare for the coming of our Lord. It won’t always be easy. Just like training for a half, it might be inconvenient or a little painful along the way, but it is certainly worth the fight!

Lord, thank you for this time of reflection and prayer. Help me to make the small changes through my day to correct my wrongdoings and prepare for the birth of our Lord. Amen

Karen DeMauro 

Prayer concern: For those who feel the pressures of the holiday season. That they take the time for prayer and reflection.