DECEMBER 2021
SUNDAY DAY 5
GOD WANTS TO USE YOU
Scripture Reading: Luke 3:1-6
In times past, before a king visited a city, he would send someone ahead of him to proclaim his coming, someone to announce that he would be arriving soon. The herald would go through the city and its leaders, telling them “The king is coming, clean up your lives. Make sure you are all in obedience to the king’s commands so that you will not be punished when he arrives.” The herald also served as a city inspector. He would go around the city and make a list of things that needed to be fixed. He would tell them, “Clean up your city. Sweep your streets. Get rid of all the garbage lying around. Round up any criminals to make the city safe. Fix the roads; make them smooth and straight. Make sure the town is gleaming. Make sure the city is fit for a king to ride through.” It was an embarrassment a city, and the people of the city, if they were not prepared when the king arrived. It was also an insult to the king if they had not prepared properly for his arrival.
St. John the Baptist is the precursor, the proclaimer or forerunner of the Messiah: he heralds the immediate coming of Jesus the Messiah. John comes as a herald to make sure that the king’s subjects are well prepared for the king’s coming. John prepares the way by doing what a herald does: he proclaims a message. In other words, he preaches. That is what preaching is, after all — proclamation of God’s message. John the Baptist’s message is that we repair our lives and prepare for Christ’s coming.
Though we have just read of one emperor, one governor, three tetrarchs, and two religious high priests, – quite a list of people who are important and prestigious in the eyes of the world, the Word of God does not come to them. It comes to a relatively unknown man living in the wilderness. Do not feel like you have to be somebody well known and of great influence to be used by God. God uses you and me, not necessarily the most prominent or popular. Just prepare yourself through the sacrament, get on your knees in prayer, with the Word of God before you, and take hope. God will use you. That is what we see here with John. He was in the wilderness, and the Word of God came to him.
MASS: VIOLET ST. SABAS; 1ST WEEKDAY OF ADVENT Baruch 5:1-9; Ps 126:1-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6 (R. see3); Phil. 1:4-6, 8-11; Accl: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight: all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Lk. 3:1-6
Prayer Point:
1. Lord God, I ask that You draw me closer to You. Bring me into a deeper and more intimate relationship with You for me to fulfil Your will and calling. I surrender myself to You as a vessel through which You will manifest and show Your glory. I ask that You use me mightily for Your purposes now, that I may bring glory to Your Name in all I do. Amen.
Exercise: Ask God to use you in any way He pleases today and every day!
Meditation: Ephesians 4:1