＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

Baruch 5:1-9

 Jerusalem, put off your garment of mourning

And unhappiness, put on the splendor and glory of God forever.  Wrap yourself in the mantle of holiness that comes from God, put on your head the crown of glory of the Eternal One.  For God will show your splendor to every being under Heaven.

 He will call your name forever, “Peace in Justice” and “Glory in the Fear of the Lord.” Rise up, Jerusalem, stand on the heights. Look towards the East and see your children gathered together from the setting of the sun to its rising, by the voice of the Holy One, rejoicing because God has remembered them.

 They left you on foot, taken away by the enemy. God will lead them back, carried gloriously like royal princes.  For God has resolved to bring low every high mountain and the everlasting hills, to fill up the valleys and level out the ground, in order that Israel may walk in safety under the Glory of God.

 Even the forests and the fragrant trees will give shade to Israel at God’s command. For God will lead Israel with joy by the light of his Glory, escorting them with his mercy and justice.

 

Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6(3)

The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Philippians 1:4-6,8-11

And when I pray for you, I pray with joy.   I cannot forget all you shared with me in the service of the Gospel, from the first day until now.   Since God began such a good work in you, I am certain that he will complete it in the day of Christ Jesus.

 God knows that I love you dearly with the love of Christ Jesus,   and in my prayers I ask that your love may lead you each day to a deeper knowledge and clearer discernment,   that you may have good criteria for every­thing.

So you may be pure of heart and come blameless to the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of holiness that comes through Christ Jesus, for the glory and praise of God.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊ 

Luke 3:1-6

 It was the fifteenth year of the rule of the Emperor Ti­berius; Pontius Pilatus was governor of Judea; Herod ruled over Galilee, his brother Philip ruled over the country of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysa­nias over Abi­lene.

  Annas and Caiaphas were the High Priests at that time when the word of God came to John, the son of Ze­chariah in the desert.  John proclaimed a baptism for repentant people to obtain forgiveness of sins and he went through the whole country bordering the Jordan River.  

It was just as is written in the book of the proph­et Isaiah: listen to this voice crying out in the desert: prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight.   The valleys will be filled and the mountains and hills made low. Everything crooked will be made straight and the rough paths smooth;  and every mortal will see the salvation of God.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Read:

John is called by God out of the desert to start his ministry. John obeys and immediately proclaims the good news in the towns bordering the Jordan River. In John, the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah is fulfilled.

Reflect:

The desert is a special place to listen to God’s voice. In the spiritual tradition, it has been identified as a privileged place for seeking union with God. John spent most of his growing up years in the desert.

Perhaps he is with a group who made living in the desert a way of life for them. It is in the desert that the word of God comes to John. He did not hesitate to leave and heed the call of God.

His life would have heen relatively peaceful and secure had he not leave the desert behind. But God’s call is irresistible. Countless holy men and women have tried to resist before but to no avail.

Take for example the prophet Jeremiah. No matter how he tried to resist God’s call, yet God prevailed. And so, John left behind the comfort of his desert retreat and plunged himself into the ministry of preparing the way for the Messiah. In John, the voice of prophecy is once again revived.

The people feel something new in the air. Exciting things are in store ahead because the Promised One is soon to come.

Respond:

When God calls us, are we ready to give up our comfortable space? Today, let us recall the many times that we are called to do a ministry in behalf of God. Did we respond accordingly or not? May we have the courage to do what God wants us to do in obedience to His invitation to serve.

 

       『"Prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight."』