The Gospel for December 15, 2004 (Ember Day)
Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is written in the prophet Isaiah: Look, I am going to send my messenger in front of you to prepare your way before you. A voice of one that cries in the desert: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight. John the Baptist was in the desert, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. All Judaea and all the people of Jerusalem made their way to him, and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins. John wore a garment of camel–skin, and he lived on locusts and wild honey. In the course of his preaching he said, ‘After me is coming someone who is more powerful than me, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals. I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.’ -- The New Jerusalem Bible. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1995, c1985
A Study
The lectionary hammers away not at the birth of the infant Jesus, but what our response must be to Him in His call to us as Savior, Redeemer, and King.
A Reflection
I am, I hope, on the last day of an influenza-assisted personal retreat. The tender tummy (and other digestive parts), the sore back and legs, the nose tender from repeated blowing, and the general malaise have all combined to give me a suitably lenten attitude for this first ember day in the Winter season.
The message of Advent is supposed to be waiting, and we are told that we should increase our longing for Jesus' next coming.
Do you recall how often He told his friends that they were in the kingdom, already? And if they were in the kingdom, are we? And if we are, is He not also with us? While we are patiently waiting, what opportunities are we missing to be with Him?
Those tingling-up-the-spine moments we get when we experience Him -- those are definitely worth the wait. But how many of those do we create for others?
Can we not be latter-day highway-preparers, as well?
A Collect
O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light riseth up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou wouldest have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see light, and in thy straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
6:24:12 PM 
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