Daily Gospel Reflection for December 10, 2023

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Mark 1:1-8

When we hear the Advent readings about John the Baptist, the context of Jesus’ arrival is always in the back of our minds. But for purposes of today’s Gospel, it is important to remind ourselves how significant John the Baptist truly was. Throughout the Gospel passages dedicated to him, there are details about the crowds coming from as far away as Jerusalem and throughout Judea. To put it in a modern context, he wasn’t just some crazy guy wearing camel hair and eating locusts; he was the original influencer for Christ. In the eleventh chapter of Matthew, Jesus himself makes a reference to John being more than a prophet.

This is why the words of Isaiah have such meaning. John is the messenger. John is the voice crying out in the wilderness. John is preparing the way.

And yes, all of this leads to Jesus.

But God clearly thought we needed the messenger. When Jesus was going to speak of the Kingdom of God, the nuance of His meaning would be so difficult to comprehend. John needed to prepare. John needed to translate. John needed to help the people understand that their ways were so different from God’s ways. They needed to repent. They needed a clearness of conscience and of heart.

So let us prepare. Let us welcome Jesus Christ into our lives with a clarity and with purpose.

Ponder:

How do we welcome the message of John the Baptist into our lives?

Pray:

Jesus of Nazareth, You came to fulfill the Scriptures. Help us to heed the words of John the Baptist and prepare our lives in such a way that we can be more open to You.