Readings for the Day:
Isaiah 40:1-11: In grand, flowing, poetic lines, the prophet announces that the exile of God’s people in Babylon is over. God will deliver Israel and will care for her as a shepherd cares for the sheep. This word can be trusted, because the only enduring reality in life is the word of God.
II Peter 3:8-15: This short letter deals with pressing concerns regarding the final advent of Jesus, especially concerns that could arise over its apparent delay. The author of the letter calls on Christians to anticipate the promised coming of the Lord through conduct dedicated to God.
Mark 1:1-8: The Gospel of Mark does not begin with a story of Jesus’ birth but with the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord.
‘From Sunday & Seasons, copyright 2023 Augsburg Fortress’
Questions To Ponder:
1— How have you seen God’s beauty in the wildernesses of your life? (Isaiah 40:1-11)
2—What was a time when waiting or yielding made a way toward reconciliation or peace in your life? (II Peter 3:8-15)
3—Why do you think the Gospel of Mark begins with John the Baptist and not Jesus’ birth? (Mark 1:1-8)
4—How do these texts speak to you today?
Prayer: Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming strengthen us to serve you with purified lives. Amen.