24.) December 22, 2020 John the Baptizer Luke 3: 2-6
During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to Johnthe son of Zechariah in the desert. He went throughout [the] whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
(John, the new Elijah, heralded the coming of the Messiah)
I saw him coming. I had seen him in my mind’s eye for a very long time—so I recognized him immediately. I knew I had been sent to prepare the way and announce his coming and I had done so. And now he was standing in front of me asking for baptism. I should be baptized by him, not the other way around. But I did as he asked. And then I knew that my job was fulfilled, my mission over—he is here. I must decrease as he increases.
Thought: Am I a herald of the Good News?