Have No Fear
June 24, 2013
Solemnity of the Nativity of
John the Baptist – Vigil Mass
Say not, “I am too young.”
To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall
speak. Have no fear before them, because
I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD. Jeremiah 1:7-8
Although you have not seen Jesus Christ you love him; even
though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an
indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, the
salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s
womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power
of Elijah to turn their hearts toward their children and the disobedient to the
understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” Luke 1:16-17
Piety
Do we even comprehend, Father,
what it means to “prepare thee the way of the Lord?”
Does it mean to prepare ourselves
to walk in the way of the Lord?
Does it mean to prepare our
world for the advent of the way of the Lord that changes everything?
Does it mean to get ready to pick
up our cross daily and follow Him?
Or does it most likely mean
all of the above?
Study
We never hear any doubt in the
preaching and mission of John the Baptizer.
Peter wavers. Thomas doubts.
Judas betrays. Yet they all had the benefit
of walking with, listening to, and getting to know the Lord in His public
ministry.
John had none of those
advantages. He never strayed from the message
he was to deliver to the people. He did
not hold back. He did not mince
words. He spoke truth to power in a way
that literally cost him his life.
The measure of John’s mission
was to prepare the people for the message to come. John’s message in the desert was the starting
off point for the message Jesus would deliver.
Repent. Turn away from your
current path and turn to the Lord.
Repent. Change the direction in
which you seek happiness. Repent. Prepare ye the way of the Lord.
Action
What would your typical
routine be on any given Monday? Can you
approach this day and week with the Lord’s name on your mind, on your lips and
in your heart – turning away from what the world tells us will bring temporary
happiness?
What one thing will you do
differently today?
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