Prayer of the Day

Feast of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops & Doctors of the Church

December 21st, 2014

So, the story of Christ’s public life as the Messiah begins in the wilderness of the desert.  It was there God’s word came to John the Baptist.  As John said he was as Isaiah prophesied; “a voice crying in the wilderness.”  He came to prepare the people for the imminent coming of the Messiah,  Jesus Christ.  John said; “I did not know him myself,  but He who sent me to baptise with water said to me; ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is going to baptise with the Holy Spirit.”  “Yes” John said; “I have seen him and I am the witness that he is the chosen one of God.” (1 John 2 : 22)   John the Baptist’s powerful message introduced to his followers the long awaited Messiah foretold by the prophets centuries beforehand.  John the Baptist was an ascetic.  He came fasting in a camel haired coat living a penitential way of life.  His preaching and baptising in the Jordan drew many people to him.

Jesus,  the Lamb of God,  came to liberate us from our slavery to sin.  He brought us a message of love; “love of God and love of neighbour.”   Isaiah,  the prophet foretold that Jesus would be “led like a Lamb to the slaughter so that through his sufferings we might be healed.” (Isaiah 53 : 7)