READ MK 1:1-8
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE GOSPEL.
UNDERSTAND by Father Greg Friedman, OFM Today we’re dependent on those responsible for the media messages that bombard us. How credible are those who craft our social media and television news? Who can we trust? It’s no wonder people often identify the news by the presenter. When TV news was coming of age, it was Walter Cronkite. Today…well, cable news and podcasts offer us a wide range of personalities and commentators. Today’s Advent readings also offer us hope-filled messages from various messengers: -- the Prophet Isaiah, “a voice, crying in the wilderness”; -- Zion or Jerusalem, God’s holy city, heralding God’s approach with power; -- John the Baptist, echoing Isaiah, calling for repentance to prepare the way for the Messiah.