The Hope of the World: Day 3

McCrimmons

Gospel Reading: Matthew 3:1-12 
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”[a]
4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.  7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.  11 “I baptize you with[b] water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Reflections from the Church Fathers: Chromatius of Aquileia

"Hence John prepared these ways of mercy and truth, faith and justice. Concerning them, Jeremiah also declared, 'Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it.' Because the heavenly kingdom is found along these ways, not without good reason John adds, 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' So do you want the kingdom of heaven to also be near for you? Prepare these ways in your heart, in your senses and in your soul. Pave within you the way of chastity, the way of faith and the way of holiness. Build roads of justice. Remove ever scandal of offense from your heart. For it is written: 'Remove the stones from the road.' And then, indeed, through the thoughts of your heart and the very movements of your soul, Christ the King will enter along certain paths." Tractate on Matthew 8.1 

For Further Thought and Prayer

1. How can you "prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him" at Penn? 

2. John wasn't afraid of being set apart and standing out from the crowd for the Lord's sake.  Are you afraid of standing apart from the crowd? Are you running from God's calling for you?  Talk to him about. Confess if necessary. Ask for grace to obey. 

3. Are you producing fruit in keeping with repentance? If not, why not?

4. Have you been baptized, with water and with the Holy Spirit (this happens when you receive Christ as your savior)? How has this changed you? 

5. Take time to reflect on what Christ has done in you and your walk with Him.  Thank Him and praise Him.  Pray for more...more boldness, more grace, more love...to be His ambassador at Penn.  

Closing Prayer

"O you who are everywhere present, filling yet transcending all things; ever acting, ever at rest; you who teach the hearts of the faithful without noise of words: teach us, we pray you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." Augustine

{Once again, this devotional was found in Ancient Christian Devotional: A Year of Weekly Readings by Thomas C. Oden.}