Voice in the Wilderness

Voice In the Wilderness
Advent 2; Matthew 3:1-12
John, you chose life in wild places,
fed from their meagre resources:
choice of a prophet, enacting
warning to mis-guided people
exiled in spiritual wastelands,
turning aside from God’s promise.

Voice that Isaiah envisioned,
words for a time of transition:
“Make the paths straight by repenting!”
Axes and fire you predicted,
culling and threshing in judgement,
wrath of the Lord – not God’s mercy:
Human One, healer and servant.

Wild Man, let God soften vision:
Jordan, the place for baptizing,
water that nurtures fresh growing,
river that parted for crossings.
Stand in the steps of faith story,
welcome the One who is coming,
not quite the one you expected,
asking from you his baptizing.

Guide him through waters that change him,
rising to hear words from heaven:
“This is my Son, the Beloved.”
Questions still haunted you later,
jailed with your death soon approaching:
“Are you the one we awaited?”
Jesus sent word of the healings, 
knowing you feared hope was failing,
fate worse than any blade falling.

John, we are lost in a wasteland,
needing your call to repentance,
threatened by fires we have started.
Call us to sources of water,
cleansing by Spirit immersion,
rising to life and to vision,
named and affirmed as God’s children.
Help us to work for Earth’s healing,
turning from ways that mis-lead us,
open to Love that renews us.
	Barbara Messner 4/12/2025