And this is the testimony of John when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him the question ‘Who are you?’ – and he openly confessed without hesitation: ‘I am not the Christ.’ And they questioned him ‘What then? Are you Elijah? And he said ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the Prophet?’ and he answered ‘No’.
So they said to him ‘Who are you? Tell us so that we might give an answer to those who sent us. What are you saying about yourself?
He spoke up ‘I am a voice crying in the wilderness. “Straighten the path of the Lord.”‘ as Isaiah the prophet said. (DNW)
God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.
One response to “John 1:19-23 A Voice Crying”
The words of today’s reading are used in Orlando Gibbons’ setting as a beautiful verse anthem. It has been sung in the church with Jane Newman as the soloist (I’m pretty sure). Jesus’ baptism is the subject of a painting by Piero della Francesca in the National gallery. The more I think of Jesus coming into the world the more incredible it is that He (being God) enters into our suffering. Thanks for the material you put out it is helpful.