“Father I am very angry! There’s a man I met in my parish. I thought he likes me because he showed some interest. But when I told him I want abstinence until marriage, he said okay, good-bye! My pain is that he will find another lady in the church who will give him what he wants and I will have to see that. No man has ever supported me in obedience to God rather they say something is wrong with me,” was a message I received from a young lady I am mentoring and praying with.
It is painful and difficult to live righteously in an environment that is immoral and sinful, more so when that environment is the house of God. Because of this, many compromise, and give excuses saying: “everyone is doing it, why should I be left out?”.
If you find yourself among circles of friends having extramarital affairs, of politicians, workers, etc embezzling public funds, or of ministers who are unfaithful to their call, and are in dilemma whether to join them or not, continue reading slowly before taking a decision:
Luke 3:1-6
In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the lands of Ituraea and Trachonitis, Lysanias tetrach of Abilene, during the pontificate of Annas and Caiaphas the word of God came to John son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. He went through the whole Jordan district proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the sayings of the prophet Isaiah:
A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.Every valley will be filled in, every mountain and hill be laid low, winding ways will be straightened and rough roads made smooth. And all mankind shall see the salvation of God.
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. Child of God, it was in the heat of political and religious corruption and in the midst of moral decay in the society that the Word of God came to John in the desert. In order to situate the public mission of Jesus, St Luke the evangelist begins by giving us a list of the political rulers and religious leaders of the time, notable for one evil or the other:
(a) Pontius Pilate was the one that sentenced Jesus to death.
(b) Herod the Tetrarch was the one that married his brother’s wife (Philip’s wife), and when condemned by John the baptist for what he did, he arrested and beheaded John the baptist.
(c) The two Jewish priests Annas and Caiaphas were illegally put into their positions by the Roman authorities, and they constantly used their power to serve their selfish interests: Caiaphas, as high priest is notable for his suggestion to the Sanhedrin that Christ be eliminated (Cf. John 11:49-50), while Annas was referred to as a viper who “hissed or whispered in the ears of judges and politicians” in order to influence their decisions negatively. (Cf. Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, p 263).
This presentation by St Luke not only give us a historical clue to the time these things happened but teach us something important that God never abandons His own in times of distress: that, when there is a casting down, there will be a lifting up (Cf. Job 22:29). That’s why he sent a Massiah (saviour) at this crucial moment.
2. But before the Messiah is fully revealed, a Prophet must arise who must call the people back to God. That is why in every generation God sends holy men and women. For this reason Moses and the biblical prophets were sent, and to herald Christ, John the Baptist came as well to prepare the people. John the baptist received his call in an environ charged with immorality and atrocities. He had every opportunity “to join them if he cannot beat them”. He equally had the opportunity to be among class of corrupt religious leaders (at least his father was once a chief priest) in an environment of wealth, authority and affluence, but he chose the desert!
3. As we wait for the second coming of Jesus-the Messiah- for the final Judgement, there’s need for another prophet to prepare the way. And that prophet is you and I! Yes you and I, to prepare the world and liberate souls from the bondage of sin and satan. Before his Ascension, Jesus commands us: Go into the whole world and preach the gospel to all creation (Mk 16:15). Are you ready for this, or are you still giving excuses? Don’t give up, you can make a difference!
TASK: To overcome the wiles of the world you have to ‘flee the noisy world, it’s momentary joys and ungodly standards’ and cling to ‘heavenly rhythmic standards’. The heavenly rhythm is the only ‘music’ that can keep your soul at peace.
Pray Psalm 126 now asking the Lord to liberate you from worldliness as you journey with Christ this Advent season and await second Advent of his coming.
I pray for you: May the Lord liberate you and your entire household from worldliness in Jesus name. Amen.
