Contemplation Music: 

While I am waiting by John Waller 

A Reading from the Gospel according to Mark (Mk 1:1-8)

Response: Glory to you O Lord. 

Make straight the paths of the Lord. 

The beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ,  

the Son of God. It is written in the book of the  

prophet Isaiah: 

Look, I am going to send my messenger before you; 

he will prepare your way. 

A voice cries in the wilderness: 

Prepare a way for the Lord, 

make his paths straight, 

and so, it was that John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of  repentance for the forgiveness of sins. All Judaea and all the people of Jerusalem made their way  to him, and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan, they confessed their sins. John wore  a garment of camel-skin, and he lived on locusts and wild honey. In the course of his preaching he  said, ‘Someone is following me, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to kneel  down and undo the strap of his sandals. I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you  with the Holy Spirit.’ 

The Gospel of the Lord 

Response: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ 

Awakening 

This gospel account of the person and role of the prophet John the Baptist is centered on the  significance of Baptism. John, not only issues a call to repentance but in the same context speaks  passionately about the mission which flows from Baptism; this is to prepare the way for others to  encounter Jesus. In this preparation of the way, we ourselves are called to get out of the way. John  is the one who leads people to Jesus in a profound non-ego centered way. He issues an uncompromising invitation to all of us to die to our ego self where we are tempted to draw all things  to ourselves, and to point the way to another who embodies unconditional love. The beautiful art  work of Phillip Mantofa captures well this historic meeting. The selflessness of John leads to  transcendence which in this scene is depicted as the Holy Spirit hovering gently making apparent  the divine presence in this significant meeting between the two cousins; John and Jesus.  

Insight

1. As I live out my Baptismal call how do I encounter others in a selfless way? 2. How do I bring and speak the good news to parts of our culture that are in the wilderness? 

John Baptizing Jesus by Phillip Mantofa

Prayer 

Pastor Philip Mantofa is a well-known artist in his country, Indonesia.

“When I baptize men in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, as He commanded, the ‘Three’ are present in the water with me:

The Father loves sinners back into His arms through my embrace; the Son of God is revealed in their hearts through my words; and the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit descends upon them, through my faith, like a dove.

I baptize because I love! “Lord God, you ask us through the words of the prophet John the Baptist to prepare space for you  in our hearts and a place for you in our world. 

We pray that during these days of Advent we may do all we can to; 

Love you more dearly  

Follow you more nearly 

See you more clearly 

 day by day……………  

Help us during these days of Advent to welcome you more deeply into our lives.