A Voice in the Desert by: Fr. Peter Fernandes, sfx, Pastor, St. Timothy Church

     What is this voice in the desert? Where is the desert for me to hear the voice? John, the Baptist, cried out to the people from the desert to prepare the way of our Lord. John, the Baptist was sent by God to be the herald of good news and to lead the people to  true repentace to receive the salvation of God in His Son Jesus, incarnated for us on Christmas. John, the Baptist cries out the same message for us today, can we hear it?

     As pilgrim people, we walk through the different terrains both physical and spiritual during our life journey. Whenever we find a difficult landscape in our empirical existence, we know how to maneuver for our safety, and advancement. We are apt to hear the voice of the modern advancement and technology. Nevertheless, it is apparent that we are lethargic and unmindful to our spiritual topography. The spiritual and moral degradation in our society bespeaks of our deafness to hear the voice in the desert.

We have to enter into the desert of our spiritual existence., to hear the voice crying out of repentance, and to believe in the gospel. We cannot live too long in the desert. Once, we have listened to the voice, we have to rise and walk toward the Promise Land of endless happiness and peace. It is a continuous movement of our spiritual battle of entering into the desert, and walking towards the Promise Land. We are given the tools to fight this spsiritual battle to live a life of grace and holiness.

     Jesus entered the desert and stayed for forty days. We have to look at Jesus for comfort and strength to live in the presence of God. The voice of God never ceases to call out with clarity  and audacity to lead us on the  path of truth and holiness: to our Promise Land. A voice of one crying out in the desert: " Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths." During the season of Advent, let us not pass the opportunity to give the heed to the voice in the desert.

     The honest way to heed  to the voice in the desert is to be at prayer with open heart nd mind to receive the salvation of God. Avail the sacrament of reconciliation - repent of your sins and believe in the gospel. Give alms and do penance. The voice in the desert will become clearer each passing day, as you walk towards the Promise Land.