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(Bar.5:1-9;\xa0\xa0 Ps.126:1-6;\xa0\xa0 Phil.1:4-6,8-11;\xa0\xa0 Lk.3:1-6)\xa0 \u201cAll flesh shall see the salvation of God.\u201d\xa0 Yes, at a particular point in time, in the year delineated so precisely by Luke in our gospel, \u201cthe word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.\u201d\xa0 The Holy Spirit whispered in his ear, set his heart on fire, and so called him to cry out the coming of the Lord upon the nation.\xa0 And \u201cJohn went throughout the whole region of the Jordan,\u201d calling all souls to \u201ca baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins\u201d; being thus inspired, what else could he do?\xa0 The Spirit so powerfully upon him, of what else could he think?\xa0 The long-awaited Savior is finally near \u2013 and the people must be ready. And so, sinful flesh is made clean in the Jordan River.\xa0 And so \u201cthe rough ways [are] made smooth,\u201d \u201cthe winding roads\u2026 made straight,\u201d for nothing crooked shall meet the Messiah.\xa0 We do not come to Him in sinful garb.\xa0 O \u201cJerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever.\u201d\xa0 Plunge yourself into the waters that make new.\xa0 Let all of the old man be washed away.\xa0 \u201cFor God will show all the earth your splendor; you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God\u2019s worship.\u201d\xa0 \u201cSee your children gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that they are remembered by God,\u201d joyful that He has come.\xa0 All the earth shall be blessed through you and the royal tree that grows in your midst. \u201cWhen the Lord brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming.\u201d\xa0 How can it be our salvation has come?\xa0 And now \u201cGod is leading Israel in joy by the light of His glory, with His mercy and justice for company.\u201d\xa0 In His Church this day we dwell; into His presence ever we come.\xa0 Obedient to the cry of the prophet\u2019s voice, we turn from our sins and are made anew.\xa0 And now our daily bread we consume. What joy should fill our hearts, brothers and sisters! that the Lord has come to dwell with us.\xa0 We eat \u201cthe fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God,\u201d and the strength we find herein He will \u201ccomplete\u201d on the day of His coming again.\xa0 Let our hearts be set on fire as was John\u2019s.\xa0 Let us cry out to all flesh that the salvation of God is nigh. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Please Even Me Out" from Cleansing Human Frailty, fourth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, tear down the mountains of pride and fill in the valleys of fear that we might come to you on straight paths. YHWH, how shall our flesh see your salvation?\xa0 How shall we come to your glory, we poor, miserable creatures?\xa0 Only because you call us to redemption.\xa0 Only because you desire us to share in your heavenly majesty.\xa0 And only if we make straight the way for your Son to come into our hearts. O LORD, let us ever increase in knowledge of what is good and lasting, that we might be made pure and blameless for the day of Christ, that we might become as He is, blessed to be called your sons.\xa0 O let us give glory and praise to you for such a blessing! Restore our fortunes, dear God; may we who have been separated from you and sent into exile be brought back to your holy City, to your mountain.\xa0 As on royal thrones let us be borne aloft to gaze upon your splendor and glory, O King of all the nations.\xa0 Great things you have indeed done for us, for now our weeping is turned to joy and we enter your presence bearing great fruit.\xa0 Alleluia!