The beginning

Listening to the Spirit

Breathe into me, Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may all be holy.

Move in me, Holy Spirit,
that my work, too, may be holy.

Attract my heart, Holy Spirit,
that I may love only what is holy.

Strengthen me, Holy Spirit,
that I may defend all that is holy.

Protect me, Holy Spirit,
that I may always be holy.

(St. Augustine)

Listening to the Word

Mark 1: 1-8

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.”

John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.

John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed:

“One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Reflection

Just as the first biblical account of God's creative work starts "in the beginning" (Gen 1:1), so Mark's Gospel points to a new beginning of God's manifestation to humankind (v. 1). Such words fit well also in this holy season of Advent. Everyone experiences the two folds of this time: the waiting for the coming of someone and the beginning of something. This is the first message of the gospel according to Mark, the beginning of the Good News of Jesus the Son of God.

When we talk about the beginning, we well know that it is not a good experience all the time. In fact, there are beginnings that are painful, hard to start, not easy to accept, etc. If we think about the beginning of a new set up after having been affected by a typhoon, or after the death of a loved one, or a new job in a foreign land; generally, these early developments of things are displeasure; as well we can mention the good experiences of new beginnings, example: a new family of a young couple just married, a new baby at home, etc., etc., etc. There are so many beginnings in our lives. Goods and even less good.

Mark is inviting us to see all these beginnings within the Good News of Jesus Christ in our personal history. He is talking about the new creation in Jesus through the Gospel. This starting point will not be easy but will bring us to enter the Kingdom. The image of the people coming to John the Baptist and “being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins” is nothing else than, an image of a new beginning through conversion. And all of us passed by the waters of Baptism.

Be alert! Be watchful! These words were at the opening of Advent. As we keep vigil in this holy season let’s allow the Lord to continue in us what He himself started in our baptism through the Holy Spirit.