Who are we? Where are we going? ~ by Mary Ann Allen

In this week's beautiful reading from the Book of Isaiah, we can almost hear Jesus speaking in the words of the prophet: "The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners."

Jesus knew who he was and where he was going. He understood what he wanted to do during his time on earth.

We hear a similar sense of recognition by Mary, the mother of Jesus, as we listen to the words of the psalm. "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day forward all generations will call me blessed."

Mary came to understand what God's role for her was; and she accepted it.

We shouldn't be surprised then, when we read the words of John the Baptist as he responds to questions about who he is. No, he is not the Christ. Or Elijah. But he IS "the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord." John recognized that he was the one who was called to announce the coming of the one whose sandal strap he was not worthy to untie.

So what about ourselves? God is asking something of us also, during our time on earth. Our lives should be a vocation just as theirs was. Life must not be looked upon as a burden; for salvation comes to us through the way we live our lives.

We must let Christ be born in us, so that we can be his voice to the people whose lives we touch.

~ Gaudete Sunday ~ Third Sunday of Advent ~