Make Straight the Way

Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church

Gospel of John 1:19-28

Dallas Arboretum - 1/2/2016

“Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”
So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?  What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, Make straight the way of the Lord, as Isaiah the prophet said.”

One of my goals in 2016 is to visit some of the DFW area museums and attractions.  I want to "get out and about", see the new and interesting instead of isolating myself in my apartment stuck in front of the tv or passing boredom with endless naps.  My new mantra is this: Life is too great to waste!

This weekend's excursions included the Dallas Arboretum on Saturday and the Kimbell Art Museum on Sunday.   I have not visited the Kimbell in over 10 years.  Looking at the prized paintings of French artist Gustave Caillebotte transported me back to the late 1800's in Paris.  The long dresses, the top hats, the horse and buggies.  Wow, what if our lives never evolved?  What if we never became an industrialized, technology advanced society?  I cannot imagine still wearing petticoats or considered a man's property!

Make straight the way....Isaiah and John the Baptist knew someone incredibly special was about to arrive on earth.  They spoke out about this miracle to a people who just did not quite understand what to look out for.  Just like a painter's canvas, the medium is blank until dabs of color are applied. The work of art is not yet finished.  The shadows, transitions and details look visually hazy.  Maybe the figure is a man, a woman, or an animal.  Maybe the sky is a starry night or a sunlit day.  The artist swirls the colors in effervescent display.  It is hard to figure out the meaning.  What is in the artist's mind?  What type of story does he tell?

The prophet is just that.  A man who's voice speaks on behalf of God.  Everyone thinks John the Baptist is the One True Prophet.  Yet, he is only the Messenger.  The path to salvation is still crooked and wide.  The Jews still have a lot of work to do in order to make sure they live good, faithful lives.  Obey the Commandments and honor God.  Keep the path free of debris and open, accepting the Holy One to come.

How can we make straight the Lord in modern day? Attend mass every Sunday.  Pray and meditate.  Say the rosary.  Perform acts of charity.  Be kind and loving toward others.  Make God #1!  Suddenly, the blurry canvas becomes sharp and clear as the colors blend together.  Yes, there it is.  That's what the Lord wants from me.  This is how I should live my life:  Mindful of God, others and then myself.  

-J.