Matthew 3:1-3 3 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”

Those days: refers to the time just before Jesus started his ministry, around 26-27 AD and John the Baptist was preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, all across the Judean wilderness. Repentance is about changing your ways, not just feeling bad about them. John is telling his followers that they need to turn from their old ways because there's going to be someone else in charge, someone the prophets had spoken about and He's coming now.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank you for the Gospel of Matthew and how it helps us understand the time when Jesus lived, and for the ministry and message of the faithful John the Baptist. Make our path to you straight during this Advent season, and instead of rushing through the season buying gifts, help us instead to proclaim to the world the Good News of Jesus Christ. Amen

- Bev Curry