Prepare a people fit for the Lord

As we hear in today’s Gospel (Luke 1:5-25), the task appointed to Saint John the Baptist – even before his conception – is fundamentally this: “to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”

He will turn many of the children of Israel
to the Lord their God.
He will go before him
in the spirit and power of Elijah
to turn the hearts of fathers toward children
and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous,
to prepare a people fit for the Lord.

This task belongs to us as well: to help the disobedient understand what the righteous do, to help turn the hearts of many to the Lord their God, to help parents and family members embrace wholeheartedly their spiritual and moral responsibilities, and in whatever way we can to help "prepare a people fit for the Lord."

All this may we do through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.