December 12 - Lives Under Construction

Devotion

This past Thanksgiving our family traveled from northern Indiana to Washington D.C. to spend the holiday with my mother. The drivers among us were grateful for the relatively dry weather, and the lack of construction on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. These factors made a long drive much more pleasant than it has been in previous years when it seemed to us most of the roadway was hampered by construction projects. This last trip, I noticed a sign in one section that alerts travelers that "the next five miles are the first completely rebuilt section" of the road. Of course, the inconvenience of construction projects are what lead to smooth, unencumbered roadways that make for safe travel. The 541 miles of the Pennsylvania Turnpike goes around, and even through, a series of valleys, ravines and mountains.

In Luke's gospel, John the Baptist went all around the region of the Jordan, preaching the words of the prophet Isaiah:

" Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Every valley shall be filled,

And every mountain and hill shall be make low,

And the crooked shall be made straight,

And the rough ways smooth;

And all flesh shall see the salvation of God."

John urged those who listened to prepare themselves for the coming of Jesus, the Messiah. When asked how to prepare, the answer was to care for people: "whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none", and to not oppress: "do not extort money from anyone by threats, be satisfied with your wages."

May our lives be under constant construction, as we make smooth the way of the Lord.