“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: make ye ready the way of the Lord, make his paths straight; every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough ways smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” Lk. 3, 1-6

The "desert" is the best place to open up to God and start a conversion. It's in the desert where God speaks to the heart.

When the voice of God comes from the "desert", it is not distorted, His voice is clean, clear, He talks about what is essential.

How to listen today to the God of the desert when we are surrounded by noise, information and agitation?

Do we make silence to listen?

Do I recognize His voice as an invitation to conversion, to contribute to the transformation of the world?

Do I look for deserted places: silence, contemplation, attentive listening, and time to pray and listen to His voice?

John the Baptist shouts, he wants to wake us up. His cry is concentrated on a call: prepare the way of the Lord!How can we open paths for God? How can we make more room for Him in our lives?

The first step is to seek the living God that is revealed to us in Jesus. We can be sure that God is found by those who seek Him.

To open a path for God we need to descend to the bottom of our heart, God is there. Who does not seek for Him inside, will hardly find him outside.

Do I nurture my inner life?

The encounter with God happens when this prayer is born from within: have mercy on me, I am a sinner! Recognizing myself as a weak and forgiven sinner is the best way to restore peace and inner joy.

Everyone has to make their own path, live his own experience. It is necessary to seek personally the face of God, the heart of God. God is Good.

What is my story of encounters with Him?

Text: Mariela Peña Kipper, rscj. Adapted form Pagola, J.A. El camino abierto por Jesús.Lucas. Madrid:PPC, 2012

Come Lord Jesus, I want to hear You in

the silence of the heart!