![Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoi (1837-1887) Le Christ dans le désert, 1872 Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoi [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kramskoi_Christ_dans_le_d%C3%A9sert.jpg)
Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoi (1837-1887)
Le Christ dans le désert, 1872
[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Listen deeply. Be empty of pre-conceived notions. Let go of resistance.
Trust the movement of the Spirit.
The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,
and he remained in the desert for forty days,
tempted by Satan. Mark 1:12
James Tissot (1836-1902)
Guérison des lépreux à Capernaum, between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum
When I feel out of step with the ways of the world, when I feel like an outsider or an interloper or just a plain oddball, I can re-root myself in the presence of Jesus and be made clean.
Clean of arrogance. Clean of isolation. Clean of comparisons. Clean of judgment. Clean of the need to conform. Clean of the fear of speaking my truth.
Being made clean by the Lord gives me the right to take my place—just as I am—in any company, any society, any situation.
A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said,
“If you wish, you can make me clean.” Mark 1:40
Sunset at Capernaum
By Abraham (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons
Jesus, the Compassion of God, understands our human suffering. Let go of the struggle; bring the illness, the exhaustion, the depletion to him. He is the one who makes sense out of nonsense.
When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to [Jesus] all who were ill or possessed by demons. Mark 1:32
Christ heals the possessed. Jan Luyken. In the Bowyer Bible in Bolton Museum, England. Print 4234. From “An Illustrated Commentary on the Gospel of Mark” by Phillip Medhurst. Section D. Jesus confronts uncleanness. By Phillip Vere [FAL], via Wikimedia Commons
Demons of pain, fatigue, and self-doubt. Demons of resentment, disdain, and indifference. Demons of envy, dissatisfaction, and hopelessness.
Say no, in the name of Jesus. Demons have no power in the light and presence of the Compassion of God.
Jesus rebuked [the unclean spirit] and said,
“Quiet! Come out of him!” Mark 1:25
![Fisher Men 3 December 2011 By Venkateshpdy (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AFisher_Men.jpg">via Wikimedia Commons</a>)
Fisher Men
3 December 2011
By Venkateshpdy (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Consider the power of a call that changes my heart to feel the fragility, the vulnerability, the desperate need to be loved of the human family.
Consider the power of a call that transforms me into someone who fishes with forgiveness, nonviolence, and compassion as my bait.
And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” Mark 1:17
Jacob de Wit (1695-1754)
Baptism of Christ in the Jordan
chalk and pen, ca.1716
Amsterdam, Amstelkring Museum
via Wikimedia Commons
We are God’s beloved and God is well pleased with us. The whole human family. All of us. In spite of, perhaps because of our human frailty, failures, and weaknesses. God made us human. We are God’s. We are God’s creation, beloved and pleasing to God.
Lord, teach me to see myself and the all of the human family with your eyes and heart.
And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Mark 1:11
Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, Italy: The Three Wise Men (named Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar). Detail from: “Mary and Child, surrounded by angels”, mosaic of a Ravennate italian-byzantine workshop, completed within 526 AD by the so-called Master of Sant’Apollinare
By Nina-no (Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.5], via Wikimedia Commons
[The magi] saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Matthew 2:11
Rembrandt (1606-1669)
Simeon in the Temple
oil on panel, 1627-1628
Hamburg, Hamburger Kunsthalle
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:36-38
God’s Holy Family encompasses every human person—from infants to the elderly. We are all equally important in the eyes and heart of God. We all have something to offer to others. No matter what our age, we are all called to open our minds, eyes, and hearts to encounter the Lord every day.
Henry Ossawa Tanner, American (active France), 1859 – 1937
The Annunciation, 1898
oil on canvas
Philadelphia Museum of Art
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. Luke 1:26-27
God sends specific messengers to specific locations to specific people every day.
I met several of God’s messengers at the Salvation Army Friday. Some were tiny children crying for their mothers. Some were cranky or bossy or argumentative adults. I did my best to keep saying “yes” to bearing God’s Love into the swirl of human emotions. It took all my energy.
Some messengers were kind and efficient, unfailingly gracious and cheerful. They are a living example of saying “yes” to being Love Bearers in our world where all of us just want to love and be loved.
John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Mark 1:4
The gospel is our every day wake up call: a call to love, to help the poor, to show compassion to all people.
It’s a call to spend time in quiet prayer and meditation, to read holy scripture, to deepen our relationship with Jesus.
The gospel wakes us up to the reality of God’s presence in our world, in our lives, in our being.
Today I will trust the wake up call of the gospel and ask the Lord to bless me with knowledge of his will for me and the power to carry it out.
Mary Ann McSweeny 
