"Ipreparar ninyo ang alagyan para sa Ginoo"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Marcos 1:1-8)

Amo ini ang Maayong Balita parte kay Jesu-Cristo nga Anak sang Dios. 

Nagsugod ini sang matuman ang ginsulat ni Isaias nga propeta parte sa ginhambal sang Dios sa iya Anak nga nagasiling, "Ipadala ko ang akon manugbalita una sa imo sa pagpreparar sang imo alagyan. 

Ini nga manugbalita amo ang magawali sing mabaskog sa kamingawan. Magasiling siya sa mga tawo, 'Ipreparar ninyo ang alagyan para sa Ginoo, tadlunga ang dalan nga iya pagaagihan.' " 

Kag natuman ini sang pag-abot ni Juan nga manugbautiso sa kamingawan. Madamo nga mga tawo ang nagkadto didto sa iya nga halin sa tanan nga banwa sang Judea, kag madamo pa gid ang halin sa Jerusalem. Nagwali si Juan sa ila nga nagasiling, "Maghinulsol kamo sa inyo mga sala kag magpabautiso, kag ang Dios magapatawad sa inyo." Nagtuad sila sang ila mga sala kag ginbautisohan niya sila sa Suba sang Jordan. 

Ang bayo ni Juan nahimo sa bulbol sang kamelyo, kag ang iya paha panit. Ang iya ginakaon apan kag dugos. 

Amo ini ang iya ginapahibalo: "May magaabot nga nagasunod sa akon nga mas gamhanan pa sang sa akon kag indi gani ako takos nga mangin iya suluguon."

Nagsiling pa gid siya, "Ako nagabautiso sa inyo sa tubig, pero siya magabautiso sa inyo sa Espiritu Santo." 

Prayers:

"Lord, let your light burn brightly in my heart that I may know the joy and freedom of your kingdom. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and empower me to witness the truth of your gospel and to point others to Jesus Christ." 

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Reflection of the Daily Gospel: 

John the Baptist's life was fueled by one burning passion – to point others to Jesus Christ and to the coming of his kingdom. Who is John the Baptist and what is the significance of his message for our lives? Scripture tells us that John was filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb (Luke 1:15, 41) by Christ himself, whom Mary had just conceived by the Holy Spirit. When Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth John lept in her womb as they were filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41). The fire of the Spirit dwelt in John and made him the forerunner of the coming Messiah. John was led by the Spirit into the wilderness prior to his ministry where he was tested and grew in the word of God. John's clothing was reminiscent of the prophet Elijah (see Kings 1:8). John broke the prophetic silence of the previous centuries when he began to speak the word of God to the people of Israel. His message was similar to the message of the Old Testament prophets who chided the people of God for their unfaithfuless and who tried to awaken true repentance in them. Among a people unconcerned with the things of God, it was his work to awaken their interest, unsettle them from their complacency, and arouse in them enough good will to recognize and receive Christ when he came. Are you eager to hear God's word and to be changed by it through the power of the Holy Spirit? 

Jesus tells us that John the Baptist was more than a prophet (Luke 7:26). John was the voice of the Consoler who is coming (John 1:23; Isaiah 40:1-3). He completed the cycle of prophets begun by Elijah (Matthew 11:13-14). What the prophets had carefully searched for and angels longed to see, now came to completion as John made the way ready for the coming of the Messiah, God's Annointed Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. With John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit begins the restoration to the human race of the "divine likeness", prefiguring what would be achieved with and in the Lord Jesus. John's baptism was for repentance – turning away from sin and taking on a new way of life according to God's word. Our baptism in Jesus Christ by water and the Spirit results in a new birth and entry into God's kingdom as his beloved sons and daughters (John 3:5). Jesus is ready to give us the fire of his Spirit that we may radiate the joy and truth of the gospel to a world in desparate need of God's light and truth. His word has power to change and transform our lives that we may be lights pointing others to Christ. Like John the Baptist, we too are called to give testimony to the light and truth of Jesus Christ. Do you point others to Christ in the way you live, work, and speak?