From the responsorial psalm: "God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 3:10-18)

Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

Today we hear the voice of the one who prepares the way of the Lord. Crowds come to John the Baptist asking what they should do. John tells them to be generous with the poor, not to be greedy, and to treat others and oneself justly. The good news that John preaches to the people fills them with hope and expectation, but John is not the Messiah. John baptizes with water, but one mightier than himself will come. The one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire will, as John says, "gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” John prepares the way for Jesus, the one Zephaniah speaks of in the first reading: "The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love."

"God is indeed my savior," the psalmist prays, "I am confident and unafraid." How is it, Lord, that I can make this prayer my prayer? Discouragement comes, but I hear in the first reading don't be afraid and "be not discouraged." Saint Paul recognizes anxiety by naming it, not denying it, "but in everything," he says, "by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God." Lord, you know me and know my needs. Grant me the peace and joy of knowing you are in my midst, a mighty savior who is nearer than I can comprehend. Throughout the day, let me rest with this and trust in it: "My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior." Come, Holy Spirit, come!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.