“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist.
He fed on locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” -Mark 1:1-8
A desert is a barren place far from the comforts of the world, yet God calls each of us into the desert at one point or another. He calls us to this desolate void so we may be alone with only our Lord and experience Him without the world’s distractions. When He calls you into desolation, rejoice; God is reminding you that He gives you His undivided love and attention always, and sometimes it takes a desert to open your eyes to see Him in your life. And once we have met Him in the Desert, we shall tell all who will listen, one mightier than I is coming!