Voice

The Advent Word for today is 'voice'.

The phrase 'voice in the wilderness' is one of many English idioms that originates in the King James Version of the Bible. We use it about a person expressing an unpopular opinion or an idea likely to be ignored by the majority. John the Baptist was one such person. Although many came to hear his message, his preaching the need for repentance was so unpopular among powerful people he was imprisoned and in the end beheaded.

When questioned by religious authorities about his identity, John the Baptist quoted the prophet Isaiah and described himself as

"the voice of one crying in the wilderness".

This is a description of John the Baptist you can find in all 4 gospels: Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:3, Luke 3:4 and John 1:23.

I am wondering, in the wilderness of this world:

• whose are the voices we need to hear?
• who are the people who dare not voice what they desperately need to say?
• who is suffering because they dare to be a voice in the wilderness?
• whose voice do we silence?
• whose voice do we ignore?

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