In Old Testament history, a long period of preparation transpired before the coming of the Messiah. Many great figures and various events prefigured the deeply yearned-for moment when the Savior would arrive. The last of those great figures was John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus, the last in a long line of Old Testament prophetic figures.
All the prophets pointed toward Christ through their preaching and writings, and John, the immediate precursor to the Messiah, spoke of the imminent coming of Christ explicitly, preaching an uncompromising message of repentance. He lived as a holy man in the desert and was sought out by many for spiritual advice. In the Gospel passage for this Sunday, he gives practical suggestions for how to live a holy life. At the core of his message is the principle that we are to make our everyday lives holy, ensuring that everything we do is consistent with God's Commandments.
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