Frank A. Thomas
Senior Servant, Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church
Member of Trinity 1976-1981
Isaiah 40: 28-31

“A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”

Advocates for the Poor: A Voice Crying in the Wilderness
Counting down to our Jubilee! 

The text says a voice – a single, solitary voice – a voice – in the immenseness and the vast quietness of the wilderness, one single and solitary voice. Not a duet, a trio, a quartet, a Praise Team, nor a choral unit or choir, but a voice – a solo voice – a solitary voice – a soliloquy if you will – a voice. No microphone, nor megaphone, no spin doctors, no pundit commentary, no political consultants, no paid public relations firm – just a voice – a voice – a single solitary voice – a voice crying in the wilderness, a messenger sent ahead of the Lord saying, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” A voice calling in the wilderness announcing the time of the Lord is at hand. John the Baptist was a voice crying in the wilderness:

In the desert prepare the way for the Lord
Make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up –
every mountain and hill made low –
the rough ground shall become level,
and the crooked places straight –
and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed
and all flesh shall see it together.

In the ministry of Trinity UCC, we advocate for the poor and it is not about one voice. It is not about being a single solitary voice. If you become a voice and I become a voice, we will become a duet, and with other voices a duet will become a trio and a trio will become a quartet, and a quartet will become a Praise Team, and a Praise Team will become choir, an army of voices saying, “Prepare Ye the way of the Lord.” Can anyone kill an army of people saying “Prepare the Way of the Lord?” Prepare ye the way of the Lord – healthcare for 48 million people that have no coverage; prepare ye the way of the Lord – not billions and billions to make war and violence and so little to feed, clothe, and educate the poor people of the world; prepare ye the way of the Lord -- not plenty of funding for suburban schools while city school die and waste away. Prepare ye the way of the Lord.

Prayer 

Lord help me to join my voice with other voices to become an army advocating for the poor, saying, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.”

Thought for the day 

When we advocate for the poor, we are a voice crying in the wilderness. The call of God is to add your voice to other voices until you become an army preparing the way of the Lord on behalf of the needs and concerns of the poor.