You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb. "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1:14-17)

God seeks our help. From Abraham, to Joseph, to Moses and onto Peter, Paul, and Mary (both sets) God acts principally and usually through his flawed and fearful children.

Each of us has a role in making ready a people prepared for the Lord. It begins with preparing ourselves, but this cannot be achieved alone. We prepare ourselves through our relationships with others.

He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts. Rest assured this troubador is acting on His part. The union of your spirits here has caused Him to remain, for whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name, There is love. There is love.

Oh, a man shall leave his mother, and a woman leave her home. They will travel on to where the two will be as one. As it was in the beginning, is now until the end, woman draws her life from man and gives it back again and there is love. Oh, there's love.

Well then what's to be the reason for becoming man and wife? Is it love that brings you here or love that brings you life? For is loving is the answer then who's the giving for? Do you believe in something that you've never seen before? Oh, there's love. There is love.

He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts. Rest assured this troubador is acting on His part. The union of your spirits here has caused Him to remain for whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name there is love. Oh, there is love.

We each have a role in calling and responding to God.

Above is St. John the Baptist by Leonardo Da Vinci. There is Love was written by Paul Stookey for the marriage of Peter Yarrow (both of Peter, Paul, and Mary) to Marybeth McCarthy.