Advent 2025: Preparing the way produces fruit

Advent, Lent, Luke14, Stories | December 12, 2025 | Author: Stevie Wills

CBM Australia has been reflecting on the theme of ‘Prepare the way’ as we journey through Advent. We’d love you to continue with us. We’ve reflected on how the presence of God calls us into community with Him and with one another. Part of what it means to prepare the way for the coming of the presence of God is to remove barriers so that people with disabilities can fully join in community. Find our previous reflections for further thought here.

John the Baptist’s mandate was to prepare the way for the coming of the presence of God. His mandate was fulfilled as he called others into this preparation. In Luke 3:8 we find that John’s call to prepare the way invites people to repent, and in so doing, produce fruit. 

In the following verses, John’s instructions describe the kinds of fruit that would be produced as people repented and thereby prepared the way for the coming of the presence of God.

When John’s words struck the hearts of people in the crowd, they asked him what they should do. John instructed them “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” (Luke 3:11).

When tax collectors asked him what they should do, John told them ‘Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” (Luke 3:12).

When soldiers asked John what they should do, he told them “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” (Luke 3:14).

When people asked John what they should do in response to the call to prepare the way, he instructed them to produce fruit; the kind of fruit that shares with those who the poor and treats people with fairness. The kind of fruit that brings goodness into the world, reaches out to those who are marginalized, and is underscored with integrity.

CBM Australia produces fruit as we strive to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities who live in the poorest places on earth. In low- and middle-income countries people with disabilities often face barriers to participating in their community… in education, livelihood opportunities, sanitation, healthcare and rehabilitation. CBM is committed to removing these barriers so people with disabilities are empowered to realise their full potential.

We at CBM Australia invite you to partner with us in producing good fruit through a meaningful gift. Through the gift of clean water, eyeglasses, seeds for farming, or cataract surgeries you can transform the lives of people with disabilities who live in poverty.