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Third Sunday of Advent, Year B
God with Us!
Readings: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11;
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28
Once again the Gospel focuses
on that great figure of John the Baptist. He says of himself, "I am the
voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the
Lord’." There is in those words a poignant sense of loneliness. God has
called him to a task which alienates him from society. He feels alone and at
odds with the world.
Yet isn’t that a common feeling
for Christians in our society today? As a Christian in a secular society, I
often feel as if I am a voice alone crying in the wilderness. As my mother
always used to say, "It’s like talking to the walls." When we speak
out about issues we are seen as fanatical or eccentric. Yet giving voice to the
voiceless is clearly the call of the gospel.
I think we all begin to feel as
if we cannot make ourselves heard or understood. It becomes especially
difficult at this time of year. For this holy time in our church year is a time
which is celebrated by the secular world, but without any real understanding of
what is being celebrated. They don’t even listen to the message. They simply
dismiss it. The Christmas tree – or should I be politically correct and call it
a holiday tree – becomes a festive decoration. Carols are not sung if they are
too religious.
But amazingly even when
Christmas is completely secularized the image of the mother and the child in
the manger never really disappears. It appeals to people. They like the
feelings of joy and happiness surrounding Christmas. They appreciate the warm
'fuzzies'. They greet each other in a different way. They like the sense of
celebration. It may even get them out to church, although they’ll probably
complain at how crowded it is. They like the giving and receiving of gifts. It
is a time of outreach to the poor and to those in need as people loosen their
purse strings. And for a little while the world is a better place. At our
Tuesday Study Group it was remarked how wonderful it would be to be able to
keep those Christmas feelings all year round.
The reason that does not happen
is that it is not rooted in God’s call to service. For those who honour our
king do not know him. It is to be sure, an acknowledgement. But it is mere lip
service. That can be discouraging, even disillusioning. Or it can bring us to a
clearer understanding of the call of the gospel. For we are called to reach out
with the gospel message. And although we may feel like a voice crying out in
the wilderness, we are not alone. God is with us. That in itself should
transform our whole thinking about the season.
Isaiah understands God's call
to service. "The spirit of the Lord is upon me," he says,
"because the Lord has anointed me." We too need to say that. Not
merely say it. But know it. "The spirit of the Lord is upon me." The
spirit of the Lord is upon you. That is not true only of those we think of as
saints or moral giants. It is true of each of us. And understanding that truth
is what will transform us and the season. God has called, and continues to call
each one of us. It is a call rooted in God, God’s gift to each of us. It is in
answering that call that we find a true sense of joy. A joy at the centre of
our being which assures us that all the incongruities of life – suffering,
despair, hardship, unemployment, illness, pain – all are in God’s hands.
So what is our call as
Christians? We are called to a sense of justice on behalf of those in need. We
are called to faith. We are called to seek and proclaim Emmanuel, God with us,
to a disillusioned and needy world. We are called to prayer. We're called to
"rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.
Doesn't that sound like Paul
being fanatical? How can one rejoice in the midst of pain and misery? In the
midst of our fast paced life and the unreasonable demands of society how can we
pray unceasing? It is unrealistic to think that we might even remember to thank
God. Yet Paul tells us clearly that such is the will of God for those who
follow God.
Does he have rocks in his head?
No! But he does have Christ in his heart. What is in his heart is not the baby
in the manger that the world can tolerate. It is the story behind the manger
that influences Paul. And behind the manger the cross shines forth. It is when
we follow the Christ on the cross that the baby in the manger has significance
to us. Then we can find joy and peace to face the storms of life.
We cannot be grateful for the
ugly and terrible things that happen in our world. But we can rejoice with the
assurance that God is not the author of such events. God is pained by them.
God’s will is to be present with us in all that we do. To be there. Emmanuel.
God with us. Our trust comes through rejoicing, through prayer, through
thankfulness.
Yet so often this Advent season
becomes a time, not of reflection and preparation for the wonder and joy of the
Christmas event. We concentrate on running into stores, buying gifts,
decorating the house. We move at a frenetic pace. We become overworked,
overworried and overserved. No wonder Christmas becomes a spiritual flop.
Let us spend a few moments in
reflection and really put Christ in Christmas. Let us sort out the essential
from the accidental, the important from the trivial. Let us put our spiritual
lives back on track. Let us remember the reason that we celebrate. For God is
with us.